U.S. Men to Face Brazil in World League Semis

B.J. Hoeptner Evans
Manager, Media Relations and Publications
Phone: 719-228-6800
BJ.Evans@usav.org

ANAHEIM, Calif. (July 25, 2008) – The U.S. Men’s National Volleyball Team will face host Brazil at 9:15 a.m. PDT on Saturday in the semifinals of the FIVB World League Final Round in Rio de Janeiro.

The U.S. Men advance thanks to Serbia’s sweep of Poland (25-16, 25-18, 25-21) in the last pool-play match on Friday. Team USA finishes second in Pool F with a 1-1 record in the Final Round.

Serbia wins Pool F with a 2-0 record and will face Russia on Saturday (6 a.m. PDT) in the other semifinal.

Brazil won Pool E on Friday, finishing with a 2-0 record after a sweep of Japan (25-16 25-23 25-15). Russia finished second and Japan was eliminated from the competition along with Poland.

Brazil has been the World League champion for the last five years.

View the U.S. Men's World League Media Guide at www.usavolleyball.org/media/national/08WL_MNTMediaGuide.pdf.     

The U.S. World League site is www.usavolleyball.org/national/08WL.asp.   

The FIVB World League site is www.fivb.org/EN/Volleyball/Competitions/WorldLeague/2008.   

2008 FIVB World League Final Round
U.S. Men's Roster

1 Lloy Ball (S, 6-8, Woodburn, Ind., Indiana-Purdue, Fort Wayne)
2 Sean Rooney (OH, 6-9, Wheaton, Ill., Pepperdine)
4 David Lee (MB, 6-8, Alpine, Calif., Long Beach State)
5 Rich Lambourne (L, 6-3, Tustin, Calif., BYU)
8 Reid Priddy (OH, 6-5, Richmond, Va., Loyola Marymount)
9 Ryan Millar (MB, 6-8, Palmdale, Calif., BYU)
10 Riley Salmon (OH, 6-6, League City, Texas, Pierce College)
12 C Tom Hoff (MB, 6-8, Park Ridge, Ill., Long Beach State)
13 Clay Stanley (OPP, 6-9, Honolulu, Hawai’i, Hawai’i)
14 Kevin Hansen (S, 6-5, Newport Beach, Calif., Stanford)
15 Gabe Gardner (Opp, 6-9, San Clemente, Calif., Stanford)
18 Scott Touzinsky (OH, 6-6, St. Louis, Mo., Long Beach State)

Head Coach: Hugh McCutcheon
Assistant Coach: Ron Larsen
Assistant Coach: John Speraw
Team Doctor: Michael Wynn
Technical Coordinator: Jamie Morrison
Athletic Trainer: Aaron Brock

Results and Schedule (all times PDT)

Pool E
July 23: Brazil def. Russia, 25-23, 25-18, 25-15
July 24: Russia def. Japan, 25-14, 26-24, 25-18
July 25: Brazil def. Japan, 25-16 25-23 25-15

Pool F
July 23: Serbia def. USA, 25-23, 25-29, 25-17
July 24: USA def. Poland, 25-18, 23-25, 27-25, 18-25, 16-14
July 25: Serbia def. Poland, 25-16, 25-18, 25-21

Semifinals – July 26
6 a.m.: Serbia vs. Russia
9:15 a.m.: Brazil vs. USA

Finals – July 27
5:30 a.m.: Bronze medal match
8:30 a.m.: Gold medal match