Renewed Effort and
Intensity Pay Off
The
Sears Centre crowd of approximately 4,000 fans saw a
much better Team USA effort compared to Friday night
resulting in a 3-1 win against the visiting 2010
World League Pool C opponent, Finland. Last night�s
star player Urpo Sivula was held to a �mere� 22
points when compared to his 31 point effort the
night before. Clay Stanley lead Team USA with a
total of 19 points including 3 from aces. Coach Alan
Knipe made only one switch in starters replacing
Sean Rooney with Matt Anderson on the left side.
Anderson provided 16 points in the match including 2
aces and a block. Olympian Reid Priddy was removed
from the match at the 3 � 3 mark in the second set
replaced by Paul Lotman. Coach Knipe indicated that
Reid �tweaked� his quad and he didn�t want to take
any chances in furthering the injury.
Team USA started out the first set with intensity
jumping out to a 3 � 0 lead which they held
throughout the entire set. The starting lineup had
Stanley, Holmes and Priddy in the front row with
Anderson, Lee and Hansen across the back. Of course,
Rich Lambourne was the Libero. The US lead 16 � 13
at the second time out and stretched the lead to 20
� 15 shortly thereafter. Finland made a five point
run bolstered by a combination of stuff blocks,
great digs and USA hitting errors bringing the score
the closest of the whole match at 21 � 20. Team USA
pushed back with their own 4 point run including a
substitute serving ace by Evan Patak. A quick hit by
Holmes ended the set at 25 � 21. Both teams were
even on hitting percentage and blocks but the US
lead in service aces, 3 to 1.
Eemi Tervaportii, the 20 year old Fin setter opened
the second set with a float serve ace and scored
another ace off Matt Anderson his second time
around. This was a sign of things to come for Team
USA especially once Team USA captain, Reid Priddy
left the match. The Fin�s also put on a blocking
clinic scoring 5 points on blocks. Evan Patak once
again was subbed in for serving but hit long.
Stanley was stuffed on the left side for the final
point of the set giving the Fin�s a 25 � 18 win.
Team USA started the same exact rotation as Set 1
but their hitting percentage dropped from .400 to
.300. Finland hit .430 with 5 blocks and 3 aces.
Once again the Americans lead off with the same
exact rotation as the first two sets with the
exception of Lotman for Priddy. Each team traded
sides outs and 2 point runs until the 13 � 13 mark.
Team USA pulled away with a 3 point run and never
looked back. For the final point, Paul Lotman was
set three times in a row hitting into the Fin block
with his third attempt finally resulting in the set
point. He stepped up for the injured Priddy adding 3
kills, a block and an ace in the set. Matt Anderson
and Clay Stanley added 5 kills each. The final score
was 25 -19 and the Americans jumped to a .640
hitting percentage for the set.
The fourth set opened up with a Matt Anderson
service error and another float serve ace from
Finland�s Eemi Tervaportii. Team USA quickly tied it
up but the momentum had moved to Finland as they
lead 8 � 5 at the first technical timeout. There
were several officiating calls that the Fin coach
disagreed with including a pancake right in front of
the down judge and the Fin bench that was ruled
down. It looked like a knock down drag out fight
with each team trading side out�s from 13 � 13 to
the 22 � 22 mark. Clay Stanley changed the momentum
with one of his classic aces. Last night�s star,
Urpo Sivula was stuff blocked for the 24th and 25th
points of the set. Team USA won the match with a 25
� 23 fourth set score. In addition to Stanley�s ace,
Team USA has 7 blocks in the fourth set and hit
.420.
You can hear more about Coach Knipe�s thoughts on
individual player performances, the ever changing
lineups and the starting setter position in the
press conference video (posted a few days after the
match).
Match Photos
Press Conference Video
(NOW AVAILABLE FOR VIEWING)
Summary Stats (FIVB)
Detailed Stats (FIVB)
FIVB Photos