KATOWICE, Poland (July 5, 2013) – The U.S. Men’s National Volleyball Team couldn’t convert on its chances to win as it fell to Poland 25-22, 19-25, 13-25, 30-28, 18-16 on Friday before a deafening crowd of 11,000 in an FIVB World League match at Spodek Arena.
The United States’ World League record fell to 4-3 while Poland improved to 3-4. The teams will play again on Sunday in Wroclaw, Poland.
The teams were well matched, with the U.S. leading in attacks (61-53) and in blocks (17-11). Poland led in aces (7-6) and scored 34 points on U.S. errors while committing 34.
U.S. opposite Carson Clark (Santa Barbara, Calif.) led all scorers with 24 points on 21 kills and three aces. Outside hitter Matt Anderson (West Seneca, N.Y.) added 17 on 12 spikes, four blocks and one ace.
The U.S. Men got off to a slow start as Poland took an 8-4 lead at the first technical timeout (TTO). With Poland leading 9-6, Anderson scored with a block and two straight kills to tie the score at 9-9. Clark added an attack and Holt had a block to put the U.S. ahead 11-9 and Poland called timeout. The U.S. extended its lead to 15-12 before Poland came back behind the serving of Krzystof Ignaczak to take a 17-16 lead. With the score tied 18-18, Poland scored on a U.S. service error and a block. The U.S. called timeout and Anderson got a kill, but Poland came back with a attack and block by Nowakowski and went on to win the set 25-22.
The score was tied 14-14 in the second set when the U.S. Men scored on Poland’s service error, a Ciarelli ace and a kill from Anderson to lead 17-14. The U.S. extended the lead to six at 23-17 behind strong serving by Caldwell and won the set 25-19 on a kill from Holt.
Poland struggled to open the third set as the U.S. took a 13-3 lead that had Andrea Anastasi use both his timeouts. The U.S. got two kills and two aces from Clark in the run. The U.S. led 16-4 at the second TTO and the sellout crowd was quieted. Poland never rallied and the U.S. went on to win 25-13.
Poland jumped out to a 7-1 lead to open the fourth set before Poland served the ball out of bounds and Ciarelli scored with a kill. With Poland leading 11-8, Anderson scored three straight points with a kill, ace and block to tie the score. The score was still tied at 13-13 when Poland used two straight spikes to lead 15-13. Poland led 22-20 when the U.S. used a triple block and Clark ace to tie the score. The U.S. reached match point at 24-23, but served into the net. It reached two more match points, but could not convert. Poland took its first set point at 27-26 on an ace from Winiarski, but Holt fought it off with a kill. Poland reached set point at 28-27 and again at 29-28 when the U.S. was called for a lift to give Poland the 30-28 set victory.
The score was tied 2-2 in the fifth set when the U.S. served into the net and Poland’s Jakub Jarosz followed with an ace. Poland led 6-4 when it scored on a kill from Nowakowski and block by Lukasz Zygadlo to lead 8-4 at the side change. With Poland leading 9-6, the U.S. got spikes from Holt and Clark to pull to within one and Poland called timeout. The U.S. reached match point at 14-13, but Poland fought it off with a Kurek kill, and then took match point with a triple block. Poland served the ball out of bounds, but the next U.S. attack also went out to give Poland a second match point. With the score tied 16-16, Poland scored on kills from Winiarski and Jarosz to take the 18-16 victory.
B.J. Hoeptner Evans, Manager, Communications , USA Volleyball
Photo: FIVB