Kelly Murphy (hitting, right) ranks seventh among all points scorers at the FIVB World Grand Prix.
Murphy, USA Chase FIVB World Grand Prix Championship Berth
Thursday, July 20, 2017 | Volleyball
The Americans are in third, and need to be in the top six to qualify for championship play
CUIABA, Brazil – Gator Great and 2016 Olympic bronze medalist Kelly Murphy and enter their final three FIVB World Grand Prix Preliminary Round matches in third place of the overall standings, putting them in the hunt for a coveted top-six spot.
Pool I – Cuiaba, Brazil (all times Eastern) | FIVB World Grand Prix Website
Championship play will be in Nanjing, China from Aug. 2-6. China and the top five finishers from the preliminary round qualify for the championship.
Team USA sits in third in the standings with 13 points, trailing Netherlands (15 points) and Serbia (15 points). There are six teams either three or four points behind Team USA in the standings.
Through the first three matches (July 7-9), Murphy led the Americans with 47 points, highlighted by 19-point outings in a straight-set win over No. 1 China and a five-set triumph over No. 5 Russia.
Defenses seemed to adjust and attempted to limit Murphy's success, though she still put together a pair of impressive performances.
In a five-set setback against China, Murphy tallied 22 points, the second-highest total of any player in the match. Murphy also notched 14 points, the third-highest total among Americans, in a five-set loss to No. 8 Italy. Finally, in a four-set win over No. 12 Turkey, Murphy accrued 11 points, making her one of four Americans in double figures.
Also in U.S. Women's National Team action this year, with the help of rising senior Rhamat Alhassan, the Americans went 7-0 en route to winning the Pan American Cup last month.
Hammons, Kramer, Team USA Drop All Three Secondary Pool Matches
After advancing to the top eight and a second round of pool play, the U.S. Women's Junior National Team went 0-3, dropping them into classification play for places fifth through eighth at the FIVB U20 World Championship.
Incoming freshman Paige Hammons and rising sophomore Rachael Kramer have seen action, mostly as reserves, in multiple matches. Hammons started the final two sets, recording three points, in a devastating five-set loss to China.
Hammons' top performance came in a five-set, comeback victory over Serbia. The Louisville, Ky. native tallied five points and played all five sets, starting the second.
Team USA's opponents for classification play (July 22-23) have yet to be determined. Both matches will be held in Cordoba, Mexico.
The Americans qualified for this year's FIVB U20 World Championship by winning the NORCECA U20 Pan American Cup. Hammons was a member of the gold medal-winning team the U.S. fielded at the U20 Pan American Cup.
Continue to check FloridaGators.com and follow @GatorsVB on both Twitter and Instagram for more updates on both these events.
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Pool I – Cuiaba, Brazil (all times Eastern) | FIVB World Grand Prix Website
- Thursday, July 20 | No. 2 USA vs. No. 7 Netherlands – 4:10 p.m. | MATCH INFO / LIVE STATS
- Friday, July 21 | No. 2 USA vs. No. 16 Belgium – 4:10 p.m. | MATCH INFO / LIVE STATS
- Sunday, July 23 | No. 2 USA vs. No. 4 Brazil – 9:10 a.m. | MATCH INFO / LIVE STATS
Championship play will be in Nanjing, China from Aug. 2-6. China and the top five finishers from the preliminary round qualify for the championship.
Team USA sits in third in the standings with 13 points, trailing Netherlands (15 points) and Serbia (15 points). There are six teams either three or four points behind Team USA in the standings.
Through the first three matches (July 7-9), Murphy led the Americans with 47 points, highlighted by 19-point outings in a straight-set win over No. 1 China and a five-set triumph over No. 5 Russia.
Defenses seemed to adjust and attempted to limit Murphy's success, though she still put together a pair of impressive performances.
In a five-set setback against China, Murphy tallied 22 points, the second-highest total of any player in the match. Murphy also notched 14 points, the third-highest total among Americans, in a five-set loss to No. 8 Italy. Finally, in a four-set win over No. 12 Turkey, Murphy accrued 11 points, making her one of four Americans in double figures.
Also in U.S. Women's National Team action this year, with the help of rising senior Rhamat Alhassan, the Americans went 7-0 en route to winning the Pan American Cup last month.
Hammons, Kramer, Team USA Drop All Three Secondary Pool Matches
After advancing to the top eight and a second round of pool play, the U.S. Women's Junior National Team went 0-3, dropping them into classification play for places fifth through eighth at the FIVB U20 World Championship.
Incoming freshman Paige Hammons and rising sophomore Rachael Kramer have seen action, mostly as reserves, in multiple matches. Hammons started the final two sets, recording three points, in a devastating five-set loss to China.
Hammons' top performance came in a five-set, comeback victory over Serbia. The Louisville, Ky. native tallied five points and played all five sets, starting the second.
Team USA's opponents for classification play (July 22-23) have yet to be determined. Both matches will be held in Cordoba, Mexico.
The Americans qualified for this year's FIVB U20 World Championship by winning the NORCECA U20 Pan American Cup. Hammons was a member of the gold medal-winning team the U.S. fielded at the U20 Pan American Cup.
Continue to check FloridaGators.com and follow @GatorsVB on both Twitter and Instagram for more updates on both these events.
FOLLOW FLORIDA VOLLEYBALL
FloridaGators.com
Coach Mary Wise on Twitter | Coach Mary Wise on Instagram
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