USA vs DOMINICAN | HIGHLIGHTS | Women's VNL 2025. USA make yet another step towards VNL Finals. The home team takes out Dominican Republic in four sets in Arlington.
Eighth-placed USA moved closer to securing a spot at the women’s Volleyball Nations League Finals in Lodz with a four-set victory over Dominican Republic in Thursday’s closing match at home in Arlington. The Americans improved to a 6-4 win-loss record and 17 points and are running just above the cut-off for the quarterfinals in the current VNL standings. Dominican Republic, on the other hand, dropped to 4-6 and 10. They are in 11th place and still in mathematical contention, but only with a distant shot at the Finals.
Watch the Volleyball Nations League on VBTV Dominican Republic took the very competitive first set, but then USA came back and stayed in control for the most part of the next three to celebrate a 3-1 (23-25, 25-19, 25-16, 25-20) victory, shaped up by outside hitter Logan Eggleston with a block-out shot for the match winner.
Eggleston rounded off her game tally to 10 points, all in swings, while her cross-court teammate Avery Skinner once again led the American team in scoring, with 18 points, including two aces and a kill block. Middle blocker Tia Jimerson spiked at a 60% success rate, put up four kill blocks and fired an ace to finish with 14 points.
“We’ve been working really hard in the gym and today we just wanted to show out chemistry and hard work, and I think we did that,” Jimerson, who is playing in her first VNL, told VBTV. “It’s amazing! I’m just so grateful for the opportunity just to be out here to compete with these girls.”
Dominican Republic’s opposite Gaila Gonzalez produced a match-high 19 points, including four blocks and two aces. Outside and captain Brayelin Martinez added another 15 for the Caribbean Queens, while middle Jineiry Martinez finished with 10 points.
Franklin, first touch.
Avery Skinner back in town.
In any situation.
Holter serve, well handled.
Ariana Rodriguez back.
Big, we talked about the teams watching video.
Gaia Gonzalez, no doubt of focus.
Madison Skinner, one of the most decorated NCAA players
of all time in the United States.
Three-time national champion.
Going up to block.
Butler gets a good piece of it.
There's Avery Skinner going over the top, per your advice.
Morgan Hentz flying in out of the backcourt.
There's another touch.
Franklin, already got three digs.
Told you long rallies.
Here we go.
Dominicans love their outside hitters.
And it's finished from Braylon Martinez.
That's an indication of how this match is going to go.
We are in for a long night.
I mean, check out this hustle from Morgan Hentz
just to keep the ball alive.
Then another pancake earlier from Sarah Franklin.
She's been a serving sub.
She's steady defensively.
Serve, receive.
Well, that was clean.
First ball, kill.
She goes away from it.
Free ball.
Tempo to Skinner.
Well set by Fairbanks.
No Libro on the floor for the Dominican Republic
in this rotation.
Samany sends it right to it.
Ooh, triple block, and it's good.
Fans love it.
Big oohs and ahs.
Love that Franklin brings that out of the net.
Second time to pick up.
Skinner from the backcourt.
Ariana Rodriguez has that cross-court spin underneath it.
Franklin, oh, triple block, door closed.
And it's the Dominican Republic sitting at set point.
Receiving the forward cross.
Great pass by Skinner.
Recycled.
Tia Jimerson, yikes.
Franklin, brave swing.
Great defense from Rodriguez.
It goes outside to Braylon Martinez.
Off the hands.
The Dominican Republic takes set number one.
Not the case today.
Skinner with the first serve.
This is her third serve.
When they hit, Madison Skinner on a service roll.
This is her fourth serve.
Holter back to Jimerson again.
This has been working.
Avery setting Madison.
Avery Skinner up the middle.
They are using it more now.
From the Dominican Republic has cut it now to seven.
A lot of work to do.
Jimerson, always followed by the finger wag.
Now I love it.
Give them a little sass, Tia.
Closing the block.
Good cover.
Eggleston, impact.
Perfect pass.
Jimerson up front.
Had a delayed finger wag.
Like, yes, I am.
Three of them attacks and two blocks.
Three blocks.
That is an attack.
Set point USA to tie this match up at one apiece.
Sammody underneath it.
Here's a free ball.
To the middle.
Well played.
A lot of work to do.
It'll be set point number two.
Skinner.
Shut down heavy roof by Gonzalez of making that final.
Sammody gets the start.
Tries a little something different.
Eggleston and Dee, the US, starting
the way they finished their first action this week
against, or in Volleyball Nations League,
played against China yesterday.
Eggleston.
Oh my, they have a Merrick Sullivan.
Hey, let's not let this roll continue.
Yeah, they're saying that Poulter, backcourt,
coming to bring in that.
So Poulter has it there.
Playing.
I said inside, slowed by the block.
Fairbanks quick to the outside.
She's got a little quicker tempo.
And you see it coming.
I mean, she's quick and Eggleston's on it.
Madison, well dug.
Off hands.
Madison Skinner, smooth.
Those sets inside.
So one time a year, you get to see this national team
play in the United States.
And they sit at set point.
Logan Eggleston, serve.
Tough ball for Browder Gonzalez.
She wisely decides to stay on the floor.
It's Jemerson with the last touch yet again.
And US takes sets two and three to get a 2-1 lead
over the Dominican Republic.
Avery Skinner with the first.
Poulter keeps the ball on Heredia.
Sammity, one blocker contorts herself to the line.
Slowed a little by the block.
Eggleston from the backcourt.
No good.
We haven't seen a lot of backcourt in this set.
Sammity, smooth.
Good put down for Stephanie Sammity.
That's smoother.
A much better ball.
Second serve.
Causing some problems.
Middle's not an option.
Rettke immediately goes to the outside.
Twice.
Especially for these bubble teams,
teams right on the cusp of making the DNL finals,
it is more important than ever to get
those wins under your belt. You not only
put yourself in a good position, but knock the other team nearly
out.
We'll say tip, tip, tip.
Braeden Martinez made that look far easier than it was.
Avery Skinner in.
Brings Stephanie Sammity in up front and Poulter in the back.
Braeden Martinez puts the ball at Poulter.
Again, changes the offense with that.
How?
There's a triple block.
You look like you're going to get clamped.
Ariana Rodriguez serving.
Blocked.
Braeden Martinez first contact.
Of course, she's going to get it back.
Sammity picks it up.
Heavy swing, and the United States
takes down the Dominican Republic in four.
