University of Minnesota Athletics
Gopher Alums Win Gold with USA Volleyball
7/5/2018 1:43:00 PM | Volleyball
Tori Dixon and Lauren Gibbemeyer helped Team USA win gold at the inaugural FIVB Volleyball Nation's League championship
Gopher alums Tori Dixon and Lauren Gibbemeyer helped Team USA win gold at the first-ever FIVB Volleyball Nation's League championship, Sunday, July 1 in Nanjing, China. Dixon was also named the tournament Best Blocker. The duo helped USA overcome Turkey in the championship match, 3-2, as USA pocketed $1 million dollars in the win, while Dixon received $10,00 0 for her Best Blocker award.
Team USA went 13-2 in the preliminary VNL rounds. USA dropped its first match against Turkey in Lincoln, Neb., on May 16, but went on to win the next 10 matches before it fell to Serbia in four sets. In that span, Dixon and Gibbemeyer played in Nebraska, followed by Japan, China, Thailand and Argentina. Team USA began pool play on June 27, where it defeated Turkey in five sets, followed by a three-set win over Serbia on June 29. USA punched its ticket to the championship match with a four-set win over China and defeated Turkey for the second time in the tournament en route to the inaugural title.
In the championship match, Dixon had seven kills in 17 attempts and added three blocks. As the match was coming to a close, Dixon added a block in the fifth for a 13-6 lead and pushed Team USA to match point with a kill. It marked the fourth time in her USA career she was named Best Blocker at an international compeition. Both Dixon and Gibbemeyer saw significant action during the two-month VNL tournament.
Team USA went 13-2 in the preliminary VNL rounds. USA dropped its first match against Turkey in Lincoln, Neb., on May 16, but went on to win the next 10 matches before it fell to Serbia in four sets. In that span, Dixon and Gibbemeyer played in Nebraska, followed by Japan, China, Thailand and Argentina. Team USA began pool play on June 27, where it defeated Turkey in five sets, followed by a three-set win over Serbia on June 29. USA punched its ticket to the championship match with a four-set win over China and defeated Turkey for the second time in the tournament en route to the inaugural title.
In the championship match, Dixon had seven kills in 17 attempts and added three blocks. As the match was coming to a close, Dixon added a block in the fifth for a 13-6 lead and pushed Team USA to match point with a kill. It marked the fourth time in her USA career she was named Best Blocker at an international compeition. Both Dixon and Gibbemeyer saw significant action during the two-month VNL tournament.
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