U.S. Women Lurch Past Dominican Republic Volleyball Team

Dominican Republic's Milagros Cabral De La Cruz (C) spikes as Destinee Hooker (L) and Foluke Akinradewo of the U.S. attempt to block during the Women's quarterfinal volleyball match between the U.S. and Dominican Republic in the 2012 London Olympic Games. Kirill Kudryavtsev/AFP/GettyImages

The U.S. women’s volleyball team beat the Dominican Republic in straight sets, but they didn’t look good doing it.

After waltzing through the opening set 25–14, the U.S. squad got increasingly sloppy while the Dominican fought harder with each point it scored.

The second set started tied until U.S. went on a 6–0 run to 14–10. Despite the massive firepower of Destinee Hooker and Faluka Akinradewo the U.S. couldn’t stretch the lead; they won the set 25–21.

This set featured amazing defensive play by both sides, but a lot of errors by the U.S. The Dominicans lost points because they were outplayed;' the U.S. side beat itself.

The third set was the worst for the U.S. ladies and the best for the Dominicans. The Americans opened a six-point lead to 17–11; no matter how badly they played, they only needed a few big kills to surge ahead. Of course, when they missed those shots, the Dominicans were right there, and with their own 5–1 run got it to 19–17.  

The Dominicans had talent; the U.S. team had a lot more, but wasn’t using it. One of the most talented Dominicans, Priscilla Rivera, started finding ways past and through the sloppy U.S. blocks. At 20–19, some of the U.S. players were looking a little worried. Bethania de la Cruz also started finding holes in the U.S. defense as well.

A Dominican service error broke the momentum temporarily, and great diving off-court dig capped by a Logan Tom spike brought it 23–20. And ace by Copurtney Thompson made if four match points for USA.

The U.S. women only needed a point. Instead, Rivera and de la Cruz each hammered another kill through the U.S. blockers. U.S. coach Hugh McCutcheon called his final time out; it almost wasn’t enough. De la Cruz beat the U.S. block again, but touched the net, losing the game which the U.S. couldn’t seem to win.

The U.S. was without starting setter Lindsey Berg, who is nursing a lower leg strained in the last match. Her replacement Courtney Thompson integrated herself seamlessly into the U.S. lineup. Berg’s absence was not a factor.

USA, the defending Olympic champions, will face either Italy or Korea in semis; if the same U.S. side which showed up against the Dominican Republic shows up for that match, the Olympics will be over for the U.S. ladies.