U.S. Women's National Team Journal
Kerry Klostermann - Team Leader

2007 FIVB Women’s World Cup
Nov. 10, 2007
USA (#8) vs. Thailand (#30) at Kumamoto, Japan

Another sunny day graces Kumamoto with the temperature in the high 70s. Not that it much matters when our breathable atmospheres consist of the air in the hotel, the bus and the gymnasium. Just a little over half-way through the tournament, Jenny gives the team a “break day” with a sleep-in breakfast at 9:30 a.m., team meeting at 11:30 a.m., followed by lunch and departure for the match at 1:30 p.m. No surprises yesterday as BRA rolls over Thailand and Cuba handles (barely) Korea in pool B, while in Pool A Italy romps over Poland (a European gimmie??); Serbia has an easy one over Kenya (who has yet to win a set); and host Japan handles Peru (3-1).

Potentially interesting matches today include Brazil vs. Korea (Brazil has yet to face an Asian opponent other than Thailand so the style difference might make it interesting); Peru vs. Serbia and although the prediction would be Serbia a quality Peru match could help us a lot; and Japan vs. Poland with the edge to Poland I would guess. Japan is 4-2 and Poland 2-4 so if Poland can’t come up with the win they are assuredly toast – and being browned is a great motivator.

Set #1

Starting lineup – Robyn Ah Mow-Santos (S); Jennifer Joines (MB); Danielle Scott-Arruda (MB); Logan Tom (OH); Ogonna Nnamani (OH); Tayyiba Haneef-Park (OPP); Nicole Davis (L).

USA digs, sets Ogonna who float tips in the middle for 1-0. USA control blocks and Logan kills from the pipe 2-0. Ogonna control blocks and Danielle kills the 1 out of the middle 3-0. THA runs the middle but Danielle stuffs for the fourth straight point (4-0). USA serve error ends the streak 4-1. THA serves an ace 4-2. THA serve results in a ball on the net and we find the strings 4-3. THA digs and converts to tie it at 4-4. We set Ogonna on the right side who puts it away off the block 5-4. Robyn digs from position #1 and Tayyiba scores way over the block – wait take that back – the referee called “something” that gave THA the point for 5-5. THA digs and converts 5-6. THA repeats the feat for 5-7. Ogonna digs the seam and Danielle puts the ball down 6-7. THA attacks the middle and off our block for the 2 point lead at the first TT 6-8.

As expected THA is passing well and playing good defense around their block – so USA needs to stay with our game and keep the pressure on. THA serves long 7-8. Tayyiba’s serve causes overpass followed by Jennifer’s kills sharp inside the block on the slide 8-8. THA sideout on the slide 8-9. THA digs and converts the pipe 8-10. THA gives us one with the serve in the net 9-10. THA sideout 9-11. Logan scores from the 3-meter line on the right side 10-11. THA squeezes a pipe between our blockers 10-12. THA digs and converts from the right 10-13. THA serves long 11-13. USA returns the favor 11-14. Nicole 3 pass and Danielle rockets one down the line 12-14. A couple of great digs by USA to keep the ball in play but THA converts the point 12-15. Stacy in for Ogonna. THA digs two of our attacks but USA controls THA attacks and Logan ends it with a kill 13-15. THA sideout and a 3 point lead at the second TT 13-16.

USA conversion by Jennifer in the middle 14-16. THA sideout 14-17. THA serves out beyond the end line 15-17. Ogonna back in for Stacy. THA tip in the middle hits the floor 15-18. Jennifer blocks, THA oversets and Ogonna kills 16-18. Jennifer hits a long-awaited ace serve 17-18 and THA calls timeout. THA sideout 17-19. Let’s get a sideout and real point. Danielle takes care of the SO with a slide kill 18-19. USA serve error prevents the closer 18-20. Great diving saves, two in a row by USA and THA error on the set 19-20. THA converts off our block 19-21. THA ace serve and Jenny calls timeout at 19-22. Tayyiba straight down shot from the right side 20-22. THA sideout 20-23. THA scores set point on a USA tip wide of the court 20-24. Jenny calls timeout. USA overpass but stuff block by Tayyiba and Jennifer gets us to 21-24. USA serve error gives THA the first set 21-25. Well …we’re going 4.

Set #2

Starting lineup – Robyn Ah Mow-Santos (S); Danielle Scott-Arruda (MB); Jennifer Joines (MB); Logan Tom (OH); Kim Glass (OH); Tayyiba Haneef-Park (OPP); Nicole Davis (L).

Kim passes a “3” and Tayyiba kills the inside set from the left side 1-0. USA serve error 1-1. THA ace serve for 1-2. Nicole “3” pass and Tayyiba from the right smacks the defender on the shoulder for the point 2-2. THA sideout 2-3. Tayyiba again off the block and down on the floor 3-3. USA serve error 3-4. THA digs, USA digs and Tayyiba converts from the 3 meter line 4-4. Jennifer and Kim combine on the stuff block in the middle 5-4. Logan ace serve hard cross court into the deep #5 corner 6-4. THA timeout. THA sideout 6-5. USA attack error ties it at 6-6. THA dig and tip into the middle for a point 6-7. THA digs and dumps deep into the corner and open space for the 6-8 lead at the first TT.

Kim rips from the right for the sharp kill 7-8. THA sideout 7-9. Danielle’s line shot gets the point on the slide 8-9. Logan dig and Logan diving save on the second THA attack but THA converts for 8-10. THA converts out of the pipe and Jenny calls timeout 8-11. USA overpass and point to THA 8-12. THA digs and converts out of the middle 8-13. Inside 2-set to Tayyiba and the crunch kill 9-13. USA serve error 9-14. THA digs and converts for 9-15 and it is time for USA to reach deep and start to execute. Danielle block of THA attack gets us to 10-15. THA overpass of Danielle serve and Jennifer kills 11-15. Robyn digs up the THA tip, Jennifer sets and Tayyiba kills 12-15. Logan puts a huge stuff on THA’s slide 13-15. THA overpass of Danielle serve and Jennifer smacks it straight down for 14-15 and THA timeout. THA sideouts 14-16 at the second TT.

High backset to Tayyiba and a big kill from the right side 15-16. THA sideouts 15-17 and USA double switch with Cassie for Robyn in the front row and Lindsey for Danielle in the back. THA digs and attacks and Logan gets another stuff block 16-17. THA converts out of the middle 16-18. Kim passes to Lindsey who sets Jennifer the 1 for the kill 17-18. Cassie gets a solo stuff on THA’s left side attacker to tie it at 18-18. Jennifer serve causes overpass THA control blocks then hits out 19-18. THA sideout 19-19. Kim for the left side flying kill off the block 20-19. Double switch back for USA. Robyn’s floater takes off in the wrong direction from the passer’s arm for an ace 21-19. USA dig and Tayyiba kill from the right 22-19. Danielle picks up the tip, Tayyiba sets with a one hand fist and Danielle runs across the court to complete the kill 23-19. THA tries the double pump in the middle but Danielle and Kim double block for the stuff 24-19. Kim does it solo with the stuff on THA’s right side attack for the set 25-19. WHEW!

Set #3

Starting lineup – Robyn Ah Mow-Santos (S); Danielle Scott-Arruda (MB); Jennifer Joines (MB); Logan Tom (OH); Kim Glass (OH); Tayyiba Haneef-Park (OPP); Nicole Davis (L).

Two sideouts (1-1), then THA setter playing the ball on our side of the net is whistled and an ace serve by Kim makes it 3-1. THA sideout followed by a kill of the 1-set by Danielle 4-2. USA transition with Logan scoring on the tip 5-2. THA tips for a point to duplicate the play 5-3. THA serve error 6-3. THA sideout 6-4. THA serve error 7-4. THA sets a deep pass over to our side and Robyn kills it from the right blocker position (Robyn is now hitting 100% for the tournament). It’s 8-4 at the first TT.

Robyn gets the solo block of THA’s left side attack and two point scores in a row for our setter 9-4. Jennifer soft blocks and Tayyiba is set high in the pipe and converts 10-4. THA timeout to ask “where has the magic gone”? THA sideouts 10-5. Jennifer rips a back one out of the middle 11-5. Kim solo blocks the THA slide for the stuff point 12-5. THA sideout 12-6. THA serve error long 13-6. THA converts out of the middle off our digger 13-7. Danielle on the back one plants the kill inside the 3-meter line 14-7. Kim gets an ace serve on her floater 15-7. 3 exchanges and transitions ends with Danielle tipping into the short middle where there is only open space to take it to 16-7 at the second TT. Seems like we are back in control of our game and THA is starting to wilt under the constant pressure.

USA serve error just misses the court 16-8. Jenny subs Stacy for Kim to play defense. Danielle another slide kill that THA blocker is not getting anywhere near 17-8. Tayyiba soft block, Jennifer set to Tayyiba and Ty soft tip for the winner 18-8. USA dig and Tayyiba kill from the right 19-8. THA sets their right side inside, Logan steps inside and roofs for the point 21-8. Next … Tayyiba the giant roof on THA’s left side for 21-8. There aren’t many “sides” of the court left. THA timeout to try and come up with one. THA’s answer is the tip which works for the sideout 21-9. Robyn one-hand sets the pass close to the net and Jennifer rips it straight down 22-9. THA sideout 22-10. Two exchanges and Jennifer finishes the rally with the slide K 23-10. Kim back in for Stacy. THA sideout 23-11. THA serve into the net 24-11. Robyn once again solo blocks THA’s left side hitter for the point and the set 25-11.

Set #4

Starting lineup – Robyn Ah Mow-Santos (S); Danielle Scott-Arruda (MB); Jennifer Joines (MB); Logan Tom (OH); Kim Glass (OH); Tayyiba Haneef-Park (OPP); Nicole Davis (L).

THA starts with a serve long and out 1-0. Danielle side steps with the quick middle and roofs emphatically for 2-0. USA serve error 2-1. Logan’s tip from the left side mis-handled by THA for 3-1. THA sideout 3-2. Tayyiba high rip off the block for the point 4-2. USA serve error 4-3. Jennifer slide conversion for 5-3. Tayyiba hand digs a soft roll shot and Logan kills from the 3 meter line 6-3. Three exchanges and THA ends it by hitting into the net from the back row 7-3. THA sideouts off our block 7-4. THA digs and makes good on the transition 7-5. Robyn to Kim on the left and she splits the block for the point and 8-5 lead at the first TT.

Jennifer to serve out of the huddle. THA makes good on their attack 8-6. We go to Kim who tools the block for the point 9-6. THA sideout 9-7. Tayyiba cranks an inside 3 set off the block for the score 10-7. Kim’s serve gets them out of system but a THA tip to the deep #1 position is good 10-8. Tayyiba crisp inside cut attack for the score 11-8. We get a free ball and Logan comes in over the top in a big way from the left side for the kill 12-8. THA calls timeout. THA tries the double pump fake in the middle then smacks the attack wide of the court 13-8. USA serve error 13-9. Tayyiba smacks one into the defender’s chest, which floats back on our side and Logan taps the ball down for the point 14-9. Nicole a super dig on THA’s left side hit cross court and Logan cross-body rolls to #1 for the open court score 15-9. THA sideout 15-10. Double switch by Jenny. THA sends their serve into the net to call the second TT trailing USA by 6 … 16-10.

Logan’s serve catches the tape, THA gives us a free ball and Jennifer scores on the middle 1 17-10. Nicole digs a THA shot and Logan puts away from the pipe 18-10. Lindsey digs and Nicole sets Logan in the pipe and she tips short to #2 with no one home for the 19-10 lead. Logan’s jumper creates the overpass that Jennifer smacks for the double digit lead 20-10. THA sideout 20-11. USA attack error 20-12. THA’s blocker called over the net and interfering with Robyn’s set 21-12 (the mirror score). THA sideout 21-13. Danielle and Kim combine on the stuff block to make it 22-13. USA double switch back. THA’s middle one attack hit way wide to avoid the block 22-13. Control block by USA and Tayyiba makes it 24-13 and match point. Kim and Danielle seal the match with the stuff for the final point 25-13.