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U.S. Women's National Team Journal with Joan Powell
Day 6 WOW!! What an event, what a match! The USA women found a way to put it together in front of a sold out, noisy Japanese crowd. USA fought off its hosts in five sets – 27-29, 25-18, 18-25, 25-16, 15-13. We got to experience first hand the pre-match “show” with all the lights, the fog, the boy band and Japan’s own Brittany Spears. According to our Japanese assistant coach, Gen, the popular vocalist is 40 years of age and has a daughter that is 20 following in mom’s footsteps. When Gen was young she was the star. Seiko Matusuda tantilized the crowd with her famous hit that we heard snippets of throughout all of our matches at the Grand Prix. 
After all the hype, both teams were introduced individually with a spot light carrying a red souvenir ball, which each competitively threw into the stands. Only one of the Japanese gals was able to hoist it into the upper deck. Warm ups started and I was getting settled as a very nice Japanese man sitting two seats down leaned over and introduced himself to me. He said his name, but it did not click until he said it again. It was the famous Yasutaka Matsudaria. I told him how honored I was to meet him. I remember seeing footage of his famous practices. His teams won bronze, silver and gold medals successively at the Tokyo, Mexico City and finally Munich Olympic Games. He said that he knew Mr. Monaco. When asked about Doug Beal, he replied, “Doug is my boy!” In the Japanese style and tradition, the first set was a battle with great Matsudaria defense and setting from the Japanese team. The U.S. countered with some key blocks and kills, but we could not pull out the victory, losing a crowd pleaser, 27-29. 
“Jenny” Lang Ping turned the dial once on the line for the second set, using the same starters. Receiving in rotation 3 were Tayyiba Haneef-Park, Kim Glass, Heather Bown, Lindsey Berg, Kim Willoughby, Danielle Scott-Arruda and Nicole Davis as the libero. The McGinnis for Ty and Barboza for Berg double sub came at 13-9. After the match, I ask Angie McGinnis what goes through her mind when she is put in this role. She explained that this role is very new to her as she has never come off the bench to set. She said that her heart rate is up, but that she enjoys the adrenaline. She enters with an air of confidence and begins directing traffic to her hitters. She certainly looks in control. Barboza, too, has a different role, but she added to attack stats as she was dished the very first ball coming off the bench, which she proceeded to kill. The U.S. won the second set 25-18. In the third set the only change came at 11-14 when Jennifer Joines was subbed for Heather Bown. JJ was able to contribute with both her hitting and blocking abilities. It wasn’t enough though as the U.S team lost the third 18-25. 
The crowd so wanted their gals to “do it in four.” But the tenacious USA team was not about to end its Grand Prix leg 1-2. With better passing, Berg delivered some great sets along with some great defense by Davis, the U.S. team dominated the Japanese winning set 4, 25-16. Set five opened with the same starters as in set 4 with JJ in for Bown. The U.S. took a time out at 2-4; the rest of the match continued to be tight ending at 12-12. Ty hit a cross court shot kill off the defenseless libero. A rally ensued and Ty crushed a line shot from the right side to add two more points. We missed our serve at match point, but Davis received the Japanese floater with her hands, Berg went back to Ty who went down the line again for a kill which made it 15-13 and match. At the award’s ceremony, Turkey was announced as the first-place team, as the U.S. team took second. We took a picture of Foluke and the mascot, “Volleyboo” (a volleyball pig) who coincidentally wore #19. It was a good first leg. No one is looking forward to the four connections to Poland starting tomorrow – that’s right 23 flying hours – leaving at 5:30 a.m. tomorrow morning!! See ya in Poland. Joan Powell Journal Archives for 2008 FIVB World Grand Prix |
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