1 2 3 4 USA 20 25 25 25 FRA 25 22 19 21 U.S. Men Leave France with Pool Lead LYON, France (June 17, 2012) – The U.S. Men’s National Volleyball Team completed its FIVB World League weekend in Lyon with a 20-25, 25-22, 25-19, 25-21 victory over host France on Sunday. Halfway through World League pool play, the U.S. Men lead Pool C with a record of 4-2 and 11 points. France is also 4-2 with 11 points, but the U.S. has a better set ratio. “For us to win our three games is very positive,” U.S. opposite and team captain Clay Stanley (Honolulu, Hawaii) said. “We put together a good game plan. We are happy about the way we played. We were consistant throughout these three matches so that’s the best thing that we could ask for.”
Russell Holmes, left, and Donald Suxho block against France. (FIVB photo)
The U.S. Men will travel straight from France to Korea for their next weekend of play on June 22-24. On Sunday, the U.S. Men led France in kills (54-51), blocks (11-4) and aces (8-5). U.S. outside hitter Sean Rooney (Wheaton, Ill.) led the United States with 21 points on a match-high 16 kills (59.3 kill percent, .519 hitting efficiency), three blocks and two aces. Stanley added 16 points on nine attacks (56.3 kill percent, .375 hitting efficiency), three blocks and a match-high four aces. Outside hitter Matt Anderson (West Seneca, N.Y.) scored 15 points on 13 attacks, one block and one ace. “It’s a very nice weekend with three wins; it’s very good for us,” U.S. Head Coach John Speraw (Irvine, Calif.) said. “A lot of teams took the opportunity to play with young guys. Obviously we did too for example with Sean Rooney and he plays very well, that’s very good for us. We also had nice contribution of guys from the bench.”
Sean Rooney dives for the ball against France. (FIVB photo)
Earvin Ngapeth paced France with 17 points on 14 attacks and three aces. Among other U.S. scorers, middle blocker Russell Holmes (Fountain Valley, Calif.) totaled eight points on six kills and two blocks. Middle blocker David Smith (Saugus, Calif.) added seven points on five attacks, one block and one ace. Setter Donald Suxho (Korce, Albania) had four points on three kills and one block and outside hitter Paul Lotman (Lakewood, Calif.) added two points on two attacks. Suxho was credited with 34 assists and set the U.S. Men to a 50.9 kill percent and a .396 hitting efficiency. France had a 43.2 kill percent and a .280 hitting efficiency. U.S. libero Rich Lambourne (Tustin, Calif.) led the team in digs with nine. He was also credited with 11 excellent receptions. Rooney led the team in excellent receptions with 21. Speraw, who is filling in for Alan Knipe (Huntington Beach, Calif.) while he deals with a family issue, started Anderson and Rooney at outside hitter, Holmes and Smith at middle blocker, Stanley at opposite, Suxho at setter and Rich Lambourne (Tustin, Calif.) at libero.
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Clay Stanley (13) attacks against France. (FIVB photo)