Hill Leads USA to the Crown at VNL

NANJING, China, July 1, 2018 - The USA were crowned the first-ever FIVB Volleyball Nations League champions on Sunday night after an epic 3-2 (17-25, 25-22, 26-28, 25-15, 15-7) victory over a resilient Turkey, and an inspired 20-point performance from Kimberly Hill.  

Befitting a tournament that has provided so many thrills, the VNL final threw up one for the ages as the momentum switched and both teams dug deep into their energy reserves. But it was the reigning world champions who prevailed after a match that stretched over two hours, with wing spiker Hill's tally including 16 kills, a stuff and three super aces.

It was an inspired piece of coaching from the American brains trust to throw Hill into the fray from the substitutes' bench in the first set - as Turkey gained the early ascendency. She combined brilliantly with the American's standout in the finals in wing spiker Michelle Bartsch-Hackley (18 points) and with her captain Jordan Larson as they settled the USA's nerves when they fell behind - twice - and then powered them to glory. Larson herself finished with 15 points.

The Turks were gallant in defeat and had their own shining lights in both opposite spiker Meryem Boz and middle blocker Eda Erdem Dündar, who scored 20 points apiece.

Coach Karch Kiraly had the USA primed as the form team of the VNL finals. They'd come in with the best record (13-2) from preliminary play and then had that win over Turkey, followed by a 3-0 result against Serbia before beat hosts China 3-1 in the semis. In the end there was no denying the world champions as they wrote themselves into the VNL history books.

Summary of Results in Final Round

Pool A

China d Netherlands 3-1 (20-25, 25-21, 25-22, 25-18)

Brazil d Netherlands 3-0 (25-16, 25-17, 25-23)

Brazil d China 3-0 (25-20, 25-22, 25-22)

Pool B

United States d Turkey 3-2 (17-25, 21-25, 25-21, 25-15, 15-11)

Turkey d Serbia 3-2 (20-25, 25-21, 25-18, 19-25, 16-14)

United States d Serbia 3-0 (29-27, 25-22, 25-19)

Semifinals

Turkey d Brazil 3-0 (25-23, 25-23, 25-22)

United States d China 3-1 (25-23, 25-20, 18-25, 25-18)

Bronze Medal

China d Brazil 3-0 (25-18, 25-22, 25-22)

Gold Medal

United States d Turkey 3-2 (17-25, 25-22, 26-28, 25-15, 15-7)