Outside hitter Elena Oglivie, a senior at ‘Iolani and a two-time Honolulu Star-Advertiser All-State player of the year, had nine kills and a block to help the U.S. Girls Youth National Team defeat reigning champion Italy 25-17, 19-25, 25-18, 22-25, 15-10 in the gold-medal match of the FIVB Girls’ U18 World Championships on Saturday in Ismailia, Egypt.
The United States rallied from a 5-1 deficit in the fifth set and went on a five-point scoring run with Oglivie serving to take a 14-9 lead and pull out the victory.
Team USA won USA Volleyball’s first-ever gold medal in an age-group world championship for either gender.
The United States went 7-1 in the tournament with its only loss coming against Italy on the second day of pool play.
Oglivie, who has committed to Stanford, was one of six high school seniors on the team.
Team USA failed to medal in the biennial event two years ago after winning silver in 2013 and ’15.
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