1 2 3 USA 25 25 25 MEX 23 19 14 U.S. Men to Play Cuba in Semifinals LONG BEACH, Calif. (May 9, 2012) – The U.S. Men’s National Volleyball Team will advance to the semifinals of the NORCECA Men’s Continental Olympic Qualification Tournament after beating Mexico on Wednesday, 25-23, 25-19, 25-14.
Matt Anderson (1) hits against Costa Rica. (Matt A. Brown photo)
The winner of the tournament will qualify for the 2012 Olympic Games in London. The U.S. Men won their pool with a 3-0 record and will await their opponent for Friday‘s semifinal. Mexico (2-1) will play Puerto Rico (1-2) in one of Thursday’s quarterfinals while Cuba (2-1) will play Trinidad & Tobago (12) in the other. Canada (3-0), which scored an upset over Cuba in their final pool play match on Wednesday, will play in the other semifinal on Friday. The U.S. Men got off to a slow start on Wednesday, but accelerated and finished the match leading Mexico in kills (40-31), blocks (8-4) and aces (6-3). “I would like to congratulate Mexico for coming out ready to play,” U.S. Head Coach Alan Knipe (Huntington Beach, Calif.) said. “They put pressure on us early and often. We haven’t allowed teams to earn many points that teams don’t earn. I think we have room for improvement and things on video we can clean up on our day off tomorrow.”
Matt Anderson (1) hits against Costa Rica. (Matt A. Brown photo)
U.S. opposite Clay Stanley (Honolulu, Hawaii) led all scorers with 14 points on 10 kills (58.8 kill percent, , three blocks and one ace. “Mexico did a great job,” Stanley said. “They are really scrappy and made a lot of great plays. We made a lot of little plays in the beginning that kept the game close especially in the first set with over passes and free balls. In the third set we opened that set up with service to put them in trouble spots.” Outside hitter Matt Anderson (West Seneca, N.Y.) added 12 points on 10 attacks and two aces. Outside hitter Reid Priddy (Richmond, Va.) totaled 10 points on nine attacks and one block. Middle blocker David Lee (Alpine, Calif.) added seven points on four attacks and three blocks. Middle blocker Russell Holmes (Fountain Valley, Calif.) scored six points on six kills. Middle blocker Ryan Millar (Alpine, Utah) scored two points on one kill and one block. Outside hitter Paul Lotman (Lakewood, Calif.) and opposite Dave McKienzie each scored one point with an ace. Setter Donald Suxho (Korce, Albania) added one point with a block. Suxho set the team to a 49.4 kill percent and a .370 hitting efficiency. Libero Rich Lambourne (Tustin, Calif.) had 13 of the team’s 43 digs. Stanley had nine. Lambourne was credited with 11 excellent receptions while Priddy led with 12. Mexico’s Carlos Guerra produced a team-high 12 points and captain Gerardo Contreras added nine points.
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Reid Priddy (8) slaps hands with Ryan Millar (9). (Matt A. Brown photo)