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Bowling Green State University Athletics
Photo by: Brad Phalin, BGSU Marketing and Communications
Madison Nitta Helps USA Deaf Volleyball Team Win 2011 Friendship Games
August 09, 2011 | Volleyball
Washington, D.C. – Bowling Green State University senior volleyball player Madison Nitta was a member of the USA Deaf Volleyball team that won the 2011 Friendship Games at Gallaudet University Saturday. The USA, coached by Lynn Ray Boren, went 5-0 during the week-long tournament, defeating Canada, Japan, and international power Ukraine.
In fact, the Ukraine had not lost in international competition in six years, but Nitta's USA team swept the team 25-13, 25-22, 25-12 in the championship match Sunday. Nitta played in every set of the team's five matches throughout the tournament as a defensive specialist.
The USA, which was playing together as a team for the first time, started the tournament by defeating Canada on Aug. 1 25-16, 25-13, 25-6 and then came back the next day and defeated Ukraine 23-25, 25-18, 25-20, 25-15. The victory over the Ukraine marked the team's first international loss in over six years.
The USA then played its toughest match of the tournament against Japan on Aug. 3, winning 20-25, 25-20, 25-15, 23-25, 15-12 in the final match of pool play. On Saturday, the USA swept Canada 25-5, 25-15, 25-9 to advance to the championship as Nitta set the tone by opening the match with three consecutive service aces. That led to the three-set sweep of Ukraine in the finals.
Nitta has severe hearing loss that was discovered at the age of three, though it is believed that she was not born deaf. To qualify for international play, athletes must have hearing loss of 55 decibels or greater in the better ear. Athletes are prohibited from using hearing aids or cochlear implant aids during sanctioned competitions.
In fact, the Ukraine had not lost in international competition in six years, but Nitta's USA team swept the team 25-13, 25-22, 25-12 in the championship match Sunday. Nitta played in every set of the team's five matches throughout the tournament as a defensive specialist.
The USA, which was playing together as a team for the first time, started the tournament by defeating Canada on Aug. 1 25-16, 25-13, 25-6 and then came back the next day and defeated Ukraine 23-25, 25-18, 25-20, 25-15. The victory over the Ukraine marked the team's first international loss in over six years.
The USA then played its toughest match of the tournament against Japan on Aug. 3, winning 20-25, 25-20, 25-15, 23-25, 15-12 in the final match of pool play. On Saturday, the USA swept Canada 25-5, 25-15, 25-9 to advance to the championship as Nitta set the tone by opening the match with three consecutive service aces. That led to the three-set sweep of Ukraine in the finals.
Nitta has severe hearing loss that was discovered at the age of three, though it is believed that she was not born deaf. To qualify for international play, athletes must have hearing loss of 55 decibels or greater in the better ear. Athletes are prohibited from using hearing aids or cochlear implant aids during sanctioned competitions.
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