Team USA Opens with Win over Nicaragua

TULSA, USA, July 14, 2014 – After a slow start, the United States pulled together to defeat Nicaragua, 25-13, 25-11, 25-13 on Monday in a Pool A match on the NORCECA Boys’ U19 Continental Championship at the Cox Business Center Arena.

Team USA (1-0) will have Tuesday off while Nicaragua (0-1) will play Puerto Rico at 4 p.m. CT. The U.S. Boys’ will play Puerto Rico on Wednesday at 6 p.m.

Tough serving proved to be key to the U.S. victory as it led in aces, 18-1. The U.S. Boys’ also led in kills (28-12) and blocks (10-2). Nicaragua scored on 22 U.S. errors while committing 18.

Nicaragua led 11-8 in the first set but it served into the net and Josh Tuaniga got the United States’ first ace with his first serve. He served for two more points to put the U.S. ahead 14-11. Later, Jordan Ewert would serve for seven straight points, including three aces, to put the U.S. ahead for good. The U.S. did not struggle after that.

Every player on the U.S. team started a set and every player scored except for libero Joe Worsley, who was credited with six digs and nine excellent receptions.

U.S. setter Josh Tuaniga led all scorers with nine points on two kills, one block and a match-high six aces. Middle blocker Scott Stadick added eight points on six kills and two blocks.

Outside hitter Roberto Espinosa paced Nicaragua with six points on six attacks.

Quotes

Nicaragua captain Alejandro Barrios Gabriel: “We knew it would be a very complicated and hard match against the USA. We tried our best but we could not get the win.”

Nicaragua coach Osman Hernandez: “The teams that we play against in Central American usually do not have a very good server. Playing against the USA was really hard because the serving was at a different level. It was hard for our receivers.”

USA captain Dane LeClair: “We started out kind of rocky as a team collectively. Then we settled down as a team. We grew with each other and we broke that lead. We got a few runs. I was really happy to see that we played together as a team and we got through the match efficiently.”

USA coach Ken Shibuya: “We’re really early in the process. Every match we play, the team is learning something. Sometimes it’s as simple as, don’t switch and get called out of rotation so much. We saw a lot of really nice things and we saw some things that we are going to work on.”