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

USA and Puerto Rico qualify for final round

Caguas, Puerto Rico, August 27, 2005 – USA and Puerto Rico advanced to the final round of the 2006 Men’s World Championships after winning their semifinal matches against Guatemala and Mexico respectively at the Norceca second round tournament on Saturday.

Phil Eatherton and Dave McKienzie each scored a team-high eight points to lead USA to a 25-14, 25-16, 25-9 victory while Puerto Rico swept Mexico 25-20, 26-24, 25-23.

USA will now play Puerto Rico in Sunday’s championship match.

The top two finishers at this week’s tournament in Puerto Rico earn trips to the 2006 World Championships in Japan as members of the NORCECA zone.

Eatherton posted a match-high five blocks with two kills and one service ace while McKienzie ripped five kills with three blocks for Team USA, which remained unbeaten in the tournament (5-0). The Americans still have not lost a set in the five matches (15-0).

As a team, the USA Men registered a dominating edge in blocks (15-1) and aces (7-0) over Guatemala (1-4).

David Lee and Riley Salmon added seven points apiece for the United States, which won its seventh-straight match and improved to 17-5 overall this season.

Setter Chris Seiffert tallied six points on a match-high four aces, one kill and one block, while Pieter Olree and Jim Polster each chipped in with five points in the victory.

Canada and Cuba secured the first two NORCECA slots for the World Championships at the “NORCECA E” World Championship Qualification Tournament in Havana on Sunday, Aug. 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).