U.S. Men Stop Barbados to Remain Undefeated at NORCECA Championship

 

ANAHEIM, Calif. (Sept. 17, 2007) -Kevin Hansen (Newport Beach, Calif.) set the U.S. Men's National Volleyball Team to .684 team attack percentage (43 kills, 4 errors, 57 attacks) as the Americans blitzed Barbados 25-13, 25-13, 25-4 on the second of three days of pool play at the NORCECA Men's Continental Championship Monday evening at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, Calif. 

 

The U.S. improves to 2-0, while Barbados falls to 0-2. Team USA squares off against undefeated Puerto Rico on Tuesday at 8 p.m. PT for the top seed out of Pool A. The winner earns a quarterfinal bye, an off-day on Wednesday and a direct spot into the semifinals on Thursday. Barbados takes on Mexico (0-2) at 5 p.m. PT on Tuesday to conclude pool play. 

 

Team USA's David Lee (Alpine, Calif.) lead all scorers with 12 points via six kills on seven errorless attacks and six blocks. Clay Stanley (Honolulu) came off the bench to net 10 points on six kills, three aces and a block. Scott Touzinsky (St. Louis, Mo.) notched seven kills on nine attacks in addition to two aces for nine points. Reid Priddy (Richmond, Va.) played just the first set and managed seven kills on seven swings to go with an ace for eight points. Gabe Gardner (San Clemente, Calif.) connected for seven kills on eight swings in two sets of action.

 

Ryan Millar (Palmdale, Calif.) was credited with four kills and three blocks for seven points. Jim Polster (Laguna Niguel) tacked on five points, while Hansen added two blocks and a kill for three points. Riley Salmon (League City, Texas) rounded out the U.S. scoring with a kill in the third set. Rich Lambourne (Tustin, Calif.) handled 13 serve receive chances and produced an 85 percent excellent reception mark. 

 

In addition to the .684 team attack percentage, the U.S. converted 75 percent of its attacks into kills. Team USA's advantage at the net allowed for a 13-1 block margin and limited Barbados to a 25 kill percent. The U.S. held a 6-2 service ace advantage. 

 

Priddy served the U.S. to a 5-0 lead to open the first set. Team USA inched its lead up to double-digits at 21-11 and ended the frame with a 12-point 25-13 victory. The American converted 86 percent of its attacks (19 for 22) into kills. 

 

Similar to the first set, Team USA jumped ahead early with a 6-0 lead in the second period and extended the advantage to 10 points at 13-3. The Americans closed the set with a 25-13 victory as the team turned in a 62 percent kill ratio with only one error. 

 

Team USA reached the first technical timeout of the final set without giving up a point to Barbados, an 8-0 advantage. By the second technical timeout, the U.S. lead reached 13 points at 16-3. The U.S. concluded the match with 9-1 run and 25-4 victory. The Americans tallied 12 kills on 15 swings in the third set. 

 

Hansen started the match at setter, while the outside hitter spots were filled by Priddy and Polster. Lee and Millar started at the middle blocker positions, while Gardner earned the starting nod at opposite. Rich Lambourne (Tustin, Calif.) is the Team USA libero for the tournament. Touzinsky started the second and third sets in place of Priddy. Salmon subbed into the match in the first and second sets. Stanley entered as a sub in the second set and started the third frame in place of Gardner. 

 

Darran Gill tallied a Barbados-high five points on three kills, one block and one ace. Renier Grace and Adrian Price recorded four points apiece in the loss.