MATCH INFO

Almirante Brown, Argentina, August 19, 2011 – United States survived a sensational five-set battle against Egypt by winning the marathon match 25-16, 25-21, 27-29, 34-36, 17-15 in the opening day of the 2011 FIVB Boy’s Youth World Championship on Friday.

Matthew Tarrantino (28), Cody Caldwell (27) and Aaron Russell (22) were the leading scorers in the victory while Islam Abdelkader (24), Marawan Mohamed (17) and Mohamed Massoud (15) topped Egypt.

The Americans, who committed 44 unforced errors to 27 by Egypt, edged their opponents in blocks (15-12) and in service winners (8-5).

A great reaction from Caldwell (three consecutive points) had the United States in front but a series of mistakes left them one point behind at the first pause. A five-point rally highlighted by a couple of blocks from Tarrantino gave USA the advantage at the second technical time out 16-12. Tarrantino blocked and spiked for two more points and the Americans took a commanding lead 21-14. They breezed the rest of the way, closing the set 25-16 with a left side spike by Caldwell.

In the second set both teams started evenly matched but two consecutive points earned USA the 8-6 advantage at the first technical time-out in 8-6. Abdelkader kept Egypt close with some potent spikes, but Caldwell broke a 15-all tied score attacking from the left side to give USA the lead. After a great save by libero Sato, Tarrantino attacked for a three-point lead 18-15. The advantage swollen to 20-16 and Egypt called for a time-out. Two spikes of Mohamed around one ace of Helmy closed the score 20-19, but Tarrantino answered back and Helmy committed an error to restore the order and the set finished 25-21 with a rocket from Russell.

USA was trying to keep their previous standard looking to finish the night in three sets, but Egypt gave a tough fight and reached the first pause three points over the opponent (8-5). With solid spikes the Egyptian captain Marawan Mohamed sent his side to a 16-14 lead at the second stop, while the Americans were victims of five unforced errors. Aaron Russell complicated the Egyptian reception and allowed USA to tie. After two match-points balls for USA and three set-point chances for Egypt, Marawan decided the battle 29-27 in favor of the African team with a counter attack.

It was an amazing opportunity for Egypt who took the advantage and reached at the first pause with two points ahead of USA. Because of two unforced errors of the Egyptian player Ameen Helmy, and a good performance of Tarantino and Russell, USA reached the 16-14 mark. The set battle continued point by point up to the end. After four match points and eight set-point plays, Egypt won the set 36-34 as consequence of a long attacking error of Scott Rhein.

In the tie-breaker Egypt started in front benefiting from several errors of their opponents but the Americans were able to comeback to tie at 9-all. Once again both teams started a thrilling battle point by point that finished with Tarrantino’s spike followed by an Egyptian error.