Former Buckeye Jen Flynn Sets Team USA To 3-0 Win Over Cuba In World Championship Quarterfinals – Ohio State Buckeyes
9/11/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 11, 2002
COLUMBUS, Ohio – USA eliminated three times Olympic and World Champion Cuba in the quarterfinals of the 2002 FIVB Women’s Volleyball World Championship on Wednesday, while China had a tough 3-2 clash with the young, but talented Brazilian team for the remaining place.
Earlier on Wednesday, Italy reached the semifinal by defeating Korea in straight sets, while Russia cruised through their match with Bulgaria with similar ease.
The American team has now scored nine straight victories here in Germany and is the only team left undefeated in the competition. They delivered first class volleyball against titleholder Cuba, culminating in a tremendous block to take the match.
The Americans put up a solid defense, scoring 17 block points to Cuba’s three. They combined with great harmony and teamwork with Logan Tom making 11 points, 10 each from Daniella Scott and Tayyiba Haneef and another nine coming from Heather Bown.
Former Ohio State women’s volleyball student-athlete Jen Flynn continued to be the setter for Team USA. Flynn recorded three blocks and two ace serves in the match. “I can’t even tell you how amazing it was to wear the red, white, and blue on a day like today,” Flynn said. “In our own little way, we were able to show everyone here that the USA fights hard for their country and does not give up. We even wore a little black ribbon on the flag of our jerseys in remembrance of those who died one year ago today. There was also a moment of silence before the first serve of the match, which was awesome. There wasn’t a sound in that gym and I think it got us even more fired up. However, when I looked back at my passers before the whistle blew, they all had tears in their eyes, so I have to admit that I was a bit nervous, but I’m telling you, it was on. Even when Cuba took the lead at 16-14 in the first set, we had no doubts in our minds that we were going to win.” “September 11 is a historical day for the USA,” US captain Tara Cross-Battle said. “This gave my team an extra push to play well today. We showed today that USA is a proud nation and that we are survivors.”
This is the first time since 1982 that Cuba – currently initiating a new lineup of next generation players – will not be in the last four of a World Championship. They finished fifth in 1982. For USA, it is their first semifinal appearance since 1990, when they went on to take the bronze medal by defeating Cuba in the match for third place.
USA will now meet Russia for the second time in this World Championship knowing that in their first encounter they took the match 3-1.
“We should not only think about the Russian star player Gamova in the semifinal,” the US coach Toshiaki Yoshida said. “The entire Russian team is a dangerous opponent.”
