COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Oct. 11, 2019) – Twenty days before Halloween, the U.S. Men’s National Team got a scare from Canada.
The U.S. Men pulled out a 3-2 win, 21-25, 25-11, 20-25, 25-19, 15-13, against Canada on Friday in the FIVB World Cup in Hiroshima, Japan.
The U.S. Men (6-2) will get Saturday off before facing Australia (1-7) on Sunday (10 p.m. Saturday PT). All World Cup matches are being shown on FloVolleyball.tv.
Related: OFFICIAL STATISTICS
U.S. men’s Head Coach John Speraw knew Canada could cause problems for the United States.
“We were coming off a tough loss to Brazil,” Speraw said. “I was concerned about this game… We had to gut it out. Canada served well. We were not as efficient in our passing tonight.”
Offense came through for the U.S., which led in kills, 58-41. The U.S. kill percentage behind setter Micah Christenson was 54.7. Canada’s was 38.8 behind setter Byron Keturakis.
Keturakis started in place of usual setter Brett Walsh, who was injured in Canada’s win over Tunisia.
Canada led in blocks (12-11) getting the majority from Daniel Jansen Vandoorn who had nine. It led in aces (10-7).
“Hats off to Canada. They served the crap out of the ball tonight,” said U.S. middle blocker Mitch Stahl who had 12 points, including six blocks, in making his second start of the tournament.
“I think we stayed pretty mellow most of the match and stuck to our guns. We had to weather the storm from their serves and get back into our game and settle into our rhythm. Once we did that, I think we finally got the edge on them in the fifth.”
Opposite Matt Anderson led all scorers with 20 points on a match-high 17 kills, two aces and one block. Outside hitter Garrett Muagututia, who substituted for starter T.J. DeFalco in the first set and finished the match, scored 14 points on 10 kills, a team-high three aces and one block.
Outside hitter Aaron Russell finished with 13 points. Middle blocker Jeff Jendryk, who took over for Max Holt to start the second set and finished the match, had 12 points.
U.S. STARTERS VS CANADA
Outside hitters: Aaron Russell and T.J. DeFalco
Middle blockers: Max Holt and Mitch Stahl
Opposite: Matt Anderson
Setter: Micah Christenson
Libero: Erik Shoji
Substitutes: Garrett Muagututia (OH), Jeff Jendryk (MB), Michael Saeta (SS
U.S. STATISTICS VS CANADA
Kills: Anderson 17, Russell 11, Muagututia 10, Stahl 6, Holt 2, Christenson 1, DeFalco 1
Blocks: Stahl 6, Jendryk 2, Christenson 1, Anderson 1, Muagututia 1
Aces: Muagututia 3, Anderson 2, Russell 2
Digs: Shoji 10, Anderson 10, Russell 7, Stahl 3, Muagututia 3, Christenson 2, Jendryk 2, DeFalco 1