8/8 1 2 3 USA 26 20 20 ITA 28 25 25 U.S. Men End Olympic Run with Loss to Italy LONDON (Aug. 8, 2012) – The U.S. Olympic Men’s Volleyball Team, ranked fifth in the world and defending Olympic Games champion, had its dream of repeating history stopped on Aug. 8 with a 28-26, 25-20, 25-20 loss to Italy in the quarterfinal round at Earls Court in London. Team USA finishes the 2012 Olympic Games with a 5-1 overall record and in a tie for fifth after finishing atop Pool B. The U.S. recovered from a 21-19 deficit in the first set to take three set points, only to have Italy save all three and serve its third ace of the set for the 28-26 victory. The Americans tallied eight blocks in the opening set. Italy used a 7-1 scoring run to come back from a 16-15 deficit in the second set and benefited from three aces and eight Team USA errors to win 25-20. Italy built a 10-6 advantage in the third set with a 6-0 scoring run on aggressive serving to recover from an early 6-4 hole en route finishing the match with a 25-20 set win. “It was frustrating for us,” U.S. Olympic Men’s Volleyball Coach Alan Knipe said. “When we look back at this we will see we had lots of opportunities to win the first set. We came in with a really good game plan and when we were in our game plan and executing it, we were winning points.”
Donald Suxho sets up David Lee against Italy. (FIVB Photo)
Clay Stanley led the U.S. with 16 points via 12 kills on 28 attacks, three blocks and an ace. Reid Priddy added eight points on five kills, two blocks and an ace. David Lee totaled seven points on four kills and three blocks. Matt Anderson tacked on seven points, all on kills. Russell Holmes turned in seven points with five kills and two blocks. Sean Rooney rounded out the scoring with a kill in a reserve role. Anderson, in his first Olympic Games, was credited with 17 excellent receptions on 27 attempts, but with three faults. Donald Suxho tallied 33 running sets and seven digs, while Rich Lambourne provided six digs and nine excellent receptions. “Italy played great and found their rhythm,” Stanley said. “They turned it up a notch and we turned it down. We worked four years for this. It’s kind of tough.” Knipe started Anderson and Priddy at outside hitter, Lee and Holmes at middle blocker, Stanley at opposite and Suxho at setter. Lambourne is the U.S. designated libero for the Olympic Games. David McKienzie (Littleton, Colo.) was a serving sub in all three sets, while David Smith came on in the first and third sets. Rooney was a sub in the second and third sets.
(Left) Reid Priddy hits to the side of the Italy block. (Right) Donald Suxho ties up the Italy attack. (FIVB Photos)
Italy’s serve proved to a major difference in the match with a 9-2 ace advantage and consistently keeping the American offense out of system. Team USA converted 41.0 percent of its attacks into points, but 14 errors led to a .241 hitting efficiency. In contrast, Italy converted 42.4 percent of its attacks with a .253 hitting efficiency. The U.S. managed a 10-8 advantage in blocks for the match, but eight of those blocks came in the opening set. “We had some chances tonight, including the first set, but we didn’t capitalize on them,” Lee said. “Italy served us tough, and I give them credit for that.” Italian captain Cristian Savani produced a match-high 19 points including four aces, while Ivan Zaytsev totaled 16 points with 15 kills on 28 attacks. Italy’s setter Dragan Travica’s serve netted four of the team’s nine aces. “It’s kind of hard to put things into perspective straight after a loss,” Rooney said. “We put together a great performance in pool play, and it was about putting ourselves in the best position to win gold.”
A U.S. timeout attempting to regroup against Italy. (FIVB photo)
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