Practice Matches #1 and #2 against Puerto Rico

Players (Match #1): The U.S. Men’s National Team started and played throughout with Jon Winder setting, Evan Patak in the opposite, Sean Rooney and Paul Lotman on the left sides, David Lee and Ryan Millar in the middle with Rich Lambourne at libero. Andy Hein and Riley Salmon made cameo appearances. 

The match score: 3–1 (25-18; 25-19; 23-25; 25-23)

Description of Match 1

The venue in the town of Corazal is the Caribbean version of an ice rink. Without air conditioning, big, perspiring, bodies hitting the floor diving for balls, the floor was quickly slathered in sweat. The towel boys were hard at work wiping up the results. Soon, their towels were drenched and they merely making the rink larger. We were concerned about potential injury but were fortunate not to incur any. The Puerto Ricans weren’t quite as fortunate as their starting setter going down with a severe sprain, which likely puts him out of the tournament. We had some slips which caused some catches of breath but there were no mishaps.

This match featured 10 aces tallied by Patak as he spooled up his heavy jump spin. Several ricocheted off of various body parts while two froze the middle and left side passers as if they were mannequins. The only evidence of life was both slightly turning their heads toward the point on the floor between them the ball hit prior to skipping out of the playing area.

And then it began to rain. The roof slowed the deluge slightly and presented more work for the towel boys. Fortunately it didn’t last long. The court returned from lake to ice rink. Just after that, a grasshopper that could have easily accommodated a saddle jumped on Clay Stanley and me. Interesting diversion.

Paul Lotman and Rooney were steady throughout; passing and hitting smart, timely shots.  They combined for 28 kills on 56 swings. 

It wasn’t the smoothest of matches but an opportunity for Jon Winder to wet his feet (so to speak) setting to the veteran middles and the more familiar outsides. He did a nice job of distributing the ball and working out of some negative runs. Veteran thug Clay Stanley was held out of both matches to rest a straining abdominal muscle. Likewise, Riley Salmon rested a tight back.

Description of Match 2 

Match Score: 3–2 (21-25; 25-23; 18-25; 25-21; 15-12)

Venue: Same Ice rink; same conditions and concerns

The goal was to rest as many as possible. David Lee and Ryan Millar yielded their middle spots to Andy Hein and the captain, wily Tom Hoff. Patak was also rested in favor of Nils Nielsen, a local club player who has trained with the U.S. program. Alfee Reft was the libero allowing Rich Lambourne to rest and fulfill every libero’s dream: playing the front row.

Rotated in at left front, Rich broke out his whip and swatted 6 kills. He also closed out the second game with an ace and a forced bad pass with his jump serve. Patak subbed in to stuff the 24th point in front of Lambourne’s serve. The Puerto Ricans were scrambling through their scouting reports to find Lambourne’s tendencies and since this was the Olympian’s debut at both the net and serving line they found none.

Winners find ways to win and that is what this outfit did in some very unusual lineups and situations. We didn’t want to go five but we always want to win more and we did.

We escaped injury free in precarious conditions although a couple of players are a bit under the weather. 

The tournament starts today (Monday) and we face Mexico at 2 p.m. ET. Tuesday we play Panama and finish pool play on Wednesday against Canada. Kevin Hansen and Reid Priddy arrive tonight from their club teams and join the fray on Monday. We are healthy and ready to roll.