VB Pro Bears Notebook

USA VOLLEYBALL – Avery Skinner

USA vs. Japan, Week 3 Match 4
June 16, 2024 // FUKUOKA, Japan – The U.S. Women's National Team faced week three host Japan, defeating the Japanese with a 3-0 sweep (25-15, 25-18, 26-24) on Sunday to qualify for the final round of the Volleyball Nations League.

Avery Skinner had six successful receptions and scored on 11 kills and two blocks to aid the U.S.A. "I think this was one of our better matches," Skinner told Volleyball World. "We haven't had an easy, consistent lineup. We're just working through things. We want to be trending in the right direction. Right now is not when we want to peak."

USA vs. Italy, Week 3 Match 3
June 15, 2024 // FUKUOKA, Japan – Against Italy in week three of competition, the U.S. Women's National Team battled but couldn't stop Italy, falling 3-1 (25-17, 19-25, 25-15, 25-21).

Avery Skinner started in the second, third and fourth sets for the US, scoring six points on six kills.

Avery Skinner Named to Team USA Olympic Roster

USA vs. Poland, Week 2 Match 3
June 1, 2024 // ARLINGTON, Texas – Against the undefeated Polish in the third match of the second week, the U.S. women fell, 3-1 (28-26, 25-22, 20-25, 25-23) in Texas.

Avery Skinner continued to contribute for the Red, White and Blue, posting seven kills and a block. In the fourth set, the Texan had four points.

USA vs. Bulgaria, Week 2 Match 2
May 31, 2024 // ARLINGTON, Texas – In the second match of the second week of VNL competition, Avery Skinner went off against Bulgaria, helping the Americans secure the sweep, 3-0 (25-17, 25-22, 25-22), on UT Arlington's campus.

Texas native and outside hitter, Skinner led all players with 17 kills and 19 points. She also had 10 digs and a team-high four successful receptions. In the second set alone, she led all players with seven points on six kills and a block. The U.S. was trailing by one point for much of the third set, but the Americans finished out the set on a 6-2 run with Skinner getting three of those kills.

USA vs. Dominican Republic, Week 1 Match 4
May 19, 2024 // RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil – The U.S. Women capped off the first week of VNL with a sweep over the Dominican Republic, 3-0 (25-23, 25-20, 25-18), on Sunday.

U.S. outside hitter Avery Skinner led all scorers with 18 points on a match-high 18 kills. She also had 10 digs and seven receptions.

USA vs. Brazil, Week 1 Match
May 17, 2024 // RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil – The U.S. Women fell in four sets on Friday, 3-1 (25-22, 25-16, 18-25, 25-19), to the host country, Brazil.

Avery Skinner got hot in the third set, and finished the match with nine points including eight kills.

USA vs. China, Week 1 Match 2
May 16, 2024 // RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil – The U.S. Women fell in five sets on Thursday to China at the Volleyball Nations League (VNL), 3-2 (23-25, 25-23, 25-22, 25-19).

Outside hitter Avery Skinner scored 14 points on 12 kills, one block and one ace. She was also credited with 14 digs and 11 successful receptions.

USA vs. Thailand, Week 1 Match 1
May 15, 2024 // RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil – The Women's U.S. National Team defeated Thailand on Wednesday, 3-1 (25-22, 19-25, 25-12, 25-18), to open play at the Volleyball Nations League (VNL).

Outside hitter and VNL veteran Avery Skinner had 11 points on nine kills, one block and one ace to help the Red, White and Blue.

ATLANTA VIBE – Yossiana Pressley & Shelly Fanning

Vibe vs. Rise, PVF Semifinals
May 15, 2024 // OMAHA, Neb. – The Atlanta Vibe's inaugural season finished in the first round of the postseason, falling to the No. 4 seed Grand Rapids Rise in the Pro Volleyball Federation Championship semifinals, a close five-set match at the CHI Health Center.

Middle blocker Shelly Fanning did her best to slow the Rise's offense, raking in four blocks and three block touches to help her squad. She finished the season with 244 points scored, 53 points on the block at .58 points per set, and 20 aces served.

Pressley did not see match time, but finished the inaugural season with 24 points scored, 3 of them on the block, with a 31% kill average and 16% kill effectiveness.