2006 World Championships   More World Championship news       Tournament info: Puerto Rico

USA travel to Puerto Rico for men's World Championship event

Colorado, USA, August 19, 2005 – The USA men’s national team departs Saturday morning for Caguas, Puerto Rico, to compete in the FIVB Men’s World Championship second round tournament (NORCECA D), which runs from Aug. 22-28.

The top two finishers in the tournament featuring Barbados, Guatemala, Mexico, Puerto Rico and the United States will qualify for the 2006 World Championships as members of the NORCECA zone.

Team USA begins pool play on Monday, Aug. 22 when it squares off against Puerto Rico. The Americans will then play Guatemala on Tuesday, Aug. 23, have a rest day on Wednesday, Aug. 24, face Barbados on Thursday, Aug. 25 and conclude pool play against Mexico on Aug. 26.

The top four teams at the conclusion of pool play advance to the tournament semifinals on Aug. 27. The WCQT third-place and championship matches will be on Sunday, Aug. 28.

Five other teams – Canada, Costa Rica, Cuba, Panama and Trinidad and Tobago – are currently vying for the first two NORCECA slots for the World Championships at the “NORCECA E” World Championship Qualification Tournament in Havana from Aug. 17-21.

In all, 24 teams will compete at the 2006 World Championships from Nov. 16-Dec. 3 – nine from Europe, five from Asia, four from NORCECA, two from Africa, two from South America, the host team (Japan) and the 2002 champion (Brazil).

At the 2002 World Championships in Argentina, the United States won their pool with a perfect 3-0 record and handed eventual-champion Brazil its only loss of the tournament. But the Americans faltered in the second round (losing two-of-three matches) and finished tied for ninth place.

Overall this season the USA Men have a record of 12-5. The world’s fifth-ranked team is coming off its biggest win over the year after defeating the world’s best team, defending Olympic gold medalist Brazil, in five sets to capture the America’s Cup championship on Aug. 7.

Team USA’s roster for the WCQT includes: setters Chris Seiffert and Donald Suxho; middle blockers Phil Eatherton, David Lee and Ryan Millar; outside hitters Gabe Gardner, Pieter Olree, Jim Polster and Riley Salmon; opposites Brook Billings and Dave McKienzie; and libero Rich Lambourne.

It will be the first international action of the year for 2004 Olympians Billings, Gardner and Millar, who was also an Olympian in 2000.