Tomes, USA Win First Match at Pan Am Games

July 15, 2007

NORMAN, Okla. - Former OU volleyball player Laura Tomes, who is currently playing with the U.S. Women's National Team, opened the Pan American Games with a win as the USA topped Costa Rica 25-9, 25-19, 25-12 Saturday.

The U.S. (1-0), grouped into Pool B of the eight-team women's volleyball tournament, faces Puerto Rico on Sunday at noon ET, followed by a July 16 match against Cuba at 6 p.m. ET. Both the Puerto Rico and Cuba matches are scheduled to air on ESPN Deportes.

Team USA bolted to a 9-2 advantage in the first set and never looked back as Costa Rica managed just one scoring spurt of two points as the U.S. won 25-9. The American led 8-2 in the second set, only to encounter an awakened Costa Rica defense that cut the deficit to three at 17-14. However, the U.S. closed out the period at 25-19 on its third set point opportunity. Leading 9-6 in the third set, the U.S. put together a 14-5 run as part of a 25-12 victory.

Tayyiba Haneef-Park (Laguna Hills, Calif.) paced the American attack with 14 points via nine kills and five aces. Danielle Scott-Arruda (Baton Rouge, La.), the flag bearer for the entire U.S. delegation at the Pan American Games opening ceremony less than 24 hours earlier, added 13 points on nine kills and four blocks. Cynthia Barboza (Long Beach, Calif.) and Foluke Akinradewo (Plantation, Fla.), who are Stanford University teammates during the college season, each contributed 10 points in the victory. Barboza picked up eight kills and two blocks, while Akinradewo picked up three aces to reach her double digit points. Cassie Busse (Prior Lake, Minn.) tallied seven points on four kills, two aces and a block. Lindey Hunter (Papillion, Neb.) turned in two setter dumps for kills to go with 16 assists. Kristen Fenton Michaelis (Marysville, Mich.) produced 10 digs in her first international experience.

"We did a good job starting out the tournament with lots of young players, many in their first international setting," Scott-Arruda said. "This is a really great opportunity for our younger players to experience an Olympic setting. As we continue to play and get used to competing together, we will continue to get better in the tournament."

U.S. Head Women's Volleyball Coach Sue Woodstra echoed that the younger players did well, but the lack of unity caused some problems at times during the match. "We need to find a rhythm out on the court with the young players," Woodstra said.

Woodstra started Scott-Arruda and Akinradewo at middle blocker, Haneef-Park and Barboza at outside hitter, Bussie at opposite and Lindsey Hunter (Papillion, Neb.) at setter. Kristen Fenton Michaelis (Marysville, Mich.) is the U.S. designated libero for the tournament. The U.S. serve proved to a major factor in the game in either winning points outright - 10 aces to Costa Rica's two - or forcing the setter to continue plays outside of the normal offense. The U.S. also held an 8-4 advantage in blocks. Both teams produced 88 attack attempts, but the U.S. converted 38 into kills compared to Costa Rica's 20.

"Our goal is always to reach the medal round, but we also will take one match at a time," Scott-Arruda said in reference to who looks to be the top teams in the Pan American Games. "We want to make it out of pool play to reach the semifinals, first."

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Tomes, USA Win First Match at Pan Am Games

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