USA take one step closer to VNL Finals

CHICAGO, United States, June 16, 2018 - Aaron Russell fired the USA one step closer to the VNL finals after Poland were taken apart 3-0 (25-0, 25-19, 5-19) for the second night in succession. 

Russell may have bagged the most points - 11 spikes, three aces - yet there were contributions all over the court from John Speraw’s side who go into their final match of the weekend against Iran on Sunday aiming for a clean sweep in this US swing. 

Matthew Anderson (12 points) Torey Defalco and Maxwell Holt (both nine points) all made healthy contributions to what was ultimately a very one sided match as Poland, who were beaten by the Iranians on Friday evening, slumped once again to leave their participation in the finals in Lille very much in the balance.

It was another frustrating match for Polish coach Vital Heynen who lost his rag with officials once again while watching his players misfire. 

Heynen made a raft of changes but the switching up of his squad did little to alter the result. Only Bartosz Bednorz - eight spikes, two blocks - reached double figures. 

This defeat ensured it was the first time for two years that Poland have lost back to back matches in straight sets and, ironically, it was on this date 12 months ago that they were last defeated 3-0 at world level. 

That two losses have come in two nights will be very worrying heading into Sunday’s match with Serbia and moving into week five of the VNL campaign.