Heather Erickson commanded the courtroom with an epic 28-point efficiency, main USA to a 3-1 (25-21, 23-25, 25-20, 25-22) victory over China within the girls’s sitting volleyball last on the Paris 2024 Paralympic Video games on Saturday at North Paris Area.
Erickson’s dominance, that includes 25 assaults, two blocks, and an ace, secured USA’s third consecutive Paralympic gold, equalling China’s report of three gold medals within the sport.
China, having claimed gold at Athens 2004, Beijing 2008, and London 2012, battled valiantly with Xu Yixiao’s 22 factors spearheading their efforts. Tang Xuemei, Zhang Lijun, and Zhang Zufei added double-digit scores, however they may not discover a solution to Erickson’s highly effective play or break via USA’s impenetrable internet defence.
Regardless of China outscoring USA in assaults (56-54) and aces (9-3), USA’s 17 blocks to China’s six, together with fewer turnovers, gave them a important edge.
Erickson’s impression was felt from the very starting, as she opened USA’s scoring with a block and an assault, instantly setting the tone for the match. China responded with assaults from Tang and Xu to degree the rating at 2-2, however USA quickly edged forward via Erickson’s management and some pricey Chinese language errors. Contributions from Kathryn Bridge and Monique Matthews helped USA shut out the primary set 25-21.
The primary set opened with a aggressive alternate of factors. Erickson’s impression was felt from the very starting, scoring the primary two factors for USA with a block and an assault. Tang and Xu shortly answered with back-to-back spikes to even the rating at 2-2. From there, it was a detailed contest, with the groups buying and selling factors till 4-4. Nonetheless, Erickson pushed USA forward with a pointy spike to make it 5-4, and from there, USA started to construct momentum.
Chinese language errors, mixed with precision assaults from Bridge, allowed USA to increase their result in 7-5. China remained inside hanging distance however struggled to maintain up as Matthews and Lora Webster added to the offensive effort. Erickson sealed the set with a robust assault, giving USA a 25-21 win.
Within the second set, China got here out firing, decided to degree the match. They capitalised on a USA error to take the opening level and rode the momentum with Xu Yixiao main the cost. Xu’s attacking mixed with sturdy serving from Zhang Lijun allowed China to leap out to a commanding 6-0 lead. Nonetheless, USA regrouped shortly. Erickson began USA’s restoration with a tough spike, and consecutive errors from China minimize their result in 6-3.
Erickson’s continued offensive strain introduced USA again to tie the sport at 7-7, and from there, each groups traded factors in a fierce back-and-forth battle, with the rating deadlocked at 15-15. Erickson as soon as once more took management, propelling USA forward 18-15 with well timed assaults. Nonetheless, China remained affected person and clawed their method again into the sport, tying it at 21-21. The set reached a tense 23-23 stalemate earlier than Xu broke via with a pointy assault, adopted by an ace from Zhang Lijun, giving China the set 25-23 and levelling the match at 1-1.
The third set noticed USA regroup, with Erickson and Matthews main the cost early on. USA took management with Erickson’s highly effective spikes, constructing an early 7-3 lead. China struggled to maintain tempo, committing a collection of unforced errors that allowed USA to increase the hole to 10-5. Kathryn Bridge delivered a wonderfully timed spike to stretch the result in 11-5.
USA’s mixture of offensive firepower and strong internet defence, led by Matthews and Bridge, pushed them to a commanding 15-8 lead, prompting a Chinese language timeout. Though China tried to tighten their defence, Matthews discovered seams of their blocking, sustaining USA’s lead at 18-15. Erickson continued her all-around dominance with sturdy spikes, serving to USA edge nearer to set level. Bridge and Matthews added key blocks, and a Chinese language error gave USA the set 25-20, placing them forward 2-1.
The fourth set started with Zhang Lijun delivering a blistering serve to offer China the primary level, however USA responded with composed, highly effective assaults, taking a 7-4 lead. China fought again, with Zhang Lijun and Xu combining to degree the rating at 8-8. China then pushed forward 13-10, with Zhang Lijun enjoying a pivotal position on the internet. USA, nevertheless, staged one other comeback, led by Erickson’s relentless attacking and Matthews’ strong blocking, tying the set 15-15.
The groups continued to commerce factors in an intense battle, with Erickson stepping up as soon as once more to ship key blows and degree the rating at 17-17. USA then took management of the set, with their entrance line firing on all cylinders. China made a late push, with Xu delivering an ace and a pointy assault to chop the result in 22-21, however USA remained composed. Bridge’s off-the-block hit secured the ultimate level at 25-22, clinching the victory and sealing USA’s third consecutive Paralympic gold.
Picture: WPV/Sinisa Kanizaj.
