World No. 1 and two-time Paralympic Games champions United States went 4-1 in exhibition matches against 2022 World ParaVolley Sitting Volleyball World Championship silver medallists Canada held March 3 to 5 at the Boston Volleyball Festival Qualifier.
The two teams are preparing for the ParaVolley Pan America Zonal Championship, which will take place in Edmonton, Canada from May 9 to 15, to secure a ticket to the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.
USA and Canada agreed to play all their sets to 25 points, including fifth set tiebreakers. In the one match that USA lost, it dropped the fifth set 26-24. Had the match been played to 15, the USA would have won.
Over the five matches, outside hitter Monique Matthes led the team in scoring with 55 points on a team-high 42 kills, seven blocks and six aces. Middle blocker Nicky Nieves added 50 points on 33 kills, a team-high 11 blocks and six aces.
Opposite Heather Erickson scored 43 points on 29 kills, nine blocks and five aces. Middle Tia Edwards scored 43 points on 22 kills, seven blocks and 14 aces.
Outside hitter Whitney Dosty totaled 42 points on 33 kills, six blocks and three aces. Middle blocker Lora Webster scored 28 points on 14 kills, six blocks and eight aces. aces.
Setter Lexi Shifflett also had 25 points on seven kills, four blocks and 14 aces. Setter Kaleo Kanahele Maclay added 20 points on 10 kills, two blocks and eight aces.
MaKenzie Franklin had 19 points on 10 kills, five blocks and four aces. Emma Schieck finished with 15 points on 11 kills, two blocks and two aces.
Maddy Ball scored 12 points on seven kills, one block and four aces. Gia Cruz added 12 points on three kills, five blocks and four aces. Courtney Baker finished with nine points on one kill, two blocks and six aces.
Match Scores
Match 1, March 3: USA def Canada, 4-1 (25-10, 25-20, 24-26, 25-23, 25-13)
Match 2, March 3: Canada def USA, 3-2 (23-25, 16-25, 25-16, 25-17, 26-24)
Match 3, March 4: USA def Canada, 3-1 (25-20, 25-20, 24-26, 30-28)
Match 4, March 4: USA def Canada, 3-1 (25-20, 23-25, 25-18, 25-18)
Match 5, March 5: USA def Canada 3-1 (25-13, 25-17, 25-17, 23-25)
Source: USA Volleyball