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B.J. Hoeptner Evans
Manager, Media Relations and Publications
Phone: (719) 228-6800
E-Mail: bj.evans@usav.org
Unofficial DataVolley Statistics * Official Statistics
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Nov. 27, 2011) – Team captain and opposite Clay Stanley scored almost a third of his team’s points as the U.S. Men’s National Volleyball Team swept Iran, 25-15, 27-25, 25-14 on Sunday in an FIVB World Cup match in Fukuoka, Japan.
The victory improves the U.S. Men’s record to 3-3 with nine points. Iran falls to 4-2 and also has nine points. Iran, ranked 14th in the world, went into the match in fifth place while the United States, ranked fourth in the world, was in eighth.
The FIVB World Cup uses a round-robin format resulting in 11 matches over a 15-day period. The three teams reaching the World Cup medal podium on Dec. 4 will earn berths into the 2012 Olympic Games. For the full FIVB World Cup schedule and tournament details, visit the U.S. Men’s tournament event page at http://usavolleyball.org/events/5557.
The U.S. Men will continue the third round of the World Cup in Fukuoka with matches against Poland (4-1; Nov. 27 at 10 p.m. PT) and Japan (0-5; Nov. 29 at 1:20 a.m. PT).
Stanley (Honolulu, Hawaii) was named the match’s Most Impressive Player and he dominated for the U.S., scoring 25 points on a match-high 13 kills (68. 4 kill percent; 0.616 hitting efficiency), a match-high seven blocks and a match-high five aces.
“We came out well focused and well prepared for the match,” U.S. Head Coach Alan Knipe (Huntington Beach, Calif.) said of Iran. “They forced us to create opportunities and make opportunities. Clayton's play was a big part of today's match, his serving and spiking. I'm happy to get the three points.”
After all of Sunday's matches, Stanley was leading all World Cup servers with 17 aces in six matches. He was fourth among all scorers with 102 points.
Outside hitter Matt Anderson (West Seneca, N.Y.) added 14 points for the U.S. on 12 kills, one block and one ace. Outside hitter Reid Priddy (Richmond, Va.) contributed nine points on seven attacks, one block and one ace.
The U.S. out-attacked Iran 39-28, out-blocked it 11-6 and served it off the court with a 10-1 lead in aces.
With the U.S. leading 17-13 in the first set, Anderson scored on a back-row attack and gave the serve to setter Brian Thornton (San Clemente, Calif.) who led the team to five more points including two aces and kills from Priddy and Stanley. The U.S. reached set point at 24-15 and Evan Patak (Pleasanton, Calif.), substituting at server for David Lee (Alpine, Calif.) scored with an ace to end the set.
Iran kept things closer in the second set. The U.S. reached set point at 24-21, but Iran scored three times to tie score. A Stanley kill gave the U.S. its fourth set point, but a U.S. service error tied the score again. Finally, Anderson scored and Iran’s attack attempt went out of bounds to give the U.S. the victory. The U.S. took a 3-0 lead in the third set and never trailed. The U.S. led 22-14 when Stanley used a block and two straight aces to win the match for his team.
“We came out with good intensity,” Stanley said. “We didn't make many mistakes and kept the pressure on.”
Among other U.S. scorers, middle blocker Russell Holmes (Fountain Valley, Calif.) scored five points on five kills. Middle blocker Ryan Millar (Alpine, Utah) added two points on a kill and a block. Middle blocker David Lee (Alpine, Calif.) totaled two points on one kill and one block. Patak’s ace gave him one point.
Along with his two points on aces, Thornton was credited with 24 assists and no errors. He set the team to a 50.0 kill percent and a hitting efficiency of 0.333.
Libero Rich Lambourne (Tustin, Calif.) led the team in digs with five. Anderson led in excellent receptions with 17 and Priddy added 13.
Knipe started Anderson and Priddy at outside hitter, Holmes and Lee at middle blocker, Stanley at opposite, Thornton at setter and Lambourne at libero.
Millar started the third set for Lee. Patak played as a serving substitute. Riley Salmon (League City, Texas) also played as a substitute.
Seyed Mehdi Bazargarde led Iran with 10 points on nine attacks and one block. Iran, the lowest ranked team in the tournament, went into the match considered a sort of “giant killer” with victories over Poland, Serbia, Japan and Argentina along with a loss to Cuba.
“(The U.S.) took all of our weak points and attacked them,” said Iran’s head coach, Julia Velasco. “Stanley is an extraordinary player. Our players respected the U.S. too much.”
The U.S. Men have only played Iran once in an official competition since 1981, defeating it 3-0 at the 2006 World Championship. Iran qualified for the 2011 World Cup as the winner out of the Asia zone championship.
The U.S Men opened an 8-6 lead at the first technical timeout (TTO) of the first set, scoring on three kills from Priddy and one each from Anderson and Stanley and also scoring on three of Iran’s team errors. Stanley scored on two straight blocks after the break to increase the U.S. lead to four. Iran pulled back to within two at 12-10, but a Priddy tip and Stanley spike caused Iran to call timeout down by four. The U.S. lead was still four at the second TTO. With the U.S. leading 17-13, Anderson scored on a back-row attack and gave the serve to Thornton, who served for five more points, including two aces and kills from Priddy and Stanley, to give the U.S. Men a 22-13 lead. Iran ended the run with a block and the two teams traded points until Iran missed a serve to give the U.S. set point at 24-15. Patak, substituting at setter for Lee, used an ace to win the set. The U.S. led in kills, 13-6, paced by Priddy (7) and Stanley (6). The U.S. also had three aces.
The U.S. held its momentum to open the second set and took a 5-2 lead, including kills by Stanley and Anderson and an Anderson ace that caused Iran to call timeout. The tactic worked as Anderson erred on his next serve. With the U.S. Men leading 7-4, Iran got two straight kills to pull to within one. But an Anderson spike gave the U.S. the 8-6 lead at the first TTO. Iran kept the score close. The U.S. took leads of 15-12 and 20-17. But each time, Iran would pull back to within one point. With the U.S. leading 21-19, Iran scored on a block and U.S. hitting error to tie the score and Knipe called timeout. The strategy worked as Iran’s next serve went into the net and a block by Stanley put the U.S. back up by two. Iran called timeout, but its next attack attempt went out of bounds, giving the U.S. set point at 24-21. Iran fought off that set point and two more to tie the score at 24-24. A Stanley kill put the U.S. ahead again, but its next serve went in the net. An Anderson kill gave the U.S. its fifth set point at 26-25 and Iran’s next kill attempt went out of bounds. Stanley led the U.S. with 11 points, including three blocks. Anderson added seven.
Team USA jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the third set on a kill and block from Holmes and an Anderson strike that came from a set Thornton made on his knees. Leading 5-3, The U.S. extended its lead with a kill and block from Millar, who started for Lee. An Anderson kill put the U.S. up 8-4 at the first TTO. With the U.S. leading 10-6, it scored on Iran’s hitting error, then Stanley took the serve and scored with an ace. Iran called timeout, but Stanley responded with a second ace. Straight kills from Priddy and Holmes put the U.S. ahead 15-7. Iran came back with its first run of more than one point in the set, scoring on two U.S. attack errors and a block. Stanley ended the run with a kill off the block, giving the U.S. the 16-10 lead at the second TTO. With Team USA leading 17-11, a Stanley block and Iranian hitting error increased the U.S. lead to eight. The U.S. led 22-14 when Stanley got a block and two straight aces to win the match for the U.S. Stanley had eight points in the set, including four aces and two blocks.
FIVB Volleyball Men's World Cup 2011
U.S. Men's Roster for Nov. 27
No. Name (Position, Height, Hometown, College)
1 Matt Anderson (OH, 6-10, West Seneca, N.Y., Penn State)
2 Sean Rooney (OH, 6-9, Wheaton, Ill., Pepperdine)
3 Evan Patak (Opp, 6-8, Pleasanton, Calif., UC Santa Barbara)
4 David Lee (MB, 6-8, Alpine, Calif., Long Beach State)
5 Rich Lambourne (L, 6-3, Tustin, Calif., BYU)
6 Paul Lotman (OH, 6-7, Lakewood, Calif., Long Beach State)
8 Reid Priddy (OH, 6-5, Richmond, Va., Loyola Marymount)
9 Ryan Millar (MB, 6-8, Alpine, Utah, BYU)
10 Riley Salmon (L, 6-6, League City, Texas, Pierce College)
12 Russell Holmes (MB, 6-8, Fountain Valley, Calif., BYU)
13C Clay Stanley (OPP, 6-9, Honolulu, Hawai'i, Hawaii)
14 Kevin Hansen (S, 6-5, Newport Beach, Calif., Stanford)
15 Brian Thornton (S, 6-3, San Clemente, Calif., UC Irvine)
Head Coach: Alan Knipe (Huntington Beach, Calif.)
Team Manager: Gary Sato (Los Angeles, Calif.)
Assistant Coach: John Speraw (Irvine, Calif.)
Trainer: Ron Larsen (Lafayette, Calif.)
Doctor: Scott Magness and William Stetson
Technical Coordinator: Chris Jackson (Phoenix, Ariz.)
Medical Support: Aaron Brock (Storm Lake, Iowa)
Massage Therapist: Eli Evette
Scout Coach: Frank Ciarelli
Scout Coach: Andy Read
Qualified Teams
Team (Qualification Method, World Ranking as of Jan 15, 2011, Current World Ranking)
Brazil (South America Champion, 1, 1)
Serbia (Europe Champion, 3, 5)
Cuba (NORCECA Champion, 4, 6)
Egypt (Africa Champion, 13, 12)
Iran (Asia Champion, 19, 14)
USA (NORCECA Runner Up, 5, 4)
Italy (Europe Runner Up, 6, 3)
Argentina (South America Runner Up, 8, 9)
China (Asia Runner Up, 11, 10)
Japan (Hosts, 14, 18)
Russia (Wild Card, 2, 2)
Poland (Wild Card, 10, 8)
Tournament Schedule (All times local except for U.S. matches in bold)
1st round
Nagoya (Site A)
| No | Teams | Date | Time | City | Hall/Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | SRB-ARG | 20-Nov | 11:00 | Nagoya | ARG def SRB, 25-20, 25-13, 25-18 |
| 2 | POL-CUB | 20-Nov | 15:00 | Nagoya | POL def CUB, 25-21, 25-23, 25-16 |
| 3 | IRI-JPN | 20-Nov | 18:20 | Nagoya | IRI def JPN, 17-25, 25-20, 25-23, 25-15 |
| 7 | CUB-IRI | 21-Nov | 11:00 | Nagoya | CUB def IRI, 25-17, 25-17, 25-22 |
| 8 | SRB-POL | 21-Nov | 15:00 | Nagoya | POL def SRB 21-25, 25-18, 25-19, 30-28 |
| 9 | ARG-JPN | 21-Nov | 18:20 | Nagoya | ARG def JPN 25-22, 21-25, 11-25, 25-15, 15-12 |
| 13 | IRI-SRB | 22-Nov | 11:00 | Nagoya | IRI def SRB 25-17, 18-25, 21-25, 25-21, 15-11 |
| 14 | POL-ARG | 22-Nov | 15:00 | Nagoya | POL def ARG 18-25, 25-20, 25-23, 25-22 |
| 15 | JPN-CUB | 22-Nov | 18:20 | Nagoya | CUB def JPN 25-21, 25-23, 25-22 |
Kagoshima (Site B)
| No | Teams | Date | Time | City | Hall/Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | CHN-USA | 20-Nov | 11:00 | Kagoshima | USA def. CHN 25-14, 25-23, 25-21 |
| 5 | ITA-RUS | 20-Nov | 15:00 | Kagoshima | RUS def ITA 22-25, 25-22, 25-22, 25-21 |
| 6 | EGY-BRA | 20-Nov | 18:20 | Kagoshima | BRA def EGY 25-19, 25-13, 25-19 |
| 10 | EGY-ITA | 21-Nov | 11:00 | Kagoshima | ITA def EGY 25-22, 25-15, 25-20 |
| 11 | BRA-USA | 21-Nov | 15:00 | Kagoshima | BRA def USA 25-17, 25-18, 16-25, 25-16 |
| 12 | RUS-CHN | 21-Nov | 18:20 | Kagoshima | RUS def CHN 25-18, 25-20, 25-18 |
| 16 | CHN-EGY | 22-Nov | 11:00 | Kagoshima | EGY def CHN 25-20, 25-20, 25-18 |
| 17 | ITA-BRA | 22-Nov | 15:00 | Kagoshima | ITA def BRA 25-16, 20-25, 18-25, 25-21, 22-20 |
| 18 | USA-RUS | 22-Nov | 18:20 | Kagoshima | RUS def USA, 25-18, 25-19, 26-24 |
2nd round
Osaka (Site A)
| No | Teams | Date | Time | City | Hall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 | ARG-CUB | 24-Nov | 11:00 | Osaka | ARG def CUB 17-25, 25-16, 25-21, 25-17 |
| 20 | POL-IRI | 24-Nov | 15:00 | Osaka | IRI def POL 23-25, 28-26, 8-25, 26-24, 15-11 |
| 21 | SRB-JPN | 24-Nov | 18:20 | Osaka | SRB def JPN 25-21, 25-22, 18-25, 22-25, 15-12 |
| 25 | IRI-ARG | 25-Nov | 11:00 | Osaka | IRI def ARG 15-25, 25-21, 24-26, 25-16, 15-12 |
| 26 | CUB-SRB | 25-Nov | 15:00 | Osaka | CUB def SRB 17-25, 25-21, 25-22, 25-17 |
| 27 | JPN-POL | 25-Nov | 18:20 | Osaka | POL def JPN 25-23, 21-25, 19-25, 18-25 |
Kumamoto (Site B)
| No | Teams | Date | Time | City | Hall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 | EGY-USA | 24-Nov | 11:00 | Kumamoto | USA def EGY 25-19, 25-20, 25-20 |
| 23 | BRA-RUS | 24-Nov | 15:00 | Kumamoto | BRA def RUS 25-16, 25-19, 25-22 |
| 24 | ITA-CHN | 24-Nov | 18:20 | Kumamoto | ITA def CHN 25-10, 25-18, 25-14 |
| 28 | RUS-EGY | 25-Nov | 11:00 | Kumamoto | RUS def EGY 25-18 25-17 23-25 25-9 |
| 29 | CHN-BRA | 25-Nov | 15:00 | Kumamoto | BRA def CHN 23-25, 25-10, 25-18, 19-25, 15-8 |
| 30 | USA-ITA | 25-Nov | 18:20 | Kumamoto | ITA def USA 41-39, 25-22, 22-25, 25-21 |
3rd round
Fukuoka (Site A)
| No | Teams | Date | Time | City | Hall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 | IRI-USA | 27-Nov | 11:00 | Fukuoka | USA def IRI 25-15, 27-25, 25-14 |
| 32 | POL-CHN | 27-Nov | 15:00 | Fukuoka | Marine Messe Fukuoka |
| 33 | JPN-EGY | 27-Nov | 18:20 | Fukuoka | Marine Messe Fukuoka |
| 37 | IRI-EGY | 28-Nov | 11:00 | Fukuoka | Marine Messe Fukuoka |
| 38 | POL-USA | 28-Nov | 15:00 | Fukuoka | Marine Messe Fukuoka |
| 38 | POL-USA | 27-Nov | 22:00 | ||
| 39 | JPN-CHN | 28-Nov | 18:20 | Fukuoka | Marine Messe Fukuoka |
| 43 | POL-EGY | 29-Nov | 11:00 | Fukuoka | Marine Messe Fukuoka |
| 44 | IRI-CHN | 29-Nov | 15:00 | Fukuoka | Marine Messe Fukuoka |
| 45 | JPN-USA | 29-Nov | 18:20 | Fukuoka | Marine Messe Fukuoka |
| 45 | JPN-USA | 29-Nov | 01:20 PT |
Hamamatsu (Site B)
| No | Teams | Date | Time | City | Hall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 34 | SRB-RUS | 27-Nov | 11:00 | Hamamatsu | RUS def SRB 25-16, 25-16, 25-15 |
| 35 | ARG-BRA | 27-Nov | 15:00 | Hamamatsu | Hamamatsu Arena |
| 36 | CUB-ITA | 27-Nov | 18:20 | Hamamatsu | Hamamatsu Arena |
| 40 | ARG-RUS | 28-Nov | 11:00 | Hamamatsu | Hamamatsu Arena |
| 41 | CUB-BRA | 28-Nov | 15:00 | Hamamatsu | Hamamatsu Arena |
| 42 | SRB-ITA | 28-Nov | 18:20 | Hamamatsu | Hamamatsu Arena |
| 46 | CUB-RUS | 29-Nov | 11:00 | Hamamatsu | Hamamatsu Arena |
| 47 | ARG-ITA | 29-Nov | 15:00 | Hamamatsu | Hamamatsu Arena |
| 48 | SRB-BRA | 29-Nov | 18:20 | Hamamatsu | Hamamatsu Arena |
4th round
Tokyo (Site A)
| No | Teams | Date | Time | City | Hall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 49 | IRI-BRA | 02-Dec | 11:00 | Tokyo | Yoyogi National Stadium |
| 50 | POL-ITA | 02-Dec | 15:00 | Tokyo | Yoyogi National Stadium |
| 51 | JPN-RUS | 02-Dec | 18:20 | Tokyo | Yoyogi National Stadium |
| 55 | IRI-RUS | 03-Dec | 11:00 | Tokyo | Yoyogi National Stadium |
| 56 | POL-BRA | 03-Dec | 15:00 | Tokyo | Yoyogi National Stadium |
| 57 | JPN-ITA | 03-Dec | 18:20 | Tokyo | Yoyogi National Stadium |
| 61 | POL-RUS | 04-Dec | 11:00 | Tokyo | Yoyogi National Stadium |
| 62 | IRI-ITA | 04-Dec | 15:00 | Tokyo | Yoyogi National Stadium |
| 63 | JPN-BRA | 04-Dec | 18:20 | Tokyo | Yoyogi National Stadium |
Tokyo (Site B)
| No | Teams | Date | Time | City | Hall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 52 | SRB-EGY | 02-Dec | 11:00 | Tokyo | Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium |
| 53 | CUB-CHN | 02-Dec | 15:00 | Tokyo | Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium |
| 54 | ARG-USA | 02-Dec | 18:20 | Tokyo | Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium |
| 54 | ARG-USA | 02-Dec | 0:1:20 PT | ||
| 58 | SRB-CHN | 03-Dec | 11:00 | Tokyo | Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium |
| 59 | ARG-EGY | 03-Dec | 15:00 | Tokyo | Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium |
| 60 | CUB-USA | 03-Dec | 18:20 | Tokyo | Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium |
| 60 | CUB-USA | 03-Dec | 01:20 PT | ||
| 64 | CUB-EGY | 04-Dec | 11:00 | Tokyo | Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium |
| 65 | ARG-CHN | 04-Dec | 14:00 | Tokyo | Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium |
| 66 | SRB-USA | 04-Dec | 17:00 | Tokyo | Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium |
| 66 | SRB-USA | 04-Dec | midnight PT |