USA improve to 4-0 in VNL

CONEGLIANO VENETO, Italy, May 28, 2019 – Madison Kingdon Rishel hit the winning point as reigning FIVB Volleyball Nations League champions USA made it four wins from four in the 2019 VNL with an impressive 3-1 (23-25, 25-16, 25-15, 25-21) defeat of Japan 2018 FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championship winners Serbia at the Zoppas Arena on Tuesday. 

Kingdon Rishel’s winning spike was her 13th point of the match and it wrapped up a convincing victory in which Karch Kiraly’s team dominated at the net. Opposite spiker Andrea Drews led scoring with 22 points was ably backed up by middle blockers Dana Rettke and Haleigh Washington who scored 15 points apiece. 

Kiraly’s team had to maintain their focus after narrowly losing the first set, but once they found their rhythm and built momentum there was little Serbia could do to hold them back. 

 

The win means that USA will go into their matches against hosts Italy and the Dominican Republic with confidence high. For Serbia and coach Zoran Terzic the result means Serbia have now lost two from two after starting the tournament with a pair of victories. 

They rallied late on in the second set, but were unable to hold off the USA once they were unable to find a way past their powerful net defence.