COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (March 2, 2020) – If you want to see the U.S. Men’s National Team play in the United States this summer before the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, there is only one way to do it.
Single-seat tickets are now on sale for the 2020 FIVB Volleyball Nations League matches on May 22-24 at the Petersen Events Center in Pittsburgh.
The U.S. Men, ranked No. 3 in the world, will host No. 1 Brazil, No. 5 Argentina and No. 10 Canada over the weekend. All four teams have qualified for the Olympic Games.
Schedule for the FIVB Volleyball Nations League Matches
at Petersen Events Center in Pittsburgh
(all times local)
May 22
4 p.m. Brazil vs Argentina
7:30 p.m. USA vs Canada
May 23
4 p.m. Argentina vs Canada
7:30 p.m. USA vs Brazil
May 24
2 p.m. Canada vs Brazil
5:30 p.m. USA vs Argentina
ITALY
The Italian government suspended SuperLega volleyball matches, along with other sports, until at least March 11 as a precautionary measure due to an outbreak of COVID-19 (AKA the corona virus) in the northern part of the country.
Prior to the suspension, the league played the semifinals and finals of the Italian Cup. Modena, featuring U.S. outside hitter Matt Anderson, setter Micah Christenson and middle blocker Max Holt fell to Perugia in the semis, 25-19, 25-22, 26-24.
Anderson was held to eight points on five kills, one block and two aces. He was credited with 16 receptions, 44 percent positive. Holts scored six points on four kills and two blocks. Christenson set Modena to a .387 hitting efficiency.
In the other semifinal, outside hitter Aaron Russell and Trentino fell to Civitanova, 15-25, 20-25, 25-16, 25-21, 15-12. Russell finished with 17 points on 15 kills and two blocks. He was credited with 23 receptions, 48 percent positive.
Modena is in third place in the league at 16-4. Trentino is fourth at 14-5. Outside hitters Garrett Muagututia and Corey Chavers and setter Jennings Franciskovic all play for Verona, which is in ninth place at 7-12.
Outside hitter T.J. DeFalco and Vibo Valentia are in 12th place at 5-14. Outside hitter Kupono Fey and Sora are in 13th at 1-18.
GERMANY
The Berlin Recycling Volleys, which include outside hitters J.T. Hatch and Cody Kessel, opposites Kyle Ensing and Ben Patch and middle blocker Jeff Jendryk, remain undefeated in the German league at 19-0. On Feb. 25, Berlin was tested by Düren, but won 21-25, 28-26, 32-30, 20-25, 15-8.
Patch led Berlin with 29 points on 24 kills, three blocks and two aces. Kessel started two sets and scored 10 points on eight kills and two blocks. He was credited with 24 receptions, 46 percent positive. Jendryk started three sets and scored three points on three kills. Hatch played as a substitute but did not score.
Ensing was not on the roster. A translated press release said he was absent due to “urgent private matters.”
Middle blocker Brendan Schmidt, setter Joe Worsley and Friedrichshafen sit in third place at 13-6. On Feb. 29, Friedrichshafen beat Rottenburg, 25-22, 25-20, 21-25, 25-21. Schmidt started the fourth set and scored two points on two kills. Worsley played as a substitute. U.S. middle blocker Mitch Penning started for Rottenburg and scored 11 points on nine kills and two aces. Opposite Karl Apfelbach started the first two sets and scored nine points on seven kills, one block and on ace.
Outside hitter David Wieczorek, opposite Michael Wexter and Giesen are in 10th place at 5-14. On Feb. 26, Giesen beat Eltmann, 25-22, 25-20, 25-19. Wieczorek led all scorers with 19 points on 15 kills, one block and three aces. He was credited with 13 receptions, 54 percent positive. Wexter played as a substitute.
Outside hitter Greg Petty and Bühl are in 11th place at 6-13. On Feb. 22, Bühl fell to Herrsching, 25-13, 25-20, 25-21. Petty led his team with 14 points on 12 kills, one block and one ace. He was credited with 17 receptions, 29 percent positive. U.S. opposite Jalen Penrose led Herrsching with 17 points on 13 kills, two blocks and two aces.
POLAND
Middle blocker David Smith and Kędzierzyn-Koźle are in second place in the Plusliga at 18-4. On Feb. 26, Kędzierzyn-Koźle beat libero Dustin Watten and Katowice, 25-22, 25-20, 25-20. Smith score 11 points on nine kills and two blocks. Watten was credited with eight receptions, 50 percent positive.
On Feb. 29, Kędzierzyn-Koźle beat Trefl Gdańsk, 25-18, 25-15, 22-25, 22-25, 15-12. Smith scored eight points on five kills, one block and two aces.
Katowice is in seventh place at 10-12.
Outside hitter Brenden Sander and Radom are in sixth place in the league at 10-11. On Feb. 28, Radom beat Suwałki with setter Josh Tuaniga, 25-23, 44-42, 22-25, 25-21. Sander started all four sets and scored 18 points on 16 kills, one block and one ace. He was credited with 27 receptions, 48 percent positive. Tuaniga also started all four sets and scored one point on a kill. He set Suwałki to a .400 hitting efficiency. Suwałki is in eighth place at 10-12.
Setter Kawika Shoji and Asseco Resovia Rzeszów are in 13th place at 6-16. On Feb. 26, Resovia Rzeszów fell to league-leading Warsaw, 25-23, 21-25, 25-20, 25-18. Shoji played as a substitute.
RUSSIA
Libero Erik Shoji and Novy Urengoy are in sixth place at 10-7. On Feb. 23, Novy Urengoy beat Ural Ufa, 26-28, 31-29, 25-20, 15-25, 15-13. Shoji was credited with 26 receptions, 46 percent positive.
FRANCE
Tours and middle blocker Price Jarman lead the French league at 15-8.
Middle blocker Mitch Stahl and Chaumont are in fourth place at 13-9. On Feb. 29, Chaumont beat Montpellier, 25-23, 25-20, 25-13. Stahl finished with six points on three kills, two blocks and one ace.
Poitiers sits in seventh place at 10-13. On Feb. 29, Poitiers fell to Nantes Rezé, 27-25, 22-25, 23-25, 27-25, 15-13. Ma’a scored five points on four kills and one block. He set the team to a .425 hitting efficiency.
Cannes is in eighth place at 10-13. On Feb. 28, Cannes fell to Nice, 25-21, 22-25, 18-25, 25-21, 15-13. Opposite Kyle Russell scored 14 points on 12 kills, one block and one ace. Setter Matt West scored six points on three kills, one block and two aces. He set Cannes to a .429 hitting efficiency.
CEV CUP
Italy’s Modena has advanced to the quarterfinals of the CEV Cup. It won its first quarterfinal match over France’s Ajaccio on Feb. 26, 28-26, 25-21, 25-22. Anderson and Holt did not play. Christenson scored five points on a match-high four aces and one block. He set Modena to a .400 hitting efficiency.
The teams are scheduled to play again March 4 in Italy.