Men's Junior Team Wins Two Friendly Matches

B.J. Hoeptner Evans
Manager, Media Relations and Publications
Phone: (719) 228-6800
E-Mail: bj.evans@usav.org

View DataVolley Statistics for USA vs. Canada * View DataVolley Statistics for USA vs. Argentina

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (July 28, 2011) – The U.S. Men’ Junior National Team won two friendly matches in Argentina as it warmed up for the FIVB Volleyball Men's Junior World Championship Brazil 2011.

On July 26, the U.S. took a 25-19, 25-17, 19-25, 25-23 victory over Canada. On July 27, it took a 25-16, 17-25, 27-25, 20-25, 15-10 decision over Argentina.

The U.S. Men’s Junior Team, Canada and Argentina will all play in the FIVB Men’s Junior World Championship on Aug. 1-10 in Brazil. The U.S. will play its first round of pool play will be in Rio de Janeiro.

Against Canada, the U.S. held the advantage in kills, 43-31 and in aces, 13-6. Canada led in blocks 8-7.

Opposite Maurice Torres (Riverside, Calif.) led all scorers in the friendly match with 10 points on six kills, two blocks and two aces. Middle blocker Dylan Davis (Corona del Mar, Calif.) added nine points on six kills, one block and two aces. Outside hitter Stephen Irvin (Pacific Palisades, Calif.) scored nine points on a match-high eight kills and one block.

Bradley Kufske and Tommy Bélisle paced Canada with eight points each.

Among other U.S. scorers, outside hitter Taylor Sander (Norco, Calif.) scored eight points on six kills, one block and one ace.  Middle blocker Scott Kevorken (Westlake Village, Calif.) added five points on three kills, one block and one ace. Middle blocker Eric Mochalski (Manhattan Beach, Calif.) scored five points on three kills and two aces.

Setter Connor Olbright (Orange, Calif.) scored four points on one kill, one block and two aces. Outside hitter Brian Cook (Santa Cruz, Calif.) added four points on three kills and one block. Opposite Josh Taylor (Norco, Calif.) totaled three points on three kills. Outside hitter Tony Crabb (Honolulu, Hawaii) finished with two points on one kill and one ace. Setter Micah Christenson had one point on one ace.

U.S. Head Coach John Hawks started Crabb and Sander at outside hitter, Mochalski and Davis at middle blocker, Taylor at opposite, Christenson at setter and Henry Cassiday (Honolulu) was the designated libero for the match.

Olbright started the second set at setter and finished the match for Christenson. Torres started the second, third and fourth sets at opposite. Irvin started the second, third and fourth sets at outside hitter. Kevorken started the third and fourth sets at middle blocker. Cook started the third set at outside hitter.

In the July 27 victory over Argentina, Sander led all scorers with 28 points on a match-high 22 kills and a match-high six aces. Taylor added 18 points on 14 kills and four aces. Crabb totaled 15 points on 12 kills and three aces. Davis had 12 points on five kills, a match-high six blocks and one ace.

The U.S. out-attacked Argentina 66-49 and had 16 aces while Argentina had seven. Argentina out-blocked the United States 13-7.

Ivan Castellani led Argentina with 21 points on 17 kills, two aces and two blocks.

Among other U.S. scorers, Christenson scored seven points on four kills, two blocks and one ace. Mochalski added six points on five kills and one ace. Torres scored on three kills.

Hawks started Crabb and Sander at outside hitter, Mochalski and Davis at middle blocker, Taylor at opposite, Christenson at setter and Cassiday at libero. Torres, Irvin and Olbright played as substitutes.

2011 U.S. Men's Junior National Team
Name (Position, Height, Hometown, HS Grad Year, Club/School, Region)
1. Henry Cassiday (L, 6-3, Honolulu, Hawaii, 2010, USC, Southern California)
2. Micah Christenson (S, 6-5, Honolulu, Hawaii, 2011, Outrigger Canoe Club, Aloha)
4. Brian Cook (OH, 6-5, Santa Cruz, Calif., 2010, Stanford Univ., Southern California)
5. Taylor Crabb (OH, 6-1, Honolulu, Hawaii, 2009, Long Beach State Univ., Aloha)
6. Dylan Davis (MB, 6-9, Corona del Mar, Calif., 2009, UC Santa Barbara, Southern California)
8. Steven Irvin (OH, 6-5, Pacific Palisades, Calif., 2010, Stanford Univ., Southern California)
9. Scott Kevorken (MB, 6-8, Westlake Village, Calif., 2009, UC Irvine, Southern California)
10. Connor Olbright (S, 6-5, Orange, Calif., 2010, Long Beach State Univ., Southern California)
11. Eric Mochalski (MB, 6-6, Manhattan Beach, Calif., 2010, Stanford Univ., Southern California)
15. Taylor Sander (OH, 6-5, Norco, Calif., 2010, BYU, Southern California)
17. Joshua Taylor (Opp, 6-7, Honolulu, Hawaii, 2011, Outrigger Canoe Club, Aloha)
18. Maurice Torres (Opp, 6-7, Riverside, Calif., 2009, Pepperdine Univ., Southern California)

Staff
Head Coach - John Hawks (Long Beach State)
Assistant Coach - Colin McMillan (Penn State)
Assistant Coach - David Hunt (Pepperdine)
Head of Delegation - Shawn Patchell (San Diego, Calif.)
Technical Coordinator - Randy Nako (Honolulu, Hawaii)

Tags: Brian Cook, Connor Olbright, Dylan Davis, Eric Mochalski, FIVB World Championship, Henry Cassiday, Josh Taylor, Junior World Championship, Maurice Torres, Micah Christenson, mobile, Scott Kevorken, Steven Irvin, Taylor Crabb, Taylor Sander, U.S. Men's Junior National Team