AU’s McCage and Hentz Anchor Team USA in VNL Setback
Team USA dropped a dramatic five-set heartbreaker to Czechia on Friday in Rio de Janeiro, falling 3-2 (25-23, 25-20, 17-25, 20-25, 25-27) in what marked Czechia’s first-ever Volleyball Nations League victory.
Athletes Unlimited veterans Molly McCage and Morgan Hentz were key contributors for a young U.S. squad still searching for its first win of the tournament.
McCage helped anchor the offense with six kills and continued the dominance she showed in the team’s VNL opener. She led the team with five total blocks, offering steady production as the Americans built an early two-set lead.
Hentz paced the backcourt with a team-leading 12 digs, helping stabilize serve receive and extend rallies in a match that saw 10 U.S. match points go unconverted.
Despite the efforts of McCage, Hentz, and team scoring leader Sarah Franklin (19 kills), the Americans couldn’t hold off the Czechia comeback, which featured three Czech players scoring 20 or more points. The loss drops the U.S. to 0-3 in VNL play and down to seventh in the FIVB World Rankings.
With only five players on the roster holding prior international experience, the U.S. National Team continues to lean on rising talent and will have one more chance to secure a win in Rio. The Americans’ last match in this round of VNL play will take place at 4 p.m. ET on Sunday versus South Korea.
Siera Jones is the digital media reporter at Athletes Unlimited. You can follow her on Instagram and X @sieraajones.
