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Former Illini All-American Michelle Bartsch '12 was selected to represent the United States at the Pan American Games, held July 16-25 in Toronto, Canada, where she and Team USA came home with the gold medal. The Red, White and Blue fell to No. 2 Brazil during pool play to take second in Pool B, but regrouped to advance to the championship match, where Team USA swept Brazil to capture the gold.
Team USA, ranked No. 1 in the world by FIVB, was grouped in Pool B with the world's second-ranked Brazil, No. 15 Puerto Rico and No. 23 Peru. Pool A consisted of No. 6 Domincan Republic, No. 14 Argentina, No. 16 Canada and No. 26 Cuba.
The U.S. opened pool play on Thursday, July 16 with a sweep of Peru. Bartsch tallied four kills, including the swing for match point, and stuffed two blocks to help the USA out-block Peru 15-2 in the dominating opening victory. The U.S. continued to roll on Saturday night, sweeping Puerto Rico behind five kills from Bartsch. The United States concluded pool play on Monday night against the world's second-ranked team Brazil. USA won the first set, 25-22, but Brazil replied to take set two, 25-21, for the United States' first set loss of the Games. Team USA regained the lead with a 25-18 decision in the third set, but Brazil battled back to win the match in five and claim the automatic bid to the Semifinals. Bartsch slammed 10 kills in the match and added a block and two digs.
By taking second in pool play, Team USA was matched up with Cuba in a quarterfinal on Wednesday. The Red, White and Blue topped the Cubans, 3-1, with the help of five kills by Bartsch, to advance to Thurday's semifinal round. The following night, Bartsch once again landed five kills to go along with two blocks and an ace to force Team USA past the Dominican Republic, 3-1, and advance to the Pan Am Championship.
Faced with a rematch with No. 2 Brazil, the U.S. reversed the previous decision, as six kills by Bartsch helped the United State sweep the Brazilians and come home from Canada with another gold medal.
Bartsch helped lead Team USA to the gold medal earlier this summer at the Pan American Cup, as the United States swept their way through seven matches, dropping just one total set, in Lima, Peru, to bring home the cup for the third time in tournament history. The Illini alumna headlined Team USA's rout of Costa Rica in pool play, slamming 16 kills on 20 swings, while making it a double-double with 10 digs in her first career tournament with the National Team.
Pan American Games Schedule:
Pool A: Argentina, Canada, Cuba, Dominican Republic
Pool B: Brazil, Peru, Puerto Rico, United States
Pool Play for Team USA
July 16: USA def. Peru, 3-0 (25-15, 25-13, 24-15) | Recap | Watch Replay
July 18: USA def. Puerto Rico, 3-0 (25-17, 25-22, 25-14) | Recap | Watch Replay
July 20: Brazil def. USA, 3-2 (25-22, 21-25, 25-18, 22-25, 11-15) | Recap | Watch Replay
July 22: Quarterfinals: USA def. Cuba, 3-1 (25-18, 25-19, 22-25, 25-18) | Recap | Watch Replay
July 23: Semifinals: USA def. Dominican Republic, 3-1 (25-17, 22-25, 25-18, 25-22) | Recap
July 25: Finals: USA def. Brazil, 3-0 (25-22, 25-21, 28-26) | Recap | Watch Replay
U.S. Pan American Women's Volleyball Team Roster
# - Name (Position, Height, Hometown, College)
4 – Lauren Paolini (MB, 6-4, Ann Arbor, Mich., University of Texas)
7 – Cassidy Lichtman (OH, 6-1, Poway, Calif., Stanford University)
9 – Kristin Hildebrand (OH, 6-1, Orem, Utah, Stanford University)
10 – Natalie Hagglund (L, 5-9, Encinitas, Calif., University of Southern California)
14 – Nicole Fawcett (OPP, 6-4, Zanesfield, Ohio, Penn State University)
13 – Cursty Jackson (MB, 6-2, Los Angeles, University of Arizona)
16 – Michelle Bartsch (OH, 6-3, Maryville, Ill., University of Illinois)
17 – Falyn Fonoimoana (OPP, 6-4, Hermosa Beach, Calif.)
20 – Jenna Hagglund (S, 5-10, West Chester, Ohio, University of Washington)
22 – Rachael Adams (MB, 6-2, Cincinnati, Ohio, University of Texas)
23 – Carli Lloyd (S, 5-11, Bonsall, Calif., University of California-Berkeley)
24 – Krista Vansant (OH, 6-2, Redlands, Calif., University of Washington)
Head Coach: Dan Fisher
Assistant Coaches: Heather Olmstead
Technical Coordinator: Jesse Tupac
Team Manager: John Xie
Athletic Trainer: Maria Boquiren
