Clay Stanley a acks versus Mexico. U.S. COMEBACK AGAINST CUBA COMES UP SHORT (FIVB photo)
2011 NORCECA
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2011 Volleyball Fans All photos courtesy of FIVB
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MAYAGUEZ, Puerto Rico (Sept. 3, 2011) – The U.S. Men’s Na onal 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 Con nental 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 a er a 21-block performance against Puerto Rico, the U.S. Men struggled to stop Cuba’s prolific hi ers, par cularly Team Captain Wilfredo Leon, who led all a ackers with 28 kills, including seven in the e-breaking fi h set. The U.S. effort was led by outside hitter Matt Anderson (West Seneca, N.Y.) who finished with 18 points on 16 a acks 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 a acks, 68-54. The United States held the 11-10 edge in blocking and the teams were ed 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 hi er Paul Lotman (Lakewood, Calif.) added six points on five a acks and one ace. Outside hi er Jayson Jablonsky (Yorba Linda, Calif.) had five points on five a acks. Middle blocker Max Holt (Cincinna , Ohio) totaled four points on four kills. Se er Kevin Hansen (Newport Beach, Calif.) scored two points on one kill and one ace. U.S. Head Coach Alan Knipe (Hun ngton Beach, Calif.) started Anderson and Lotman at outside hi er, Lee and Holt at middle blocker, Stanley at opposite, Hansen at se er and Rich Lambourne (Tus n, 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 subs tute. 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 Dus n Schneider the Best se er. The “Jim Coleman Award” was received by Cuban Orlando Samuels, as the best coach.
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