2011 U.S. Men's National Volleyball Team Yearbook

Page 53

2011 NORCECA

2011 Volleyball Fans

Clay Stanley attacks versus Mexico. U.S. COMEBACK AGAINST CUBA COMES UP SHORT (FIVB photo)

All photos courtesy of FIVB

USA..................................23 27 27 25 8 Cuba.................................25 29 25 19 15 MAYAGUEZ, Puerto Rico (Sept. 3, 2011) – The U.S. Men’s National Volleyball Team’s valiant comeback came up short on Saturday and it fell to Cuba, 25-23, 29-27, 25-27, 19-25, 15-8 in the final of the NORCECA Men’s Continental Championship. The U.S. Men (4-1) won their 10th NORCECA Championship silver medal while Cuba (5-1) took its 15th NORCECA gold medal and second in a row. Both teams have qualified for the FIVB World Cup in November and December. The top three teams at the World Cup will qualify for the 2012 Olympic Games in London. U.S. middle blocker Dave Lee (Alpine, Calif.) won the tournament’s Best Blocker award. However one night after a 21-block performance against Puerto Rico, the U.S. Men struggled to stop Cuba’s prolific hitters, particularly Team Captain Wilfredo Leon, who led all attackers with 28 kills, including seven in the tie-breaking fifth set. The U.S. effort was led by outside hitter Matt Anderson (West Seneca, N.Y.) who finished with 18 points on 16 attacks and two blocks. Opposite Clay Stanley (Honolulu, Hawaii) added 16 points on 11 kills, one block and four aces. Middle blocker David Lee (Alpine, Calif.) scored 13 points on eight kills, four blocks and one ace. Cuba led the U.S. in successful attacks, 68-54. The United States held the 11-10 edge in blocking and the teams were tied in aces, 6-6. The United States scored 39 points on Cuba’s errors while giving up only 29 on its own errors. Among other U.S. scorers, middle blocker Ryan Millar (Alpine, Utah) finished with seven points on four kill and three blocks. Outside hitter Paul Lotman (Lakewood, Calif.) added six points on five attacks and one ace. Outside hitter Jayson Jablonsky (Yorba Linda, Calif.) had five points on five attacks. Middle blocker Max Holt (Cincinnati, Ohio) totaled four points on four kills. Setter Kevin Hansen (Newport Beach, Calif.) scored two points on one kill and one ace. U.S. Head Coach Alan Knipe (Huntington Beach, Calif.) started Anderson and Lotman at outside hitter, Lee and Holt at middle blocker, Stanley at opposite, Hansen at setter and Rich Lambourne (Tustin, Calif.) at libero. Millar started the final three sets for Holt. Jablonsky started the last three sets for Lotman. Opposite Evan Patak (Pleasanton, Calif.) played as a substitute. Cuban libero Keibel Gutierrez was elected the Most Valuable Player of the tournament and also won Best libero, Best receiver and Best digger. Leon received the awards for Best spiker and Best Scorer. Cuba’s Fernando Hernandez was the Best server. Canada’s Dustin Schneider the Best setter. The “Jim Coleman Award” was received by Cuban Orlando Samuels, as the best coach.

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