Men's Sitting Team to Play Germany for 5th at Worlds

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Nov. 9, 2022) – The U.S. Men’s Sitting Team is assured of having its best finish ever at the ParaVolley World Championships after beating Ukraine 3-1 (22-25, 25-17, 25-15, 25-8) in the fifth-place semifinals on Wednesday in Sarajevo.

The U.S. Men (4-2) will face Germany (4-2) for fifth place at 8:45 a.m. CT on Thursday. The U.S. Men’s Sitting Team’s previous best worlds finish was eighth in 2018.

The U.S. Men’s Sitting Team had never beaten Ukraine before Wednesday.

“To see Team USA performing better and better every set was a testament to and validation of all the hard work they are putting in,” U.S. Head Coach Greg Walker said. “World championships, as all our national teams know, is a brutal tournament. I thought our guys gave an incredible performance.”

The U.S. Men led in kills (55-25) and aces (8-0). Ukraine led in blocks (8-6). Setters John Kremer and James Stuck helped the team to a .355 hitting efficiency.

Every player on the roster got into the match.

Opposite Eric Duda led all scorers with 24 points on a match-high 22 kills, one block and one ace. Outside hitter Zach Upp added 20 points on 13 kills, three blocks and a match-high four aces.

Middle blocker Roderick Green totaled 11 points on eight kills, two blocks and one ace. Stuck scored six points on six kills. Middle Chris Seilkop scored four points on four kills.

Substitutes Pat Young and Ben Aman each scored a point with a kill. Kremer and substitute Ben Aman each scored a point with an ace.

Libero Nicholas Dadgostar led the team in receptions with 16: 69 percent positive. Travis Ricks and Sam Surowiec also played as substitutes.

Matches are being live streamed at World ParaVolley on YouTube.

U.S. Men’s Sitting Team Roster for the World Championship

No Name (Position, Height, Hometown, Region)
1 Travis Ricks (L, 5-7, San Diego, Calif., Southern California)
2 Dan Regan (OH, 6-0, St. Louis, Gateway)
3 Nicholas Dadgostar (L, 6-0, Sidney, Neb., Chesapeake)
4 Ben Aman (OH, 6-5, Edmond, Okla., Oklahoma)
5 Eric Duda (S/OH, 6-5, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Florida)
8 James Stuck (S/OH, 6-5, New Kensington, Pa., Keystone)
11 Roderick Green (MB, 6-3, West Monroe, La., Bayou)
12 Patrick Young (OH, 6-4, Albuquerque, N.M., Sun Country)
15 Chris Seilkop (OH, 6-6, Deland, Fla., Florida)
17 Zach Upp (OH, 6-5, Bartlett, Ill., Great Lakes)
21 John Kremer (L, 5-9, Buford, Ga., Southern)
49 Sam Surowiec (OH, 6-2, Everett, Wash., Evergreen)

Head Coach: Greg Walker
Assistant Coach: Joe Skinner
Assistant Coach: Kyle Homeyer
Performance Analyst: Justin Chang
Athletic Trainer: Brian Farr
Team Leader: Bobby Moore

U.S. Men’s Schedule for the World Championship
(All Times CT)

Nov. 4 USA def Japan, 3-0 (25-19, 25-15, 25-14)
Nov. 5 Bosnia & Herzegovina def USA, 3-1 (25-17, 25-13, 24-26, 25-21)
Nov. 6 USA def Serbia, 3-0 (25-17, 25-22, 25-13)
Nov. 7 Round of 16: USA def Iraq, 3-2 (25-20, 25-21, 16-25, 21-25, 15-9)
Nov. 8 Quarterfinals: Iran def USA, 3-0 (25-18, 25-15, 25-17)
Nov. 9 Classification 5-8: USA def Ukraine, 3-1 (22-25, 25-17, 25-15, 25-8)
Nov. 10 5th-place match: USA v Germany at 8:45 a.m.