2012 Olympic Preview made an impact as the team’s fourth-leading World League scorer (112 points on 88 a acks, 17 blocks and seven aces). Suxho competed on the 2004 Olympic team that finished fourth in Athens. He finished second among all se ers in the World League Final Round with 74 assists and an average of 5.29 per set. Lotman got significant playing me with the team in 2009-11. In 2012, he has played mostly as a subs tute. He finished World League with 12 points on 10 a acks and two aces. McKienzie just missed making the 2004 and ‘08 Olympic teams and stepped away from the U.S. team to play overseas and also play beach volleyball. In 2011, he trained with the team for the World Cup, but did not make the team. He did make the team for the Olympic Qualifier and World League, where he played primarily as a serving subs tutes. He finished World League with 26 points on 20 kills, three blocks and three assists. Smith did not make the team for the Qualifier, but saw significant playing me at World League, finishing with 67 points on 43 a acks, 19 blocks and five aces. The effort was good enough to get him on the Olympic Team.
make a run at the medals,” Knipe said. “Our group is very strong.”
Thornton made his mark with the team in 2011 when injuries and illness made him the World League starter and he helped the team finish second in pool, including two victories over world No. 1 ranked Brazil. He also helped the U.S. to a sixth-place finish at the 2011 World Cup. The Teams The U.S. Men are ranked No. 5 in the world by the FIVB. The have been placed in a difficult pool to open the Olympic Games. “In this tournament, there are plenty of teams who can
Among the favorites, Brazil is ranked No. 1 in the world, but struggled a li le during the 2012 World League. It advanced to the Final Round as the best second-place team in pool play and lost both its Final Round pool play matches to finish sixth. Russia, ranked No. 2 in the world, won the 2011 World League and World Cup. Poland, ranked No. 3 in the world, won the 2012 World League. Among other teams to watch are Italy (No. 6) and Serbia (No. 7).
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