The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Volleyball alum Rachael Adams and Team USA win first World Championship
10.13.2014 | Volleyball
Adams played middle blocker for Team USA and saw action in four games.
Team USA and Texas All-American Rachael Adams made history on Sunday, Oct. 12, by defeating China, 3-1 (27-25, 25-20, 16-25, 26-24) and winning the first world championship gold medal for the U.S. Women's program at the FIVB World Championship at the Mediolanum Forum in Milan.
The U.S. Women had never won gold at any of the three major international volleyball events: World Championship, World Cup or Olympic Games.
Adams played middle blocker for Team USA and saw action in four games (Thailand, Kazakhstan, Mexico and Bulgaria) leading up to the gold medal match totaling 20 kills, three blocks and one dig in the tournament.
The World Championship, held every four years, is the largest FIVB major championship with 24 teams competing in four groups. In the first round, the Americans played in Pool C with Russia, Netherlands, Kazakhstan and Mexico in Verona. In the second round the U.S. competed in Pool F with Brazil, Serbia, Turkey and Bulgaria with two matches in Modena and Verona.
For the third round Team USA defeated Russia, the two-time defending World champion, twice, and Brazil, the two-time defending Olympic champion in the semifinals to claim its first title of World champion.
Gold-Medal Match
Oct. 12: USA vs. China … USA wins 27-25, 25-20, 16-25, 26-24
Third-Round Matches
Oct. 8: USA vs. Italy … Italy wins 25-23, 25-22, 25-20
Oct. 9: USA vs. Russia … USA wins 25-19, 25-23, 15-25, 25-23
Oct. 11: USA vs. Brazil … USA wins 28-18, 29-27, 25-20
Second-Round Results
Oct. 1: Turkey … USA wins 27-29, 25-19, 25-23, 25-15
Oct. 2: Bulgaria … USA wins 25-17, 25-19, 25-16
Oct. 4: Serbia … USA wins 25-22, 25-20, 25-22
Oct. 5: Brazil … Brazil wins 25-23, 25-22, 25-21
First-Round Results
Sept. 23: Mexico … USA wins 19-25, 25-11, 25-20, 25-14
Sept. 24: Kazakhstan … USA wins 25-15, 25-20, 25-22
Sept. 25: Netherlands … USA wins 29-27, 25-21, 25-18
Sept. 27: Thailand … USA wins 25-15, 25-23, 25-20
Sept. 28: Russia … USA wins 34-32, 25-19, 29-31, 26-24
