By Bill Kauffman

London, England (August 11, 2012)

U.S. Olympic Women's Volleyball Team opposite hitter Destinee Hooker (San Antonio, Texas) was selected as the Best Spiker of the 2012 Olympic Games women's volleyball competition that concluded Saturday at Earls Court in London.

The U.S. ended the 2012 Olympic Games with its second consecutive silver medal having suffered four-set losses to Brazil in both 2008 and 2012.

Hooker converted 136 of 290 attacks into points for a .379 hitting efficiency to top the Best Spiker Category. Further, she ranked second among all players in scoring with 161 total points (136 kills, 21 blocks, 4 aces). Korea's Kim Yeon-Koung was the tournament's leading scorer with 207 points en route to being named most valuable player.

U.S. middle blocker Foluke Akinradewo (Plantation, Fla.) ranked in a tie for 10th place in scoring with 95 points (67 kills, 25 blocks, 3 aces). Outside hitter Jordan Larson (Hooper, Neb.) finished with 80 points (68 kills, 9 blocks, 3 aces) for 16th place in scoring. Hooker, Akinradewo and Larson were all first-time Olympians. Logan Tom (Salt Lake City, Utah), a four-time Olympian, ranked 20th in scoring with 75 points.

Larson ranked 10th in Best Spiker with a .291 hitting efficiency (68-17-90). Akinradewo ranked second in Best Blocker with 0.93 blocks per set, just 0.01 behind tournament-leader Fabiana Claudino of Brazil. Hooker ranked fourth in Best Blocker with 0.78 per set.

U.S. libero Nicole Davis (Stockton, Calif.) held a 74.3 excellent reception percent for fifth in Best Receiver and averaged 3.59 digs per set for sixth in Best Digger. Overall, she was second in Best Libero with an 8.30 average per set. Lindsey Berg (Honolulu), despite missing the quarterfinal match, ranked fourth overall in Best Setter with 9.74 running sets average.

 

2012 London Olympics Women's Volleyball Player Awards

MVP: Kim Yeon-Koung (KOR)

Best Scorer: Kim Yeon-Koung (KOR)

Best Spiker: Destinee Hooker (USA)

Best Blocker: Fabiana Claudino (BRA)

Best Server: Sheilla Castro (BRA)

Best Setter: Evgeniya Startseva (RUS)

Best Receiver: Fernanda Rodrigues (BRA)

Best Libero: Brenda Castillo (DOM)

 

Originally published by USA Volleyball (http://www.teamusa.org)

 

 

Destinee Hooker Named Best Spiker at Olympic Games