USA Volleyball dominates Netherlands

LONG BEACH, Calif.- Before making their trip to Paris to defend their gold medal at the 2024 Olympics, the USA women’s national team got in on a three-day exhibition blitz against the Netherlands at the Walter Pyramid in Long Beach, California. 

The Americans are ranked No. 5 in the world. On the other side, Netherlands occupies the No. 8 spot globally. The two teams figure to face stiff competition at the Summer Games. 

While the U.S. team is in the No. 5 spot, Brazil (No.1), Italy (No. 2), Turkey (No. 3), and Poland (No. 4) rank ahead of Team USA, according to the FIVB women’s volleyball world rankings. With that in mind, USA Volleyball women’s national team head coach Karch Kiraly said it was good for his team to get in some work before the team traveled to Paris. 

USA women’s national team star Chiaka Ogbogu prepares to serve against the Netherlands national team during an exhibition played at the Walter Pyramid on July 10, 2024. Photo credit: Dennis J. Freeman/News4usonline

“These are really helpful and important,” Kiraly told News4usonline Editor Dennis J. Freeman. “Almost all the teams who are competing in the Olympics do something like this, both the twelve women’s Olympic teams and the twelve men’s Olympic teams. Our men are going to go to Poland to play some matches like this.”

Kiraly goes on to say that the exhibition matches that both the men and women’s national teams participate in before they head to Paris are essentially warmups for the big dance. 

“It’s like tests,” Kiraly remarked. “Test-factoins. You get to test lineups, you get to test certain tactics, and things like that. So, we get a lot out of them. Both teams were across the net. The Netherlands women’s national team is also in the Olympics, and they have a tough group. They too, want to be at their best when they start the Olympic Games in a couple of weeks.”

The United States women’s national team and the Netherlands engaged in three matches during the 2024 USA Volleyball Cup. The Netherlands provided the Americans with a good test, but in the end, the U.S. national team dominated the action. 

Outside hitters Kathryn Plummer (left) and Kelsey Robinson Cook helped lead the American team to victory in the three matches against the Netherlands national team during several exhibition games played at the Walter Pyramid. The matches were played on July 10, July 12, and July 14, 2024. Photo credit: Dennis J. Freeman/News4usonline

In the first match that took place on July 10, the Americans were pushed to five sets before prevailing, thanks to the amazing play of outside hitter Avery Skinner. The second match on July 12  presented a clean sweep by the American team. 

Spurred by the play of middle blocker Haleigh Washington and outside hitter Kathryn Plummer, the United States handled the overseas visitors, coming away with three straight sets (25-21, 25-20, and 25-13). Because this was an exhibition matchup, the U.S. and Netherlands played another set that the Americans won, 25-23. 

Thanks to outstanding performances by outside hitter Kelsey Robinson Cook and Chiaka Ogbogu (middle) on the final day of play on July 14, the U.S. topped the Netherlands team, 3-1. On all three days of the exhibition, the American team proved to be too tall, too powerful, and too good.

In order for his team to repeat its gold performance at the Tokyo Olympics (COVID-19), Kiraly said being healthy is crucial.   

“For the women, we’ve had a number of health challenges this year, but we’re getting to a much better place. So the key in the next 15 days is to keep that progress going, that health improvement going. And as their health improves, we can work together a little more in practice and connect better, and have the team jell more. That’s going to be big.”   


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