1 2 3 4 5 25 25 22 25 USA 20 23 25 23 BRA U.S. Upsets Brazil; Stays in World League Final Chase TULSA, Okla. (June 25, 2011) – For the second time in less than two weeks, the U.S. Men’s National Volleyball Team upset top-ranked Brazil, 25-20, 2523, 22-25, 25-23, in an FIVB World League match at the Reynolds Center. The U.S. Men, ranked fifth in the world by the FIVB, improve to 6-4 with 18 points in the World League Pool A of the Intercontinental Round. The U.S., tied for second with Poland in Pool A, closes out pool play on July 1-2 against Puerto Rico (0-10) at the Walter Pyramid on the Long Beach State University campus in Long Beach, Calif. Brazil, which sits atop Pool A with two matches remaining in Poland (6-4) next week, falls to 8-2 during World League action. Both of Brazil’s losses are to the United States as the Americans also defeated it 3-1 on June 12 at Belo Horizonte, Brazil. U.S. Head Coach Alan Knipe complimented his team in posting another second-night upset of Brazil. “We don’t want to continue to be a second-night team,” he said. “Although I think it takes considerable character to be able to do it.” Reid Priddy (Richmond, Va.) led the U.S. with 17 points on 13 kills, three blocks and one ace. Clay Stanley (Honolulu) had a match-high four aces to go with 12 kills for 16 points. Matt Anderson (West Seneca, N.Y.) contributed 14 kills, while David Lee (Alpine, Calif.) had a match-high six blocks as part of a 14-point effort. Priddy said the U.S. Men benefited from a good week of practice.
A patriotic volleyball fan shows his colors. (FIVB photo/David Polanksi)
“We had a great week of practice. Probably the best week we’ve had so far,” he said. Ryan Millar (Alpine, Utah) charted six points, while Brian Thornton (San Clemente, Calif.) tallied two kills. Evan Patak (Pleasanton, Calif.) rounded out the American scoring with an ace as a serving substitute. Team USA out-blocked Brazil 10-6 and held a 6-3 margin in aces to offset the South Americans’ slim 58-55 edge in kills. The USA committed 24 errors in the match to Brazil’s 26. Brazil held the edge in digs, 27-25. The U.S. got five digs each from Thornton, Stanley and Lambourne. Thornton was credited with eight assists. Murilo Endres paced Brazil with 17 points on 15 kills and two blocks, while Theo Lopes contributed 14 points. Lucas Saatkamp and Gilberto “Giba” Godoy added 13 and 12 points respectively. Knipe started Priddy and Anderson at outside hitter, Lee and Millar at middle blocker, Stanley at opposite and Thornton at setter. Lambourne was the U.S. libero for the match.
Team USA celebrates the match victory. (FIVB photo/David Polanski)
Paul Lotman (Lakewood, Calif.) and Patak played as serving substitutes and Russell Holmes (Fountain Valley, Calif.) also substituted.
48