1 2 3 USA 25 25 25 FRA 21 21 20 U.S. Men Alone in Pool Lead After Win GWANGJU, Korea (June 23, 2012) – The U.S. Men’s National Volleyball Team extended its lead in Pool C on Saturday with a 25-21, 25-21, 25-20 victory over France in FIVB World League pool play in Gwangju, Korea. The U.S. Men had been tied with France in the Pool C lead, but had been in first place by virtue of its set ratio. With Saturday’s victory, the U.S. improved its record to 6-2 with 17 points while France is 5-3 with 14 points. Italy, which beat Korea on Saturday, is in third place at 4-4 with 11 points.
Sean Rooney lays out his body to get the ball. (FIVB photo)
The U.S. Men will complete their weekend series in Gwangju against host Korea at 10 p.m. PT on Saturday. France led the U.S. in attacks on Saturday, 43-40. But the U.S. held a big edge in blocks, 12-3, including five blocks in a second-set comeback, and had a smaller edge in aces, 3-2. The U.S. Men led in digs 18-14. The U.S. also took advantage of 21 French errors while committing only 15. The U.S. got balanced scoring from its starters, with four in double digits. U.S. outside hitter Sean Rooney (Wheaton, Ill.) led all scorers with 13 points on nine kills (40.90 kill percent, .364 hitting efficiency) and a match-high four blocks. Opposite Clay Stanley (Honolulu, Hawaii) added 12 points on 10 attacks (45.5 kill percent, .364 hitting efficiency) and two blocks. “We did a great job today,” Stanley said. “Our team led the game with excellent teamwork. It was consistent. Also, we showed incredible defense and blocking today. It was a pretty good match.”
David Smith, left, and Sean Rooney celebrate a great play. (FIVB photo)
Middle blocker Russell Holmes (Fountain Valley, Calif.) contributed 11 points on seven attacks, three blocks and one ace. Outside hitter Matt Anderson (West Seneca, N.Y.) totaled 10 points on nine kills and one block. Middle blocker David Smith (Saugus, Calif.) scored seven points on five attacks, on block and one ace. Setter Donald Suxho (Korce, Albania) scored one point with a block. Suxho was credited with 27 assists and no faults. He set the U.S. to a 44.9 kill percent and a .348 hitting efficiency. France’s kill percent was 39.8 and its hitting efficiency was .185. U.S. libero Rich Lambourne (Tustin, Calif.) led the team in digs with six and added five excellent receptions. Anderson led the team in excellent receptions with nine. Antonin Rouzier led France with 11 points on 11 attacks. Kevin Tillie, who played on UC Irvine’s 2012 NCAA Men’s Volleyball Championship team under U.S. coach John Speraw (Irvine, Calif.) also made an appearance in the third set and scored seven points on seven kills in the losing effort. Speraw, who continued to fill in for Alan Knipe (Huntington Beach, Calif.) while Knipe attends to a family issue, started Anderson and Rooney at outside hitter, Holmes and Smith at middle blocker, Stanley at opposite, Suxho at setter and Lambourne at libero. Outside hitter Paul Lotman (Lakewood, Calif.) played as a substitute.
Russell Holmes attacks against France. (FIVB photo)
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