#USAVWJNT | Team Tumblr | European Global Challenge
Unlike the majority of her Illini teammates, incoming freshman Jordyn Poulter is not on campus training this summer, as the nation's top-rated high school setter is spending the summer playing with the U.S. Women's Junior National Team. The Aurora, Colorado, native returned to Team USA looking to earn her second gold medal in as many years by serving as one of two setters for the United States as they journeyed to Europe for the 11th-annual European Global Challenge. The Juniors took off for Italy on July 3 and played four training matches against European teams before heading to Pula, Croatia, for the Challenge. USA played a total of 11 matches overseas, going 8-3, with all three losses at the hands of the Italian Junior National Team. Despite going 0-fer in their first three matchups, the Red, White and Blue came together in the Global Challenge Championship to take down Italy in five sets and become the first U.S. team to win the EGC gold medal since 2011.
The pre-tour schedule began with a pair of matches in Treiste, Italy, against the Italian Junior National Team. Italy took both matches, topping Team USA, 3-0, on July 5 then 3-1 on July 7. The U.S. rebounded to win their next two matches in Maribor, Slovenia. Team USA captured its first victory overseas with a win over the Israeli National Team on July 8, then topped Slovenian professional club Nova Katrem Branik, 4-0, on July 10Â in their final tune up for the European Global Challenge.
The Junior National Team kicked off the European Global Challenge with four pool play matches on July 13-14. Team USA swept Hungary's A squad in the opening match, 25-22, 25-22, 25-12, then took their third loss of the trip to Italy, 2-1 (19-25, 20-25, 27-25). Those two sets would be the only two USA would drop until the Championship match, as the United States rebounded to sweep Falconara (25-14, 25-11, 25-18) and Slovenia Select on Tuesday to finish pool play ranked first among the seven U.S. teams. Italy finished atop the European standings, and the pair received a bye for the opening round of elimination matches.
Team USA faced an American team for the first time on Wednesday morning, sweeping BIP Southeastern to advance to the European Global Challenge Semifinals. After a heat advisory postponed the U22 Semifinals to the following morning, the United States Junior National team continued its sweep streak, taking down the Mountain West Conference All-Star Team in straight sets to advance to the championship match.
Held in prime time on Thursday, July 16, the European Global Challenge featured two familiar foes—USA and Italy. The pair had faced three times already during the United States' trip to Europe, and Italy had come out on top all three times. The members of Team USA had their work cut out for them to take down the talented Italian squad, but the United States did not back down, running out to a quick lead and taking the first set, 25-21. Italy rebounded to take a 13-7 lead in set two, but the US replied to tie the score at 15. Nonetheless, Italy knotted the match at a set apiece with a tight 25-23 victory in set two, then took its first match lead with at 25-20 decision in the third. The fourth set was neck-and-neck and was soon tied at 20-20. Facing elimination, Team USA surged ahead down the stretch to win five of the final six points and take the fourth set, 25-21, to send the title match to five.Â
The Italians were not happy with their finish to set four and proved it by winning the first three points of the fifth set. Italy maintained its lead as the teams switched sides ahead 8-4, but the Red, White and Blue kept their heads in the game, and soon pulled within one, 11-10. Italy fought back to win the next point, but Team USA shut down their European counterparts, winning the next five straight points to claim the European Global Challenge title and take home the gold with a 15-12 decision in five sets.
The championship win marks Poulter's second gold medal with Team USA, as she also led the U.S. U20 Women's Junior National Team to the gold medal at the 2014 NORCECA Championships in Guatemala last summer. A year earlier, she launched the USA Girls Youth National Team to the silver medal at the 2013 FIVB U18 World Championships and received the Best Setter Award following both podium finishes. Additionally, she played for the USA U23 Women's National Team at the 2013 FIVB World Championships in Mexico at just 16 years of age.
For blogs, photos, box scores and more, visit the team's tumblr page.
Tour Schedule
July 5: Italy JNTÂ def. USA, 3-0 (20-25, 21-25, 18-25) | RecapÂ
July 7: Italy JNT def. USA, 3-1 (12-15, 16-25, 25-20, 21-25) | Recap | Watch Replay
July 8: USA def. Israel, 4-1 (25-20, 22-25, 25-19, 29-27, 15-9) | Recap | Watch Replay
July 10: USA def. Nova Katrem Branik, 4-0 (25-13, 28-26, 25-11, 25-22) | Recap | Watch Replay
European Global Challenge Schedule
July 12: Opening Ceremonies | Watch Replay
July 13: USA def. Hungary A, 3-0 (25-22, 25-22, 25-12) | RecapÂ
July 13: Italy JNTÂ def. USA, 2-1 (19-25, 20-25, 27-25) | RecapÂ
July 14: USA def. Falconara, 3-0 (25-14, 25-11, 25-18)Â | RecapÂ
July 14: USA def. Slovenia, 3-0 |Â RecapÂ
July 15: USA def. BIP Southeastern, 3-0Â
July 16: Semifinals - USA def. Mountain West, 3-0Â
July 16: Championship - USA def. Italy JNT, 3-2 (25-21, 23-25, 20-25, 25-21, 15-12) | Watch Replay | Box Score
U22 Division Standings After Pool Play
USA:
1. U.S. Junior National Team
2. BIP Midwest (Bring It Promotions)
3. Mountain West Conference All-Star Team
4. Team BIP
5. BIP Southeastern
6. NCVA U22 (Northern California)
7. BIP/USA Development Team
Europe:
1. Italian Junior National Team
2. Nova KBM Branik Juniors (Slovenia)
3. Israel National Team
4. Slovenia Select
5. Hungary Junior A National Team
6. Hungary Junior B National Team
7. BFTM-Falconara Juniors (Italy)
