ALUMNI: Hartong & US teammates win gold at Moscow snow volleyball tourney

Former Los Alamitos Griffin standout Emily Hartong and her U.S. teammates won the championship at the Moscow CEV Snow Volleyball European Tournament on Saturday morning.

Hartong, Allie Wheeler, Karissa Cook and Katie Spieler, went 5-0 during the tournament, downing Russia 2-1 (15-8, 13-15, 15-10) in the championship match in temperatures listed as -7 Celsius.

The U.S. foursome did not lose a set in the first four roounds of the tournament, downing Turkey in the first round and a team from Lithuania in the second.

On Friday the American foursome shutout Kazakhstan in the quarters and a second team from Lithuania. That win earned a spot in Saturday’s championship match against one of Russia’s top squads.

After the U.S. squad dominated the first set, the Russian foursome fought back to claim the second 15-13. The USA Team jumped out in gthe third, but after Russia rallied to get close before the Americans scored the last four goals top win the gold on their Russian adventure. This was the opening round of the new European snow volleyball tour and other teams had to qualify to reach the event. The U.S. team came to Moscow after receiving a wild card from the organisers.  

Hartong led Los Alamitos to multiple CIF volleyball titles a decade ago, earned All-America honors at Hawaii, and won a South Korean Pro Volleyball title, and most recently has been a touring beach volleyball professional.

To watch the semi-final against Lithuania #1 click here.

To watch the championship match, click here.

• Californian ladies endure freezing conditions to win gold in Moscow (European Volleyball Federation)
• ALUMNI: Emily Hartong to play snow volleyball exhibition in Moscow