The U.S. Women’s National Team knows how to leave us breathless. Madi Skinner and company pulled off a nail-biting 3-2 victory over France (25-22, 26-24, 20-25, 21-25, 15-13) in Belgrade. Winning in five sets? Straight up dominant.
SKINNER SHOWS UP
When you need points, you call Madi Skinner. She racked up 21 points with 19 kills, a block, and an ace. Sarah Franklin and Logan Eggleston weren’t far behind, adding 18 and 17 kills respectively. The U.S. attack was relentless.
The team improves to 4-4 in the 2025 Volleyball Nations League. Next up? Home court advantage in Arlington, Texas. Circle July 9th on your calendar.
TURNING POINTS
The first two sets? Pure grit. Trailing 12-9 in the opener, a deep court tip from Skinner flipped the match. From there, the U.S. never looked back, snatching the set 25-22.
The second set was a rollercoaster. Down almost the entire time, a wild pancake dig from Dana Rettke led to a crucial kill by Franklin to take the lead at 24-23. France crumbled under pressure, gifting the U.S. a 2-0 lead after back-to-back errors.
FRENCH COMEBACK
France wasn’t going down without a fight. They took the third set 25-20 after an explosive 8-0 run. The fourth set saw another surge by France, overcoming a 16-11 U.S. lead to win 25-21.
But the fifth set? That’s where legends are made. Eggleston’s four early kills set the tone. Rettke’s block put the U.S. ahead 11-8. Even when France tied it 12-12, the U.S. was unfazed. Franklin delivered the dagger down the line at 15-13. Handled business.
WHAT'S NEXT?
Head coach Erik Sullivan summed it up: “Those aren’t easy matches to manage... to see us fight through and find a way to win is a very valuable lesson.”
This squad is learning fast, and you can feel it coming. Arlington better be ready. This isn't just a homecoming; it's a statement tour.
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Source: USA Volleyball
