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Atlantic Valley Sisters Both Medal at 20th Maccabiah Games in Israel

By Webmaster, 08/09/17, 10:45AM EDT

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Allison, Gayle Edelstein took Bronze, Gold at Third Largest Sporting Competition Globally

 

Livingston, N.J. — Aug. 7, 2017 — Together with their teams, “Setting Sisters” Allison and Gayle Edelstein both medaled at the recent Maccabiah Games in Israel. Allison (age 22) led the USA Women’s Open Volleyball team to the bronze medal over Argentina. Gayle (age 17) led the USA Junior Volleyball team to gold medal over host Israel.

 

The 20th Maccabiah Games was the largest ever, with 80 countries and 10,000 Jewish athletes participating. The games drew a crowd of 30,000 people to Teddy Kolek Stadium in Jerusalem.

 

Setter Allison and the USA team played in Jerusalem, where they lost to Argentina 3-0 , (20-25, 23-25, and 12-25) in Match 1, beat Chile 3-0, (25-9, 25-15, and 25-7 ) in Match 2, defeated Brazil 3-0, (25-19, 25-11, and 25-18) in Match 3 and then overtook Argentina 3-1, (26-24, 23-25, 25-18, and 25-16) in a Revenge Match, winning the bronze medal.

 

Setter Gayle and the USA Junior Division team played in Haifa, where they defeated Chile 3-0, (25-13, 25-18, and 25-16) in Match 1, beat Cuba 3-0, (25-4, 25-12, and 25-8) in Match 2, overcame Israel 3-1, (25-8, 25-18, 26-24, and 25-20) in Match 3, beat Argentina 3-0, (25-15, 25-16, and 25-23) in the Semi-Final and won against Israel 3-1, (25-16, 25-23, 23-25, and 25-13) in the Gold Medal Match.

 

Allison and Gayle both played volleyball at Livingston High School, where they were standout athletes. Elder sister Allison started playing volleyball in 7th grade. By high school, she was the only freshman recruited to play on the varsity team. Throughout high school she won many individual awards and a state championship. She was also the all-time school leader in assists. She continued to play club volleyball with Atlantic Valley Volleyball, she traveled to Atlanta to play in the Junior Olympics. During her four years at Franklin and Marshall College, she helped the team go to the NCAA National Tournament, twice led the Centennial Conference in assists and passed the 2,000 career-assists mark.

 

Younger sister Gayle was an early leader in the sport as a starter on her middle school volleyball team. Like her sister, she was also asked to join the varsity team her freshman year of high school, where she was a starter from day one. The award-winning young setter won multiple county and conference championships. Like Allison, Gayle also played club volleyball for Atlantic Valley. Now a 2017 graduate from Livingston High School, she has passed her sister as the all-time leader in assists. She has been recruited by multiple colleges but has accepted admissions to McDaniel College in Westminster, Maryland where she will play for the volleyball team.

 

“I couldn’t be prouder of my girls for representing our country and both medaling at these games.”,  Phil Edelstein said. “Travelling to the 20th Maccabiah Games in Israel was the thrill of a lifetime. We’re so thankful to all the friends and fans who supported Allison and Gayle in taking this life-changing trip. It was a resounding success for our family and for Jewish athletes from around the world.”

 

About the Maccabiah Games

 

The Maccabiah Games, organized by the Maccabi World Union, is MWU’s signature activity in international Jewish sports. The games are held every four years in Israel. Learn more about the 2017 Maccabiah games at http://www.maccabiah.com/2017/eng/.