Tomes, USA Improve to 4-0

June 25, 2007

NORMAN, Okla. - The U.S. Women's National Volleyball Team improved to 4-0 in pool play at the Pan American Cup, posting wins over the Dominican Republic (25-20, 18-25, 26-24, 18-25, 15-13) and Trinidad & Tobago (25-8, 25-9, 25-5) over the weekend.

Former Sooner Laura Tomes earned her first start of the Pan American Cup as she replaced injured middle blocker Tracy Stalls in the lineup against Trinidad & Tobago. Tomes, making her first international start, was credited with seven points via four kills on five swings, two blocks and an ace against.

"After playing five sets yesterday, today was a good time to use my second team and continue to practice on some skills like serving and passing," U.S. Women's National Team Head Coach `Jenny' Lang Ping said. "It gave us an opportunity for some of our other players."

Lang Ping also confirmed the loss of middle blocker Tracy Stalls for the rest of the competition with a knee injury.

"The MRI showed that the injury is not very bad, but she will be out for the rest of the tournament," she said. "That's the reason I used the other middle, Laura Tomes, who had not played much during the tournament."

Team USA (4-0), ranked seventh in the latest FIVB world ranking, concludes Pool A action on June 25 against host Mexico at 8 p.m. CDT. A U.S. victory over the Mexicans would assure the Americans the top spot in Pool A, meaning a direct advancement into the Pan American Cup semifinal round on June 28 and off days on June 26 and 27.

Should the U.S. lose to Mexico, it could still secure the top spot in a couple ways: both Dominican Republic and Argentina lose at least one match today or tomorrow, or Team USA holds a better point.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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