MATCH INFO
United States defeat Bulgaria in first Pool A match
Setter Micah Christenson led the American inside the court
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, August 1 – The United States picked up their first win in Pool A of the FIVB Men´s Junior World Championship as the Americans defeated Bulgaria in straight sets to collect three points.
The team led by John Hawks IV scored a 3-0 (25-22, 25-18, 25-21) win in Rio de Janeiro.
The team led by John Hawks IV scored a 3-0 (25-22, 25-18, 25-21) win in Rio de Janeiro.
American wing spiker Taylor Sander topped the scorers with 15 points. Bulgarian wing spiker Nikolay Penchev helped his team with 11 points. The winners outblocked the defeated side 11-6 with Dylan Davis registering four blocks.
The United States started the match more focused and scored 4-1 with Taylor Sander spiking. The Bulgarian found their rhythm and tied in the 11th point with a huge block of Zlatan Yordanov. After a double contact of Bulgaria captain and setter Borislav Georgiev, the European got back in the scoreboard (13-15) and also lost Yordanov, who injured his right foot. Even so, the Bulgarian fought and tied the match again in 17-17. In the end, the USA recovered the lead (22-20) and gave an end to the set with middle blocker Eric Mochalki spiking: 25-22.
In the second frame, both teams played at the same level up to the middle of the partial, when American opposite Maurice Torres spiked against the block to put his team ahead: 13-10. Playing with bravery, the Bulgaria tied the match in the 16th point, but the American managed to score six points in a row and got close to the win, confirmed after a serve point of Torres: 25-18.
With Torres in the serve again, the American achieved their first two-point lead in the third set in 11-9. The advantage increased, but, close to the end, the Bulgarian reduced it, but not enough to avoid the defeat in 25-21, sealed with a backcourt spike of Taylor Sander.
In the second match of FIVB Men´s Junior World Championship, Bulgaria is going to face Japan, this Tuesday, at 4:00 p.m. In the following match, the United States clash defending champion and host Brazil at 6:30 p.m.
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