Sitting Volleyball Players Win Gold Medal In Rio

<p>Oklahoma is celebrating Team USA women&rsquo;s sitting volleyball team&rsquo;s triumph in Rio. The team just returned the United States after willing the gold medal in the Paralympic Games.</p>

Wednesday, September 21st 2016, 7:22 pm

By: Karl Torp


Oklahoma is celebrating Team USA women’s sitting volleyball team’s triumph in Rio.

The team just returned the United States after willing the gold medal in the Paralympic Games.

“I felt like I was in a dream,” team member Monique Burkland said.

“It’s kind of just surreal,” said teammate Heather Erickson, who was named tournament MVP.

On Wednesday, both players were showing off their gold medals at UCO’s Paralympic training site where the team and the men’s sitting volleyball team practice.

Winning the title was no easy task for the talented squad which had won silver medals at the past two Paralympic games.

“It’s been one of those things, really close…not quite getting it,” said coach Bill Hamiter.

China was the defending gold medal team for the past three games coming into Rio.

After losing to China pool play in a close five game match, Team USA beat them in three straight games to take gold.

“We kept at it and kept at it, not wanting to look at the score,” said Burkland, who lost her leg six years ago in an accident.

That’s when she started playing sitting volleyball.

“I was terrible when I first started,” said Burkland, who was the high scorer in the final match.

Burkland is originally from Ardmore and plans on representing Team USA in Tokyo in four years.

Erickson has played for Team USA in the past three Paralympics, and plans to relax and enjoy the gold medal before thinking of the next games.

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