Kent
COURTESY PHOTO
Kent's Courtney Thompson helped the U.S. Women's Volleyball Team take a silver medal at the London Olympics.

Kent's Thompson, U.S. Women's Volleyball Team take silver at London Olympics

By STEVE HUNTER
Kent Reporter Courts, government reporter
August 13, 2012 · 11:30 AM

Kent's Courtney Thompson and the U.S. Olympic Women’s Volleyball team brought home the silver medal from the London Olympics after losing to Brazil in the gold medal match.

The U.S. failed to win its first gold medal in women's volleyball losing 11-25, 25-17, 25-20, 25-17 to Brazil last Saturday.

Thompson, a former Kentlake High School and University of Washington star, started at setter in the quarterfinals for injured starter Lindsey Berg. But Berg returned to her starting role in the finals and semifinals despite an injured Achilles. Berg said she plans to retire now that the Olympics are over.

The U.S. finished the tournament with a 7-1 record and 30-2 record in 2012. Brazil, which was on the verge of not qualifying for the quarterfinals heading into the final pool day, finished with a 6-2 record in defending its 2008 Olympic Games title in a gold-medal rematch with the Americans.

The 5-foot-8 Thompson led Kentlake to three high school state volleyball titles from 2000 to 2002 and was the high school player of the year in the state in 2002. As a UW junior in 2005, she earned the Honda Sports Award for best volleyball player after leading the Huskies to their first national championship.

Contact Kent Reporter Courts, government reporter Steve Hunter at shunter@kentreporter.com or 253-872-6600, ext. 5052.

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