Vansant, Hagglund Help U.S. Strike Pan Am Gold
July 26, 2015 | Volleyball
TORONTO - For the first time since 1967, the U.S. women's volleyball team stood atop the podium at the Pan America Games, with Husky alums Krista Vansant and Jenna Hagglund both playing leading roles in the Gold Medal effort. Team USA avenged an earlier pool play loss to Brazil today at Exhibition Hall A, sweeping the Brazilians in an intense match, 25-22, 25-21, 28-26.
Vansant, an offensive leader for the U.S. throughout her first Pan America Games, had 11 points today and Hagglund had eight running sets. This is the second gold medal for Vansant and Hagglund this summer, as they also played together in the Pan Am Cup (not connected to the Pan America Games) last month in Peru.
The U.S. had lost a five-setter to Brazil in the final match of pool play earlier in the week, surrendering a two-sets-to-one lead. After taking the first two sets in the rematch today, the U.S. fell into an eight-point hole in the third set, as Brazil looked to stage another comeback. But the Americans slowly closed the gap, and then survived a couple set points before closing it out on their first match point with an attack error from the Brazilians.
Team USA had taken the bronze medal at each of the past four Pan America Games, which take place every four years. Brazil was looking to repeat as champions.
The victory came on the same day that the U.S. Women's National Team competing at the FIVB Grand Prix in Omaha, Neb., also clinched a gold medal by beating Brazil, with a match still remaining. Two more Husky All-Americans, Courtney Thompson and Tama Miyashiro, are part of that U.S. squad.
