USA men sweep
China, play for ISI Championship vs. Holland
California, USA, June 12, 2005 – The USA men’s national
Volleyball team and the Netherlands will meet for the fifth time
in 11 days on Sunday, but for the first time with a championship
on the line.
Dave McKienzie scored a team-high 14 points to lead four players
in double-figures as the USA men swept China on Saturday to
advance to the championship match of the men’s Volleyball
competition at the International Sports Invitational.
McKienzie blasted 12 kills, one service ace and one block in the
25-21, 25-22, 25-19 victory to set up yet another meeting
between the two teams.
Team USA hosted Holland for three friendly matches on a Pacific
Northwest Tour in June before the two teams met again in pool
play on June 8 to kick off the International Sports Invitational
at Jenny Craig Pavilion on the campus of the University of San
Diego.
The Americans sandwiched a pair of 3-0 wins over the Dutch
around a four-set loss on June 3. The Netherlands, who advanced
to Sunday’s championship match by edging Australia in five sets,
also defeated the United States in the pool play match last
Wednesday, 3-2.
“We get to play Holland again tomorrow night, and I think we are
two very evenly matched teams,” said Team USA head coach Hugh
McCutcheon. “The first match of the tournament for us was a very
tight five-gamer, and I think it will be another great match
tomorrow.
“I’m optimistic that we’ll play a lot better on Sunday,” he
added. “We want to finish this on a good note; we want to win
this tournament.”
“For us it doesn’t matter if it’s the fifth time or the tenth
time,” adds USA setter and team captain Donald Suxho. “What we
showed tonight is that we’re beginning to jell together. We are
playing together as a team, we are beginning to understand each
other and we’re bringing our level up a little more. As each day
goes by we’re playing better and better, and that’s important
for us.”
Riley Salmon scored 12 points on 10 kills and two blocks in
Saturday’s semifinal win for Team USA, which is now 5-2 on the
season. Jim Polster and Phil Eatherton added 11 points apiece
for the Americans.
Shen Qiong scored a match-high 17 points on 15 kills, one block
and one ace to lead China, which will not play Australia for
third place on Sunday. |
