1 USA 25 FRA 17
2 20 25
3 24 26
4 17 25
U.S. Men Fall to France in World League Opener FLORENCE, Italy (May 18, 2012) – Perhaps showing the strain of its rigorous early season schedule, the U.S. Men’s Na onal Volleyball Team fell to France, 17-25, 25-20, 26-24, 25-17 on Friday in their opening pool play match of the 2012 FIVB World League in Florence, Italy. The U.S. Men are coming off the six-day, eight-team NORCECA Men’s Con nental Olympic Qualifica on Tournament, which they won with a 5-0 record while dropping only one set. “We started the game well, but a er the first set we fell asleep,” U.S. Men’s Team Captain Clay Stanley (Honolulu, Hawaii) said in an FIVB press release. A er a strong first set on Friday, the U.S. Men saw France turn up its blocking pressure while Team USA struggled with its serve. France led 8-1 in aces while the U.S. Men had 17 service errors as compared to 14 for France. France led in digs 52-37 and in recep ons 49-42. “We couldn’t follow our technical plan, but we made a lot of mistakes in recep on,” U.S. Head Coach Alan Knipe (Hun ngton Beach, Calif.) said in an FIVB release. “Definitely we weren’t focused on the match.” France out-a acked the U.S. Men, 50-46 while the United States led in blocks 15-10. However five of the U.S. blocks came in the first set.
Clay Stanley ps the ball against France. (FIVB photo)
Opposite Clay Stanley (Honolulu, Hawaii) led the United States with 17 points on 12 kills (52.2 kill percent, .435 hi ng efficiency) and a team-high five blocks. Outside hi er Ma Anderson (West Seneca, N.Y.) added 14 points on a team-high 13 a acks (46.4 kill percent, .321 hi ng efficiency) and one ace. Middle blocker David Lee (Alpine, Calif.) totaled 10 points on seven a acks (63.6 kill percent, .455 hi ng efficiency) and three blocks. Marien Mareau and Earvin Ngapeth each scored 16 points for France. Kevin Le Roux added 13. Outside hi er Reid Priddy (Richmond, Va.) scored nine points on seven kills and two blocks. Middle blocker Russell Holmes (Fountain Valley, Calif.) amassed six points on three a acks and three blocks. Se er Donald Suxho (Korce, Albania) totaled three points on one kill and two blocks. He also set the team to a 46.0 kill percent and a .320 hi ng efficiency. Outside hi ers Paul Lotman (Lakewood, Calif.) and Riley Salmon (League City, Texas) along with middle blocker Ryan Millar (Alpine, Utah) each scored one point with an a ack. U.S. Head Coach Alan Knipe (Hun ngton Beach, Calif.) started Anderson and Priddy at outside hi er, Holmes and Lee at middle blocker, Stanley at opposite and Suxho at se er. Rich Lambourne (Tus n, Calif.) is the designated libero for the tournament. Lotman started the fourth set for Priddy and Millar started for Holmes. David McKienzie (Li leton, Colo.) and Salmon played as subs tutes.
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Donald Suxho (7) sets for Russell Holmes (12). (FIVB photo)