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Spain Shuts Down U.S. Men at World Cup B.J. Evans ANAHEIM, Calif. (Nov. 20, 2007) – The U.S. Men’s National Team’s World Cup woes continued on Tuesday as Spain came back from a first-set loss to take a 3-1 (21-25, 25-20, 27-25, 25-20) victory before an estimated crowd of 3,100 in Matsumoto, Japan.
After a travel day on Wednesday, the U.S. Men will face Bulgaria to open round two on Thursday at 6:35 p.m. local time (1:30 a.m. PST). The U.S. Men out-killed the Spaniards 56-52 and also had five aces to Spain’s three. But Spain’s 15 stuff blocks – led by Jose Luis Molto with seven and Israel Rodriguez with five – stifled any offensive charges the United States could put together. The United States finished with eight stuff blocks. U.S. Head Coach Hugh McCutcheon (Christchurch, New Zealand) went with a starting lineup of Reid Priddy (Richmond, Va.) and Riley Salmon (League City, Texas) at outside hitter, David Lee (Alpine, Calif.) and Ryan Millar (Palmdale, Calif.) at middle blocker, Clay Stanley (Honolulu, Hawai’i) at opposite and Lloy Ball (Woodburn, Ind.) at setter. Rich Lambourne is the United States’ designated libero for the tournament. However, McCutcheon substituted liberally and U.S. team captain Tom Hoff (Park Ridge, Ill.) was the only player who didn’t see playing time. After the match, McCutcheon said he would use the off day between rounds to review the team’s strategies. “We started a little better but had trouble sustaining our level,” McCutcheon said. “We have to reevaluate the way we work together. We have got the day off tomorrow, so hopefully we can get things back on track in the second stage.” Stanley led Team USA with 14 points on 10 kills, two aces and two blocks. Gabe Gardner (San Clemente, Calif.), who started the third and fourth sets at opposite in place of Stanley, scored 13 points on 13 kills. Millar scored 11 points on nine kills and two blocks and Priddy tallied 10 points on six kills, two aces and two blocks. Lee scored eight points on seven kills and one block. Rooney, who started the third and fourth sets in place of Salmon, scored five points on five kills. Ball contributed four points on three kills and one block. Jim Polster (Laguna Niguel, Calif.), seeing his first action of the tournament, started the fourth set in place of Priddy and scored two points on one kill and one ace. Salmon had two kills. Lambourne was credited with eight digs and 19 “excellents” on serve receive. Rodriguez led all scorers with 19 points on 13 kills and one ace to add to his five blocks. Guillermo Falasca was close behind with 18 points on a match-high 17 kills and one ace. Molto finished with 14 points on seven kills and seven blocks.
Spain turned up the heat with its blocking in the second set and took an 8-6 lead into the first technical timeout and held a 16-11 lead at the second. A block by Moto took the Spaniards to set point and Rodriguez followed with another block for the victory. Spain kept up the momentum and held a two-point lead at the first TTO of the third set. However, the United States went on a 5-2 run led by Millar and Priddy and took an 11-10 lead. It increased its lead to 12-10 on Priddy’s block. But Spain continued to battle and eventually the teams tied the score at 22-22. Spain reached match point first at 24-22, but Gardner’s kill followed by a Spanish error tied the score again. Spain took a 25-24 lead, but again could not end the set. Finally, a Moto block gave Spain a 26-25 lead and a Moto kill ended the set. The United States found itself needing to play catch-up again in the fourth set as Spain grabbed an 8-6 lead at the first technical timeout and then extended it to 11-6. With Spain leading 13-9, Team USA went on a 3-1 run on Ball’s block and aces by Stanley and Polster to make it 14-12 in favor of Spain. But Spain did not let down and held a 16-13 lead at the second timeout. With Spain leading 23-20, the U.S. Men made two errors in a row to close out the set. For the U.S. Men's World Cup Media Guide (1 MB), click here. For the FIVB Men's World Cup Media Guide (8 MB), click here. The FIVB Men’s World Cup web site is at www.fivb.org/EN/volleyball/competitions/WorldCup/2007/Men/. The Japanese World Cup web site is at www.vbworldcup.jp/2007/en. View the TV schedule on Universal HD here. 2007 FIVB World Cup U.S. Men’s Roster Head Coach: Hugh McCutcheon Standings First Round Nov. 18 - Matsumoto Second Round Nov. 22 - Toyama Third Round Nov. 25 – Okayama Fourth Round Nov. 30 – Tokyo A |
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The loss drops the world No. 5-ranked United States’ record to 1-2. No. 24 Spain, which qualified for the World Cup by winning the European zone championship, picked up its first victory and improves to 1-2. At the end of round one of the World Cup, only Russia and Bulgaria are undefeated at 3-0. However, several teams remain ahead of the United States with records of 2-1.
Trying to bounce back from a loss to Puerto Rico the previous afternoon, the U.S. Men got off to a good start on Tuesday and held an 8-6 lead at the first technical timeout and a 16-14 lead at the second. They increased the lead to three at 21-19 on Stanley’s kill, causing Spanish Head Coach Marcelo R. Mendez to call a timeout. However Team USA maintained its lead and won the set on two straight kills by Salmon and Stanley.
