WINNIPEG, Manitoba, Canada – Riley Salmon scored 16 points to lead four players in double figures as the U.S. men's national volleyball team defeated Canada in five sets Thursday night at the University of Manitoba' Investors Group Athletic Centre. br> Salmon (League City, Texas) had 12 kills, three blocks and one service ace in the 25-18, 15-25, 25-21, 30-32, 15-9 win, the finale of a three- match series between the two teams.
The United States won all three matches, winning in five sets on Monday July 14 and in three sets last night.
Since suffering a season-opening loss to Korea on June 15, Team USA has now won seven straight matches.
Brook Billings (Santa Barbara, Calif.) scored 13 points in the victory on 11 kills, one ace and one block, while middle blockers Scott Bunker and Tom Hoff added 11 points apiece.
Bunker (Beaver, Utah) had eight kills and three blocks to go along with a hitting percentage of .889,while Hoff (Park Ridge, Ill.), an Olympian in 2000, posted seven kills, two blocks and two aces.
Outside hitter Jim Polster and setter Donald Suxho just missed double figures in points as each player scored nine. Polster (Laguna Nigel, Calif.) blasted nine kills with seven digs, while Suxho had five blocks, three kills, one ace and eight digs.
Team USA Libero Erik Sullivan (Encinitas, Calif.), another member of the USA men's Olympic team in 2000, registered 15 digs.
Terry Martin led Canada with a match-high 19 points on 16 kills and three blocks. Steve Brinkman added 13 points on seven kills, five blocks and one ace.