Alum Kim Hill Named MVP at World Championships
10/12/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
USA Volleyball contributed to this release.
Photo Gallery
MILAN, Italy - Pepperdine volleyball alumna Kim Hill helped Team USA make history on Sunday, beating China 3-1 (27-25, 25-20, 16-25, 26-24) and winning the first-ever gold medal for the U.S. Women's program at the FIVB World Championship. Hill led the national team with 20 points and was named the World Championship's Most Valuable Player.
The U.S. Women had never before won gold at any of the three major international volleyball events: World Championship, World Cup or Olympic Games. Prior to today, their best finish came in 1967 and 2002 when the team took the silver medal.
Hill (Portland, Ore./Portland Christian HS), who was discovered at the Women's National Team's annual open tryout in February 2013, was named the tournament "Best Spiker" and "Most Valuable Player." She led the U.S. in the decisive title match with 20 points, going 19 on 31 attempts with only one fault. She also had 13 digs and 25 excellent receptions on 39 attempts.
"I feel ecstatic and happy and just cannot believe it is real," Hill said. "The award was a surprise and I still cannot believe it either, it is just amazing.
Hill was not the only Wave representing the U.S. in Italy. Pepperdine men's volleyball head coach Marv Dunphy, as well as assistant coach David Hunt, were both on the sidelines for the Red, White and Blue. Dunphy was selected by head coach Karch Kiraly to serve as assistant coach. Fittingly enough, Dunphy coached Kiraly to gold at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, when Kiraly was still in his playing days.
Hunt was overseas serving as a consultant coach.
Hill (Portland, Ore./Portland Christian HS), a three-time All-American for the Pepperdine women's indoor volleyball team from 2008-11, was also a two-time All-American with the Waves' sand volleyball team. She helped lead Pepperdine to inaugural AVCA Collegiate Sand Volleyball National Championship title in 2012.
Indoors, the 2011 West Coast Conference Player of the Year marched the Waves to the NCAA Tournament regional finals as a senior - tied for the Waves' best finish in program history.
#2 USA defeated #1-ranked Brazil in yesterday's semifinal, 3-0 (25-18, 29-27, 25-20). Hill scored 13 points off of 12 kills and an ace in the match.
Hill finished the tournament as the U.S.'s leading scorer.
2014 Italy Dream Team
Outside hitters: Ting Zhu (CHN) & Kimberly Hill* (USA)
Middle blockers: Thaisa (BRA) & Junjing Yang (CHN)
Setter: Alisha Glass (USA)
Opposite: Sheilla (BRA)
Libero: Monica De Gennaro (ITA)
*Most Valuable Player
