Volleyball's Hampton Helps U.S. National Team Qualify For 2008 FIVB World Grand Prix
Tuesday, June 26, 2007 | Volleyball
University of Florida senior outside hitter Marcie Hampton (Gainesville, Fla.) and the U.S. National Team completed an undefeated run through Pool A of the Pan American Cup on Monday night with a 3-0 (25-18, 25-12, 25-11) win over Mexico. The victory earned the Americans, who finished 5-0 in Pool-A competition, a spot in the 2008 FIVB World Grand Prix.
The win also assured the U.S. a bye in the quarterfinal round of the Pan American Cup, as well as two days off before their next match. They will next take the court on June 28 against the winner of the Brazil/Argentina quarterfinal.
Hampton played in four of the U.S.' five pool-play matches, making one start. She made her first appearance of the tournament in the fourth game of the team's opening match, a 3-1 win over Argentina on June 21.
The two-time veteran of the U.S. National team saw more action the following night in a three-game sweep of Costa Rica. Entering the match in the second game and starting the third, Hampton finished with six points on five kills and a block solo. The Americans' toughest match of pool play took place on June 23, as they battled to a 3-2 victory over the Dominican Republic. Hampton saw action in the second and fourth games of the contest.
The fourth match of the tournament pitted the U.S. against Trinidad & Tobago on June 24, and Hampton was among the seven players to earn a starting nod. She responded with a nine-point night that featured six kills on eight attempts and a trio of aces to help the U.S. record their second sweep of the event. She did not play in the team's sweep of Mexico the following night.
Based on the final standings of the Pan American Cup, the top-three teams from NORCECA (North, Central America and Caribbean Volleyball Federation) and the top team from the CSV (South American Confederation) qualify for the 2008 FIVB World Grand Prix. Along with Team USA, Cuba has solidified a spot in the 2008 World Grand Prix.
The Americans await the winner of the Brazil/Argentina quarterfinal, which is scheduled to take place on June 27 at 9 p.m. EST.
- UF -
