USA Women Defeat Host Poland 3-1

BYDGOSZCZ, Poland, August 18, 2006.- The USA Women’s National Team (1-1) evened its 2006 World Grand Prix record on Thursday with a 26-24, 25-22, 18-25, 25-21 victory over Poland (0-2) in front of 6,300 fans at Luczniczka Hall here.

Earlier today Italy (2-0) swept Dominican Republic (1-1) 25-17, 25-17, 25-18 in the same four-team round-robin pod named Group C. The U.S. faces Italy tomorrow and the Dominicans meet Poland in the nightcap.

Nancy Metcalf paced the USA with a match-high 16 points, Heather Bown added 13, Tayyiba Haneef, contributed 12, Therese Crawford reached 10 points, while Danielle Scott chipped in eight off the bench.

“We played better today,” USA Head Coach ‘Jenny’ Lang Ping said. “Service and setting we have to improve, though.”

“We are pleased with our game,” Berg said. “We put our whole heart in it.”

Poland was led by Milena Rosner’s 15 points, while Malgorzata Glinka-Mogentale added 13 points. Katarzyna Skowronska-Dolata charted nine points in the loss.

“We played better than yesterday (against Italy), but it wasn’t enough,” Poland captain Joanna Mirek said. “The American team had great defense.”

“If not for foolish mistakes every set, it would have looked different,” Poland Head Coach Ryszard Niemczyk said. “The girls are not in shape so I can’t mark out anyone. Tomorrow we have chances to win (against Dominican Republic).”