Volleyball
FIVB

Newman-Gonchar, USA on to Grand Prix Finals

July 24, 2017

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Serving as a consultant coach for the U.S. Women’s National Team this summer, associate head coach Jon Newman-Gonchar will continue his role with Team USA during the Final Round of the FIVB Grand Prix. The final stage of the international event will be held Aug. 2-6 in Nanjing, China.

Team USA finished the three-weekend preliminary rounds with a 6-3 record, qualifying for the six-team final with a 3-1 win over Belgium (July 21) in Cuiaba, Brazil. The United States tied with Brazil, Italy, Japan and the Netherlands in the standings, one game behind Serbia which posted a 7-2 mark through the preliminary matches.

During the first three weeks of FIVB Grand Prix, Newman-Gonchar and Team USA traveled to China, Macau and Brazil. In preparation for the upcoming final, the team heads back stateside for training sessions in Los Angeles before returning to China. Newman-Gonchar already has a gold medal from this summer with the United States’ winning effort at the Pan Am Cup in Peru.

With his most recent stint with the Women’s National Team, Newman-Gonchar continues to add to his international coaching resume. Including this year, he has spent the past three summers with a role in the Team USA program, winning Pan Am gold in 2015 and bronze in 2016. Prior to that, Newman-Gonchar worked with the U.S. Women’s Junior National Team in 2008 and 2009 at the Olympic Training Center, and was a coach at the HP A1 Select Camp in 2007.

In Group 2 of the Grand Prix, Puerto Rico—featuring former Arkansas standouts Ana Sofia Jusino, Raymariely Santos and Janeliss Torres—finished the tournament with a 5-4 record and sixth-place finish. In its last match, Puerto Rico posted a 3-2 win over host Croatia. Earlier this summer, Puerto Rico won a bronze medal at the Pan Am Cup; senior Pilar Victoria was a member of that team.

The 2017 campaign begins Aug. 25-26 with the Arkansas Classic at Barnhill Arena. With pricing options beginning at $40, season tickets are now available for purchase through the Razorback Ticket Center. For more information, call 800-982-HOGS (4647) or click HERE to purchase tickets online.

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