MATCH INFO

Danielle Scott-Arruda picked up the Most Impressive Player award after scoring 10 points in the final two sets. The USA were led by Destinee Hooker with 17 points, followed by Foluke Akinradewo with 15. Brazil’s top scorers were Fernanda Rodrigues and Sheilla Castro with 18 each. USA earned six service points to Brazil’s none and outblocked their opponents 9-5.

Both teams started off playing full-on volleyball, with decent defence, slick serves and powerful spikes. Heather Bown landed a couple of bombs, while Jordan Larson and Lindsey Berg made a couple of neat tipovers, helping USA to a two-point lead at the first technical timeout. Brazil’s spiking wasn’t at their best and they fell behind 13-9, when coach Ze Roberto called a timeout. A massive blast by Castro only stopped the U.S. temporarily and successive tipovers brought the Americans five points clear at the second TTO. Ze Roberto called a second timeout at 12-18 and Paula Pequeno responded with a massive hit, which was followed by a rare Brazilian block – Thaisa Menezes on Logan Tom. Rodrigues landed some hefty hits for Brazil and a big hit by Menezes down the middle prompted USA coach Hugh McCutcheon to call his players off court for a talk at 24-21. Brazil saved three setpoints in all before Bown blocked Tandara Caixeta to put the Americans 1-0 up.

Brazil came out firing in the second set with Rodrigues and Paula landing some good shots as they moved into a three-point lead, but great U.S. defence kept the pressure on the Brazilians and the Americans drew level at 9-9 after Foluke Akinradewo ended a terrific rally with a hit down the middle. Brazil dug in again and eased out to a five-point lead at 17-12 on a couple of good blocks by Fabiana and some devastating kills by Rodrigues. At 19-13, McCutcheon called a timeout; at 20-16, Ze Roberto did the same. The Brazilians won out and had the luxury of seven setpoints when Rodrigues pushed the ball over the net. Sheilla drew the match level with a spike that the Americans pushed wide.

At 4-4 in the third set, two Brazilian errors and a classy first-time strike by Scott-Arruda enabled the U.S. to move into a three-point lead, but the scores were level again at 8-8. Brazil edged out again, but USA pulled back to 13-13 before Paula opened up another two-point gap, which Brazil maintained to the second TTO. It was intense stuff from both sides. USA pulled level again at 19 after a great block by Akinradewo on Rodrigues and a good spike by Hooker. They had to come back again and again, drawing level at 22, 24 and 25 when Logan Tom blocked Menezes. Berg then delivered a soft serve that went right through the Brazilian defence and USA were 2-1 up.

Brazil went 5-4 ahead in the fourth set but then lost concentration and the next four points, handing the momentum to the U.S. Brazil also lost their spiking effectiveness and the Americans moved out to a five-point lead at the second TTO. More Brazilian errors stretched the U.S. lead to 21-12 and then it was only a matter of time. A big thump by Hooker brought up matchpoint and Rodrigues finished off the match by hitting a serve into the net.