VOLLEYBALL: U.S. women ready to defend Nations League title with 12-3 mark in round-robin

Top U.S. scorer Andrea Drews on the block vs. the Netherlands last week (Photo: FIVB)

The United States women’s National Team completed a sparkling 12-3 round-robin season in the FIVB Women’s Nations League, tying for the best record and ranking second on the sets-won criteria. The final round-robin standings leaders, with the top six advancing to the finals in China in two weeks:

1. 35 points China (12-3)
2. 35 points United States (12-3)
3. 35 points Brazil (11-4)
4. 34 points Italy (11-4)
5. 32 points Turkey (11-4)
6. 26 points Poland (9-6)

On its final weekend of round-robin play, in Ekaterinburg (RUS), the American women swept Russia (3-0), squeezed past the Netherlands, 3-2 and beat Thailand, 3-0.

Heading into the finals, to be played in Nanjing (CHN) beginning on 3 July, the six teams will play in two pools:

Pool A: China, Turkey, Italy
Pool B: United States, Poland, Brazil

The top two in each pool will advance to the semifinals. In its games against the other five finalists, the U.S. defeated Italy, Poland and China, and lost to Brazil and Turkey.

The top scorer in the preliminary round was Poland’s unstoppable Malwina Smarzek, who scored 365 points, way ahead of Brayelin Martinez (DOM: 258 points) and Gabi Guimares (BRA: 247). The top U.S. scorer was Outside Hitter Andrea Drews with 158 (17th overall).

Full scores and schedules are here.