Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sept. 13, 2018) – The U.S. Men’s National Team faced a formidable challenge at the FIVB World Championship, proving that no match would be easy. Ranked second in the world, the U.S. Men were pushed to the limit by Australia, ranked 16th, but ultimately emerged victorious with a thrilling five-set win of 25-21, 25-20, 22-25, 23-25, 15-10 in Bari, Italy.
The U.S. Men, now standing at 2-0, will have a day of rest before their next match against Russia, the reigning champions of the 2018 Volleyball Nations League and currently ranked fourth in the world. The match is set to take place on Saturday at 11:30 a.m. PT.
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Speaking about the team’s performance, U.S. Head Coach John Speraw expressed his belief in the team’s potential. He commented, “We didn’t play that great against Serbia yesterday, but I just think we’ve got better volleyball ahead of us. We’re definitely not peaking early.”
While the U.S. Men dominated the first two sets, they encountered difficulties with their transition offense in the third and fourth sets. Australian opposite Lincoln Williams, who substituted for starter Paul Carroll in the second set, showcased his skills and emerged as the top scorer of the match with 21 points. Max Staples, who substituted for Sam Walker, contributed 12 points for Australia.
Acknowledging Williams’ exceptional performance, Coach Speraw admitted, “Williams came in and had a great match for them. He really turned it around for them.”
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In terms of statistics, the U.S. Men led in kills (60-52) and aces (7-3), while Australia led in blocks (10-4). Both teams were nearly even in unforced errors, with the U.S. capitalizing on 38 Australian errors and committing 37 of their own.
In terms of lineup, Coach Speraw maintained the same starting team as their previous match against Serbia but made substitutions with Jeff Jendryk, Dan McDonnell, and Ben Patch in the third and fourth sets. However, by the end of the fourth set, the starters were back on the court.
Individual standout performances for the U.S. Men included opposite Matt Anderson, leading the team in scoring with 20 points, and outside hitter Taylor Sander and Aaron Russell contributing 16 and 14 points, respectively.
Reflecting on the challenging match, Sander acknowledged the team’s fatigue after their previous five-set match. He said, “Today was difficult. It was difficult after last night because we went five sets. It was a hard match. Australia brought in some new players who had a lot of energy. They had more energy than us and they were able to take two sets off us. We need to get better.”
U.S. STARTERS VS AUSTRALIA
- Outside hitters: Taylor Sander and Aaron Russell
- Middle blockers: Max Holt and Taylor Averill
- Opposite: Matt Anderson
- Setter: Micah Christenson
- Libero: Erik Shoji
- Substitutes: Dan McDonnell (MB), Jeff Jendryk (MB), Ben Patch (Opp)
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U.S. STATISTICS VS AUSTRALIA
- Kills: Anderson 18, Sander 16, Russell 14, Holt 6, McDonnell 3, Averill 2, Jendryk 1
- Blocks: Averill 2, Holt 1, Christenson 1
- Aces: Christenson 3, Averill 2, Anderson 2
- Digs: Christenson 12, Sander 11, Anderson 10, E Shoji 10, Russell 5, Holt 3, Averill 3, Patch 1
FAQs
Q: How did the U.S. Men’s National Team perform in the FIVB World Championship match against Australia?
The U.S. Men’s National Team faced a tough challenge against Australia, ranked 16th in the world. Despite initial dominance, the U.S. Men faced difficulties in the third and fourth sets. However, they ultimately emerged victorious with a five-set win.
Q: Who were the standout players in the match?
Opposite Matt Anderson led the U.S. Men’s scoring with 20 points, followed by outside hitters Taylor Sander with 16 points and Aaron Russell with 14 points. Australian opposite Lincoln Williams was the top scorer of the match with 21 points.
Q: What is the U.S. Men’s upcoming match?
The U.S. Men’s next match is against Russia, the reigning champions of the 2018 Volleyball Nations League and currently ranked fourth in the world. The match is set to take place on Saturday at 11:30 a.m. PT.
Summary
In a thrilling match at the FIVB World Championship, the U.S. Men’s National Team demonstrated their resilience and skill, overcoming a strong challenge from Australia. Despite facing difficulties in the third and fourth sets, the U.S. Men emerged victorious with a five-set win. The team’s standout players, including Matt Anderson, Taylor Sander, and Aaron Russell, showcased their abilities on the court. With another tough match against Russia on the horizon, the U.S. Men are determined to continue their winning streak and further establish their dominance in the tournament.
To stay updated with the U.S. Men’s National Team’s journey at the FIVB World Championship and catch their upcoming matches, visit Alpinetgheep.com.
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Danh mục: Volleyball
