DeFalco Scores 33 in 5-Set VNL Loss to Iran

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (June 19, 2024) – The U.S. Men’s National Team fell to Iran in a close five-set match 3-2 (26-28, 25-23, 25-18, 26-28, 15-13) in the Volleyball Nations League week three opener in Manila, Philippines.

Between the many long rallies and stellar play from both sides, the crowd in Manila got a treat in the second match of the day. A few times, the crowd broke out into U-S-A chants as the U.S. Men fought their way back into the match.

Outside hitter TJ DeFalco put up a big stat line, leading all scorers with 33 points on 30 kills (.468 hitting percentage), two blocks and one ace. He was also credited with six digs.

Outside hitter Jordan Ewert provided key points off the bench, including back-to-back kills to tie it up 9-9 in the fifth. Ewert had 10 points on eight kills (.429), one block and one ace.

“I thought I brought in some new energy,” Ewert told Volleyball World. “That was my number one goal was come in, bring new energy and a little bit of fire.”

The U.S. Men (3-6) will look to bounce back against Brazil (6-3) on Thursday at 4 a.m. PT.

MATCH STATISTICS

The U.S. led Iran in kills (65-64) and the teams were even on serve (5-5). Iran led in blocks (9-6) and scoring on opponents errors (39-34).

Early in the fourth set, Ewert and middle blocker Max Holt helped the U.S. extend their lead to 12-7 after back-to-back solo blocks. Iran tied it up late and forced extra points, but it was DeFalco who finished it to take the match to a fifth set.

The U.S. was down early in the fifth, but Ewert and DeFalco helped the squad back to a 10-9 lead. However, Iran scored three in a row and ultimately won the match.

Opposite Matt Anderson was the second leading scorer on the U.S. side with 13 points on ten kills and three aces. He was also credited with seven digs.

Middle blocker Jeff Jendryk had nine points on seven kills and two blocks.

Libero Erik Shoji was credited with 13 digs and eight successful receptions.

Setter Micah Christenson led the team to a .321 hitting percentage.

Holt had four points on four kills.

Outside hitter Garrett Muagututia also had four points on four kills. He was also credited with six digs.

Middle blocker Taylor Averill had two points on two kills.

Setter Micah Ma’a and opposite Kyle Ensing saw action as substitutes.

U.S. Men’s National Team Roster
for 2024 Volleyball Nations League – Week 3
No. Player (Position, Height, Hometown, College, USAV Region)
1 Matt Anderson (Opp, 6-10, West Seneca, N.Y., Penn State, Western Empire)
4 Jeff Jendryk (MB, 6-10, Wheaton, Ill., Loyola Univ. Chicago, Great Lakes)
5 Kyle Ensing (Opp, 6-7, Valencia, Calif., Long Beach State Univ., Southern California)
8 T.J. DeFalco (OH, 6-5, Huntington Beach, Calif., Long Beach State Univ., Southern California)
9 Jake Hanes (Opp, 6-10, Orland Park, Ill., Ohio State Univ., Great Lakes)
10 Kyle Dagostino (L, 5-9, Tampa, Florida, Stanford Univ., Florida)
11C Micah Christenson (S, 6-5, Honolulu, Hawaii, Univ. of Southern California, Aloha)
12 Max Holt (MB, 6-10, Cincinnati, Ohio, Penn State, Ohio Valley)
14 Micah Ma’a (S, 6-3, Kaneohe, Hawaii, UCLA, Aloha)
18 Garrett Muagututia (OH, 6-5, Oceanside, Calif., UCLA, Southern California)
19 Taylor Averill (MB, 6-7, San Jose, Calif., Univ. of Hawaii, Northern California)
20 David Smith (MB, 6-7, Saugus, Calif., Univ. of California Irvine, Southern California)
22 Erik Shoji (L, 6-0, Honolulu, Hawaii, Stanford Univ., Aloha)
29 Jordan Ewert (OH, 6-5, Antioch, Calif., Stanford, Northern California)

Reserve player
23 Cody Kessel (OH, 6-5, Colorado Springs, Colo., Princeton Univ., Rocky Mountain)

Head Coach: John Speraw
Assistant Coaches: Matt Fuerbringer
Second Assistants: Javier Weber and Erik Sullivan
Performance Analyst and Technical Coordinator: Nate Ngo
Athletic Trainer: Aaron Brock
Strength and Conditioning Coach: Tim Pelot
Team Manager: David Dantes
Sports Psychologists: Andrea Becker, Peter Naschak
Doctors: Andrew Gregory

U.S. Men’s Schedule for 2024 VNL
All times PDT
Matches will be shown live and on-demand on VolleyballWorld.tv

Week 1 in Antalya, Türkiye
May 22 at 10 a.m. Poland def. USA 3-0 (25-22, 25-15, 26-24)
May 24 at 7 a.m. France def. USA 3-0 (25-22, 25-21, 25-21)
May 25 at 10 a.m. Bulgaria def. USA 3-1 (25-21, 25-20, 21-25, 25-21)
May 26 at 7 a.m. USA def. Türkiye 3-1 (20-25, 25-22, 27-25, 25-21)

Week 2 in Ottawa, Canada
June 4 at 1:30 p.m. USA def. Argentina 3-0 (25-23, 25-21, 26-24)
June 6 at 1:30 p.m. Italy def. USA 3-0 (25-23, 26-24, 25-20)
June 7 at 5 p.m. USA def. Serbia 3-1 (23-25, 25-15, 25-23, 25-14)
June 8 at 1:30 p.m. Canada def. USA 3-1 (25-16, 19-25, 26-24, 28-26)

Week 3 in Manila Philippines
June 19 at 4 a.m. Iran def. USA 3-2 (26-28, 25-23, 25-18, 26-28, 15-13)
June 20 at 4 a.m. USA vs Brazil
June 21 at 8 p.m. USA vs Germany
June 23 at 4 a.m. USA vs Japan

Final Round on June 27-30 in Łódź, Poland