Membership
Becky Murdy
Assistant, Media Relations and Publications
Phone: 719-228-6800
E-Mail: becky.murdy@usav.org
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Nov. 14, 2011) –The U.S. Men’s Sitting Volleyball team defeated Brazil in a nail-biting, five-set match 15-25, 25-22, 25-19, 21-25, 15-13 to kick off its 2011 Parapan American Games showing on Monday in Guadalajara, Mexico.
Team USA fought back from a tough first-set loss to reach a fifth set, where Brazil lost the first match point due to an illegal substitution.
The U.S. Men’s Sitting Team (1-0) played a second match on Monday against Mexico.
The U.S. win over Brazil had revenge written all over it as it was a rematch from the gold medal match of the 2007 Parapan American games when Brazil defeated the U.S. in five sets, leaving the Americans unqualified for the 2008 Beijing Paralympics.
Eric Duda (Fort Lauderdale, Fla./Edmond, Okla.) led the U.S. on Monday with 17 points off of 12 kills, three blocks and two service aces while team captain Brent Rasmussen (Omaha, Neb.) contributed 14 points from 10 kills, two clocks and a pair of aces. Roderick Green charted 12 points from eight kills and four blocks and James Stuck (New Kensington, Pa./Edmond, Okla.) connected on four kills and three blocks for seven points.
Also scoring for Team USA was Daniel Regan (St. Louis, Mo./Edmond, Okla.) with one kill and three blocks, Edgardo LaForest (San Juan, Puerto Rico) off of two kills and a block and J Dee Marinko (Newcastle, Okla.) from one kill. Edward O’Neil (Amherst, Mass./Edmond, Okla.) was libero for the match.
Team USA led Brazil 16-9 blocks but trailed in kills with 38 to Brazil’s 47. Both teams charted four service aces.
The Parapan Am Games remains Team USA’s last tournament option to qualify for London.
The six-team Parapan American Games sitting volleyball tournament will see all the teams play each other in a round-robin format. Top teams will advance to the semifinals on Nov. 17 and the medal matches will be played on Nov. 18.
For more information about the games, click here.
For live scoring and match results, click here.
2011 Men's Sitting Team Parapan Am Games Roster
Name (Hometown/Resident athletes at the University of Central Oklahoma are noted)
Eric Duda (Fort Lauderdale, Fla./Edmond, Okla.)
Roderick Green (West Monroe, La./Edmond, Okla.)
Edgardo Laforest (San Juan, Puerto Rico)
J. Dee Marinko (Newcastle, Okla.)
Ed O'Neil (Amherst, Mass./Edmond, Okla.)
Brent Rasmussen (Omaha, Neb.)
Dan Regan (St. Louis, Mo./Edmond, Okla.)
James Stuck (New Kensington, Pa./Edmond, Okla.)
Hugo Storer (Greensboro, N.C.)
Charlie Swearingen (Gulfport, Miss./Edmond, Okla.)
U.S. Men's Sitting Team Parapan American Games Staff
Head Coach – Bill Hamiter (Bethany, Okla.)
Assistant Coach – Dixie Collins (Marshall, Va.)
Athletic Trainer- Brian Farr
2011 U.S. Men’s Sitting Team Parapan American Games Schedule
Nov. 14
12 p.m. USA def. Brazil 15-25, 25-22, 25-19, 21-25, 15-13
5 p.m. USA def. Mexico 25-13, 25-11, 25-17
Nov 15
12 p.m. USA vs. Canada
Nov. 16
12 p.m. USA vs. Costa Rica
8 p.m. USA vs. Colombia
Nov. 17
4 p.m. Semifinals (match 1)
7 p.m. Semifinals (match 2)
Nov. 18
7 p.m. Final