COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Aug. 10, 2019) – The U.S. Men’s National Team swept Korea, 25-20, 25-21, 25-16 on Saturday in Rotterdam, Netherlands, setting up a showdown with the host country at the Tokyo Qualification Tournament.
The U.S. Men (2-0) will play Netherlands (2-0) at 7 a.m. PT on Sunday for a spot at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Netherlands beat Belgium on Sunday, 25-22, 25-21, 25-20.
The U.S. Men’s matches are being shown live on the Olympic Channel and NBCSports.com/live.
For a second match in a row, outside hitter Aaron Russell paced the U.S. Men and led all scorers with 12 points on 10 kills, one block and one ace.
Overall, the U.S. Men led Korea in kills (42-33), blocks (7-3) and aces (5-1). The U.S. scored on 21 of Korea’s errors while committing 20. The U.S. kill percentage behind setter Micah Christenson was 60. Korea’s kill percentage was 44.6.
Opposite Matt Anderson scored nine points on nine kills while Garrett Muagututia had nine points on eight kills and one ace.
Christenson kept the middle blockers busy and David Smith finished with eight points on six kills, one block and one ace. Smith scored the U.S. Men’s final four points of the second set on kills.
Middle Jeff Jendryk added seven points on five kills and two blocks. Christenson also scored seven points on three kills, two blocks and a match-high two aces.
STARTERS FOR U.S. MEN VS KOREA
Outside hitters: Aaron Russell and Garrett Muagututia
Middle blockers: David Smith and Jeff Jendryk
Opposite: Matt Anderson
Setter: Micah Christenson
Libero: Erik Shoji
Substitutes: Mitch Stahl (MB) and Ben Patch (Opp)
STATISTICS FOR U.S. MEN VS KOREA
Kills: Russell 10, Anderson 9, Muagututia 8, Smith 6, Jendryk 5, Christenson 3, Patch 1
Blocks: Christenson 2, Jendryk 2, Stahl 1, Smith 1, Russell 1
Aces: Christenson 2, Smith 1, Muagututia 1, Russell 1
WHERE TO WATCH
(All times PT; please check your local listings)
Friday, Aug. 9
Netherlands def Korea, 23-25, 25-27, 26-24, 25-20, 15-12
USA def Belgium, 25-20, 25-19, 17-25, 25-18
USA replay at 5 p.m. on Olympic Channel
USA replay at 7 p.m. on NBCSN
Saturday, Aug. 10
Netherlands def Belgium, 25-22, 25-21, 25-20
USA def Korea, 25-20, 25-21, 25-16
Replay at 7 p.m. on NBCSN
Sunday Aug. 11
7 a.m. USA vs Netherlands
Olympic Channel and NBCSports.com/live
Replay at 7:30 p.m. on NBCSN