USA will try to defend their World Grand Prix title this year
Lausanne, Switzerland, June 3, 2016 - Twelve teams will compete in FIVB Volleyball World Grand Prix Group 1 in 2016 hoping to reach the podium in the Group 1 Finals in Bangkok, Thailand from July 6 to 10. With the Group 1 matches beginning on June 9, we take a look at defending champions USA.
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USA – Keeping up the winning momentum
After an impressive performance to claim their first-ever FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championship title at Italy 2014, the United States went on to win four gold medals, including the Pan American Games, the NORCECA Championship, the Pan American Cup and the World Grand Prix on home soil in Omaha.
USA have won a total of eight World Grand Prix medals, including their first gold medal victory in 1995, their follow-up gold finish in 2001, their dominant run with three consecutive titles from 2010 to 2012, and their latest triumph in 2016 to add to two bronze medals in 2003 and 2004.
These podium finishes came with Most Valuable Player awards for prominent players like Tara Cross Battle (1995), Danielle Scott-Aruda (2001), Logan Tom (2004), Foluke Akinradewo (2010), Destinee Hooker (2011), Megan Hodge (2012), and Karsta Lowe (2015), who are also members of USA’s various Olympic rosters.
The following week, they used their home-court advantage and swept all their matches in Omaha, dropping just two sets in the Final Six in a 3-1 (25-17, 25-14, 15-25, 25-18) win over Italy and a 3-1 (26-24, 19-25, 25-16, 25-22) win over Russia.
Lowe never made the A-team until her junior year of high school. The Southern California native played tennis competitively until high school. She started playing volleyball in 2003 with a local club.
Since the World Grand Prix, Lowe has been one of the most coveted players from the USA team. She currently plays for Fenerbahce Grundig in the Turkish League.