USA women's sitting volleyball team loses to China

by Paul Soriano USA Volleyball Manager, Media Relations & Publications

One day after posting a thrilling 3-2 win over Finland to begin play at the 2004 Paralympic Games, the USA Women's National Sitting Volleyball Team suffered its first loss in Athens, Greece.

Yu Hong Sheng scored a match-high 20 points to lead China to a 3-0 win over the United States Wednesday afternoon at Helliniko Olympic Complex.

Sheng blasted 17 kills along with two blocks and one service ace as the Chinese posted a 25-22, 25-17, 25-19 victory that improved their record to 2-0.

"We were right with them today," said Team USA's Allison Ahlfeldt (Newport Beach, Calif.), who scored five points on a team-high tying four blocks and one kill. "We were strong defensively and really improved our blocking. They've been playing together for four years and we're a very young team. We hope we can see them again in the medal rounds."

High-school junior Allison Aldrich (Schuyler, Neb.) scored a team-high 10 points on four blocks, three kills and three aces for Team USA (1-1), which opened the competition with a 3-2 win over Finland on Tuesday.

Another high-school junior, Kendra Lancaster (Sheridan, Ind.), tallied nine points on four kills, three blocks and two aces, while Brenda Maymon (Sellersburg, Ind.) and team captain Gina McWilliams (Flower Mound, Texas) added eight points apiece.

McWilliams had seven kills and one block, while Maymon had five kills, two blocks and one ace.

The next match for Team USA is a showdown against Slovenia (1-1) on Thursday at 7 p.m. (Athens time).

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