1 2 3 4 5 25 21 19 21 USA 19 25 25 25 BRA Brazil Shows Why it is Leading Pool A BELO HORIZONTE, Brazil (June 11, 2011) – For one set, the U.S. Men’s National Volleyball Team played like it was 2008. But it didn’t take long for Brazil to remind everyone which team is reigning in 2011. After losing the first set, Brazil came back to defeat the U.S. Men, 19-25, 25-21, 25-19, 25-21 in an FIVB World League match before a crowd of 14,800 enjoying breakfast at World League. Brazil, the two-time defending World League champion ranked No. 1 in the world, improved its record to 5-0 in Pool A. The U.S. Men, ranked No. 5, fell to 3-2, but held on to second place in Pool A. The two teams will play again on Sunday. “We have been fighting during World League to play at the same level during the entire match,” U.S. Men’s Head Coach Alan Knipe (Huntington Beach, Calif.) said. “We will watch the tape from the game and we will see that we played some excellent volleyball and was also made a lot of mistakes. Brazil is a great team and we can´t help them like we did today.” Brazil out-hit the U.S. Men 47-46. Brazil’s hitting efficiency was 0.237 and its kill percent was 39.8. The U.S. Men’s hitting efficiency was 0.180 while their kill percent was 37.7.
Reid Priddy and David Lee go up to block against Brazil. (FIVB photo)
Brazil out-blocked the United States 11-10 and had four aces as compared to two for the U.S. Men. The U.S. was hurt by 23 blocking errors and 14 serving errors. The U.S. Men had more digs than Brazil, 52-47 and Brazil had more digging errors, 29-27. The U.S. Men were credited with 43 excellent receptions and four errors. Brazil totaled 42 excellent receptions and two errors. The U.S. Men got 13 points each from opposite Clay Stanley (Honolulu, Hawaii) and outside hitter Reid Priddy (Richmond, Va.). Stanley, the MVP of the 2008 Olympic Games where the U.S. Men won the gold medal, beating Brazil in the final, scored on 12 kills (35.3 kill percent) and one block. Priddy scored on a match-high 13 kills (40.6 kill percent). “I think that today we play some good and bad volleyball,” Priddy said. “We had ups and downs during the match. We need to have more consistency. Also, our number of unforced errors was greater than the normal after the first set.” Brazil opposite Leandro Vissotto led all scorers with 14 points on 11 kills (34.4 kill percent) and three blocks. Pereira Bravo added 12 points on nine kills (42.9 kill percent) and three blocks. Among other U.S. scorers, middle blocker David Lee (Alpine, Calif.) totaled 10 points on eight kills and two blocks. Outside hitter Matt Anderson (West Seneca, N.Y.) added nine points on seven kills, one block and one ace. Middle blocker Ryan Millar (Alpine, Utah) scored seven points on three kills and a match-high four blocks. Middle blocker Russell Holmes (Fountain Valley, Calif.) scored two points on two kills. Outside hitter Paul Lotman (Lakewood, Calif.) had one point on one kill. Setter Brian Thornton (San Clemente, Calif.) scored one point on a block.
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Rich Lambourne makes a dig as Reid Priddy (8) and Matt Anderson watch him. (FIVB photo) Brazilian fans show their true colors for their team. (FIVB photo)