1 2 3 4 5 USA 39 22 25 21 ITA 41 25 22 25 U.S. Men Suffer Tough Loss to Italy KUMAMOTO, Japan (Nov. 25, 2011) – The U.S. Men’s National Volleyball Team fought back from a tough first-set loss, but could not overcome Italy, falling 41-39, 25-22, 22-25, 25-21. The lost drops the United States’ record to 2-3 and it sits in eighth place in the standings at the end of the second round. Italy, ranked third in the world, improved to 4-1. The first set was the highest scoring set in World Cup history as the U.S. took set point at 24-23 before Italy came back to score on two kills to take its first set point. The U.S. would fight off two more before taking its second advantage at 28-27. The U.S. took four more set points. But at 33-32, Italy scored on a kill and ace to regain the advantage. Team USA fought Italy off five more times before Michal Lasko got a kill off the block and Cristian Savani followed with an attack to give Italy the 41-39 victory. “I thought tonight both teams sided out well; both offenses sided out a high number,” U.S. Head Coach Alan Knipe (Huntington Beach, Calif.) said. “The first game was a marathon. Both teams had opportunities, and we’ll look back at opportunities we had and see what we could do better.” The second set saw Italy take the first significant lead at 14-11. The U.S. pulled to within one at 22-21, but Italy held it off for the win. In the third set it was the U.S. that took the significant lead at 18-15. Italy pulled to within one at 22-21, but the U.S. attack held off the Europeans. The U.S. lead 8-4 at the first TTO of the fourth set and continued to lead 13-10 before Italy tied it at 13-13. The score was still tied at 17-17 before Italy scored twice to pull away. Opposite and team captain Clay Stanley (Honolulu, Hawaii) led the U.S. with 22 points on 20 attacks, one block and one ace. Outside hitter Matt Anderson (West Seneca, N.Y.) added 20 points on 18 kills, one block and one ace. Outside hitter Reid Priddy (Richmond, Va.) totaled 19 points on 16 spikes, two blocks and one ace.
Reid Priddy hits against Italy. (FIVB photo)
The U.S. out-attacked Italy, 68-65 and the teams were tied on aces 5-5. But Italy won the blocking battle 13-8 and also scored 30 points off U.S. errors while committing 26. “I think this game was won on blocking and Italy blocked better,” Stanley said. “Italy got some good serves, got in a couple of aces. We relaxed a little too much on coverage of hitters, and those little points cost us the game.” Among other U.S. scorers, middle blocker Russell Holmes (Fountain Valley, Calif.) scored nine points on seven attacks and two blocks. Middle blocker David Lee (Alpine, Calif.) totaled eight points on seven spikes and one block. Outside hitter Paul Lotman (Lakewood, Calif.), who played as a serving substitute, score with an ace. Setter Brian Thornton (San Clemente, Calif.) finished with two points on one block and one ace. He was credited with 30 assists and set the U.S. Men to a kill percent of 53.5 and a hitting efficiency of 0.394. Italy’s kill percent was 54.2 and its hitting efficiency was 0.442. Libero Rich Lambourne (Tustin, Calif.) led the team in digs with 15 and also had 13 excellent receptions. Priddy led in excellent receptions with 19.
Matt Anderson hits against Italy’s block. (FIVB photo)
U.S. Head Coach Alan Knipe (Huntington Beach, Calif.) started Anderson and Priddy at outside hitter, Holmes and Lee at middle blocker, Stanley at opposite, Thornton at setter and Lambourne at libero. Lotman, Ryan Millar (Alpine, Utah) and Riley Salmon (League City, Texas) all played as substitutes.
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