With the U.S. women’s volleyball team leading 24-20 in the fourth set and 2-1 in the match overall, the crowd at College Park Center began cheering and clapping along to a remixed version of “Everybody Clap Your Hands”.
The match point was hard-fought before Team USA scored to secure a 3-1 victory over Canada, sending fans into a frenzy.
The Poland vs Serbia game marked the first of 16 tournament matches where both teams showcased their strengths in a thrilling contest. Team USA and Canada ended the night with fans on the edge of their seats.
The tournament began Tuesday, with eight of the world’s top teams competing in Arlington during the preliminary phase. The knockout stages will occur June 20-23 in Bangkok, Thailand. Fans from both teams filled the stands, proudly displaying their national colors, with numerous Canadian and American flags waving in the crowd.
USA vs Canada
Outside hitter Avery Skinner said it was a great match and the team had a strong performance in front of the home crowd. Skinner felt the team was balanced but mentioned they’re still working on chemistry since the team uses different lineups each game.
“I think it's just a little bit tough for chemistry, but at the same time I think everybody handles it so well,” Skinner said. “It's not the same as most other countries who have played with the same lineup for years. I think that's what makes us so strong.”
The team is focused on taking every match “as it is” while continuing to improve, Skinner said. The team wants to win everything to become the best they can, come late summer.
Skinner said Canada has great attackers and effectively mixes up shots while maintaining pressure on both ends of the net. Most sets were close, and she said the team needs to position itself to be most successful at the end.
Tuesday’s crowd provided the most enthusiastic support Team USA has had since the preliminary phase began, Skinner said. It’s fun to play in front of the home crowd and the team is excited to spend the week in Arlington.
Outside hitter Kathryn Plummer said there was an urgency to keep a foot on the gas since there was a tendency to give up the lead. Although Team USA only gave up one set, she said there could’ve been smarter decisions on the attack during the second set.
Playing with new lineups every week is “definitely unique,” Plummer said. Many teams stick with the same starting seven which has its pros and cons. The pros are building team chemistry and finding rhythm but the cons involve strain from playing every match.
Plummer said Team USA’s depth allows them to recover quicker than others. Although it’s tough, it forces players to adapt and find new ways to play with different teammates each night. She said communication is key to staying competitive on the court.
“I think just playing USA fast, playing USA volleyball, getting a good first touch, that's always what we're focused on,” Plummer said.
Team USA will have two days to make adjustments in preparation for three back-to-back games starting 8 p.m. Friday against Bulgaria.
Poland vs Serbia
Poland dominated the first set, with Serbia struggling to gain traction and falling 25-16. However, Serbia rebounded in the second set, showcasing strong defense and causing Poland to make several errors to tie the game.
Head coach Stefano Lavarini said Team Poland encountered difficulties in the second set, particularly with receptions. The team struggled with countering blocks, spikes and ball recovery. Poland managed to regain composure and edge out Serbia in the final two sets.
Receptions were one of the few categories where Serbia led, with 89 to Poland’s 71. The teams were close in blocking with Poland achieving 11 blocks to Serbia’s ten. Despite Poland’s occasional struggles, Serbia’s 23 errors contributed significantly to their loss.
With limited time to prepare for so many games, Lavarini said the team maintains a growth mindset to achieve balance. Playing 12 matches during the preliminary phase is challenging, as the team must manage playing time while conserving energy for the rest of the week, he said.
No matter where Poland plays, Polish fans carry their passion worldwide and the team feels that, Lavarini said.
“Polish are super, super passionate for volleyball and we found Polish everywhere,” Lavarini said. “Last season, I remember when we came here there were many, many of them.”
Poland aims to gain more points in its match against Korea at 12:30 p.m. on Thursday. Lavarini said that during joint practices the team observed Korea’s physicality and the challenges they present. He emphasized that the key to defeating Korea will be maintaining patience.
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