USA women's sitting volleyball team wins first Paralympic match

by Paul Soriano USA Volleyball Manager, Media Relations & Publications

The USA Women's Sitting Volleyball Team staged an inspiring start to the first day of volleyball competition at the 2004 Paralympic Games in Athens, Greece, as it outlasted Finland in five sets to win the country's first preliminary match Tuesday afternoon at the Helliniko Olympic Complex.

Lora Webster (Cave Creek, Ariz.) scored a team-high 15 points to lead six players in double figures as the United States posted a 25-23, 21-25, 26-24, 23-25, 15-13 victory.

Webster had 10 kills, four blocks and one service ace for Team USA. Brenda Maymon (Sellersburg, Ind.) scored 13 points on seven kills, three blocks and three aces, while Kendra Lancaster (Sheridan, Ind.) added 12 points on eight kills and four blocks.

"It was awesome," Lancaster said of the win. "We shot to the deep corners and tried to keep the ball away from the big blockers. My serve was on tonight, and the whole team had a great attitude and enthusiasm."

Allison Ahlfeldt (Newport Beach, Calif.) contributed 11 points on a team-high seven blocks and four aces, while teammates Gina McWilliams (Flower Mound, Texas) and Allison Aldrich (Schuyler, Neb.) chipped in with 10 points apiece. McWilliams had six kills, three blocks and one ace, while Aldrich recorded eight kills, one block and one ace.

The two teams stayed even for the majority of the first set before Webster launched a deep lob to Finland's back court to snatch the 25-23 win. The Fins cruised to an early 5-0 lead in the second set, however, before Lancaster pounded three consecutive serves that resulted in U.S. points, giving the Americans an 8-7 edge. But Finland quickly regained the lead and the American team trailed until their opponents wrapped up the set at 25-21.

Maymon came alive in the third set with several bursts of aggression, both at the net and behind the service line. Her efforts helped take the red, white and blue to an initial 7-1 lead. Team USA would retain the lead until the Fins tied it up at 22 apiece, and then at 24-all. The Americans then waited patiently and watched Finland make two errors to end the set.

The U.S. was plagued by errors in the fourth set despite several moments of luster, including a huge kill by Webster to put the Americans ahead, 19-15. But Finland preyed on too many American mistakes and took the set narrowly, 25-23.

The Americans came through in the fifth, again with consistent help from Lancaster, who had an impressive downward swing to put the team up 12-9 and then another deep spike to seal the match at 15-13.

"We knew we could beat [Finland]," Team USA head coach Mike Hulett said. "But I honestly didn't think it would take five sets. I don't think we ever got down [mentally], and we were attacking and hitting hard."

The U.S. women will return to preliminary action Wednesday with a 10:45 a.m. (Athens time) match against China.

For more information, go to the USA Volleyball web site.