COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (May 31, 2016) – The U.S. Men’s National Team will warm up for the FIVB World League with two exhibition matches on June 4 and 6 in Havana, Cuba.
The U.S. Men last played in Cuba in 1995 when they traveled to Havana for World League.
The U.S. Men initially invited Cuba to train in the United States in June, but the scheduling did not work out. Then Cuba extended an invitation.
“I know the Cuba people are huge volleyball fans and wonderful supporters,” U.S. Head Coach John Speraw said. “I think we’ll have incredible crowds and the experience will be a great one for our team.”
The next chance to see the U.S. Men play in the United States will be at the FIVB World League on July 1-3 in Dallas.
RED/BLUE SCRIMMAGE
The U.S. Men’s National Team played its only planned Red/Blue intrasquad scrimmage of the season on May 27 at Santiago Canyon in Orange, Calif.
Opposite Matt Anderson (West Seneca, N.Y.) led his Blue Team to victory with 17 points on 14 kills, two blocks and one ace. He got backup from outside hitters Thomas Jaeschke (Wheaton, Ill.) and Reid Priddy (Richmond, Va.).
Priddy finished with 12 points on nine kills, two blocks and one ace. Jaeschke added 11 points on nine kills, one block and one ace. Micah Christenson (Honolulu, Hawaii) set for Anderson’s team while Max Holt (Cincinnati, Ohio) played at one middle blocker spot and David Lee (Alpine, Calif.) and Dan McDonnell (Glendale, Ariz.) split time at the other. Erik Shoji (Honolulu, Hawaii) played libero.
The Red Team was paced by outside hitter Paul Lotman, who finished with 12 points on eight kills, three blocks and one ace. Opposite Murphy Troy added 11 points on 11 kills. Middle blocker Russell Holmes (Fountain Valley, Calif.) and outside hitter Garrett Muagututia (Oceanside, Calif.) each scored six points, including three blocks from Holmes. Middle blocker David Smith (Saugus, Calif.) added five.
Dustin Watten (Long Beach, Calif.) played libero. Setter Kawika Shoji (Honolulu, Hawaii) split time with James Shaw (Woodside, Calif.). Ben Patch (Provo, Utah) and Kyle Russell (Loomis, Calif.) also substituted at opposite for the Red Team.