Wednesday, 16 Oct 2024

U.S. Men to Meet Familiar Foe in VNL Quarterfinal

The U.S. Men’s National Team has fought its way to the Volleyball Nations League Final Round and is gearing up for an intense quarterfinal match. The team has shown determination and skill, finishing the preliminary round in third place behind Italy and Poland. Now, they face their longtime rival and defending VNL champion, Brazil, in a highly anticipated match.

An Exciting Clash of Volleyball Titans

The U.S. Men’s team, with a record of 10-2, will go head-to-head with Brazil (8-4) in the quarterfinals. The match will take place on Wednesday at 9 a.m. PT in Bologna, Italy. Fans can catch all the action on VolleyballWorld.tv.

A Chance for Redemption

The winner of the U.S. vs. Brazil match will go on to face the victor of the quarterfinal between Poland and Iran. Interestingly, the U.S. Men’s two preliminary round losses were to these two teams. This quarterfinal match provides an opportunity for the U.S. team to redeem themselves and secure a spot in the semifinals.

Roster Update and Stellar Performances

The U.S. team will utilize the same 14-man roster that they used in their final preliminary round matches in Osaka, with one change. Opposite Kyle Russell has joined the team as the backup to Kyle Ensing. Additionally, libero Kyle Dagostino is on the roster, making the team a unique blend of talent.

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The U.S. Men have had impressive individual performances in the preliminary round. Aaron Russell finished among the top scorers, while Ensing excelled in his attacking role. David Smith showcased his blocking skills, and Josh Tuaniga proved to be a skilled setter. Dagostino also made a significant impact with his digs.

A Familiar Foe

The U.S. Men’s team has already defeated Brazil in pool play. They showcased their prowess by utilizing some VNL newcomers, including Jake Hanes, Cody Kessel, and Tyler Mitchem. Brazil’s other VNL losses were to China, Poland, and France. This upcoming match will be an opportunity for the U.S. team to maintain their winning streak against Brazil.

Looking Ahead

The U.S. Men’s National Team has their sights set on the medal round. The last time they played for a medal at VNL was in 2019 when they won silver in Chicago, during the same tournament they hosted. With their talented roster and determined mindset, they aim to achieve glory once again.

U.S. Men’s National Team Roster for Final Round of 2022 Volleyball Nations League

Here is the roster of the U.S. Men’s National Team for the final round of the 2022 Volleyball Nations League:

No. Player Position Height Hometown College USAV Region
2 Aaron Russell OH 6-9 Ellicott City, Md. Penn State Chesapeake
4 Jeff Jendryk MB 6-10 Wheaton, Ill. Loyola Univ. Chicago Great Lakes
5 Kyle Ensing OPP 6-7 Valencia, Calif. Long Beach State Univ. Southern California
6 Mitch Stahl MB 6-8 Chambersburg, Pa. UCLA Keystone
8 T.J. DeFalco OH 6-5 Huntington Beach, Calif. Long Beach State Univ. Southern California
10 Kyle Dagostino L 5-9 Tampa, Florida Stanford Univ. Florida
11 Micah Christenson S 6-5 Honolulu, Hawaii Univ. of Southern California Aloha
15 Kyle Russell OPP 6-9 Loomis, Calif. UC Irvine Northern California
16 Josh Tuaniga S 6-3 Long Beach, Calif. Long Beach State Univ. Southern California
18 Garrett Muagututia OH 6-5 Oceanside, Calif. UCLA Southern California
20 David Smith MB 6-7 Saugus, Calif. Univ. of California Irvine Southern California
22 Erik Shoji L 6-0 Honolulu, Hawaii Stanford Univ. Aloha
23 Cody Kessel OH 6-5 Colorado Springs, Colo. Princeton Univ. Rocky Mountain
27 Tyler Mitchem MB 6-11 Bolingbrook, Ill. Lewis Univ. Great Lakes
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Head Coach: John Speraw
Assistant Coaches: Matthew Fuerbringer, Mike Wall
Performance Analyst and Technical Coordinator: Nate Ngo
Athletic Trainer: Aaron Brock
Strength and Conditioning Coach: Tim Pelot
Consultant Coach: Mike Sealy
Sports Psychologist: Andrea Becker
Sports Psychologist: Bernard Whitney
Team Doctor: James Suchy

U.S. Men’s Schedule for the 2022 VNL

Here is the schedule for the U.S. Men’s team in the Volleyball Nations League 2022:

Preliminary Round 1 – Brasilia, Brazil

  • June 7-11
  • USA def Slovenia, 3-0 (25-19, 25-19, 25-14)
  • USA def Netherlands, 3-0 (25-12, 25-18, 25-16)
  • USA def Japan, 3-2 (17-25, 25-15, 25-21, 26-28, 15-9)
  • USA def Brazil, 3-1 (21-25, 27-25, 25-20, 25-20)

Preliminary Round 2 – Sofia, Bulgaria

  • June 22-26
  • USA def Serbia, 3-1 (26-24, 23-25, 25-23, 25-20)
  • Iran def USA, 3-0 (25-18, 29-27, 27-25)
  • USA def Bulgaria, 3-1 (25-12, 20-25, 26-24, 25-23)
  • Poland def USA, 3-1 (21-25, 25-23, 26-24, 25-22)

Preliminary Round 3 – Osaka, Japan

  • July 4-9
  • USA def Germany, 3-1 (25-21, 25-19, 22-25, 25-18)
  • USA def France, 3-2 (15-25, 25-22, 22-25, 25-14, 15-8)
  • USA def Canada, 3-0 (25-19, 25-15, 25-19)
  • USA def Argentina, 3-2 (29-27, 22-25, 20-25, 25-13, 17-15)

Final Round – Bologna, Italy

  • July 20
  • Quarterfinals
    • 9 a.m. USA vs Brazil
    • Noon Italy vs Netherlands

FAQs

Q: How did the U.S. Men’s National Team perform in the preliminary round of the Volleyball Nations League?
A: The U.S. Men’s team finished the preliminary round in third place with a record of 10-2, behind Italy and Poland.

Q: Who will the U.S. Men’s team face in the quarterfinals?
A: The U.S. Men’s team will be up against Brazil, the defending VNL champion, in the quarterfinals.

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Q: Is this the first time the U.S. Men’s team has faced Brazil in the tournament?
A: No, the U.S. Men’s team has already played against Brazil in the pool play and emerged victorious.

Summary

The U.S. Men’s National Team has fought its way to the quarterfinals of the Volleyball Nations League. After an impressive performance in the preliminary round, they are ready to take on Brazil, their longtime rival and defending VNL champion. The team’s strong roster and outstanding individual performances have set the stage for an exciting match. With their sights set on the medal round, the U.S. Men’s team aims to continue their winning streak and bring home the gold.