• Submitted by: admin
• International
• Sports
• 07 / 16 / 2007

The U.S. Junior Men improved on their eighth-place finish in 2005 and equaled their seventh-place performances in 1977 and 1981.

Brazil won its third mens junior world title by defeating defending champion Russia in the championship match on Sunday, 3-0 (25-18, 25-18, 25-19).

Will Price (Laytonsville, Md.) led all scorers with 24 points on 22 kills and two aces. Matt Anderson (West Seneca, N.Y.) added 13 points on 11 kills and two blocks. Austin Zahn (Hermosa Beach, Calif.) scored 12 points on 11 kills and one ace and Matt Lipsitz (Williamsville, N.Y.) tallied 12 points on six kills and six blocks.

Jandy Gonzalez Martinez led Cuba with 22 points and Yoandy Leal Hidalgo added 18.

U.S Head Coach Andy Read (Long Beach State) started Zahn and Lipsitz in the middle, Spencer McLachlin (Honolulu, Hawaii) and Anderson at outside hitter, Price at opposite, and Matt Werle (Meadville, Pa.) at setter. Kawika Shoji (Honolulu, Hawaii) started at libero.

Kevin Carroll (Los Alamitos, Calif.), Max Holt (Cincinnati, Ohio) and Sean Pedersen (Evergreen Park, Ill.) all entered the match as substitutes.

With Cuba leading 18-15 in the first set, Carroll came in to serve and helped the U.S. Junior Men pull to within one, trailing 21-22. Holt entered the set to block and Pedersen to serve. Team USA tied the score at 24-24. The U.S. Junior Men used consistent play combined with Cuban errors to win the first set at 30-28.

Team USA fell behind 12-9 in the second set and never caught up.

The U.S. Junior Men held a 14-6 lead in the third set, but began making errors and Cuba tied it at 22-22. Anderson and Lipsitz combined for a block that caused Cuba to call a timeout trailing 22-24. But a Cuba service error gave the U.S. Junior Men the victory.

The fourth set was close until the U.S. Men took a 14-8 lead. Cuba had no answer.

View the box score for this match at www.fivb.org/vis_web/volley/MJ2007/pdf/P2-037.pdf

For more information, check the FIVB Mens Junior World Championship web site at www.fivb.org/EN/Volleyball/Competitions/Junior/men/2007/General/index.asp?sm=12.

2007 U.S. Men's Junior National Team

U.S. Results at the 2007 FIVB Mens Junior World Championship

All matches played in Rabat, Morocco
Saturday, July 7: USA def. Egypt 3-2 (17-25, 26-28, 25-16, 25-22, 18-16)
Sunday, July 8: USA def. Russia, 3-0 (28-26, 25-22, 29-27)
Monday, July 9: Brazil def. USA, 3-1 (25-22, 20-25, 25-18, 25-19)
Tuesday, July 10: USA def. Slovenia, 3-2 (23-25, 25-17, 25-23, 20-25, 15-9)
Wednesday July 11: Argentina def. USA, 3-0 (25-20, 25-20, 25-20)

July 14
Semifinal 1: Brazil def. Italy, 3-2 (25-18, 15-25, 25-27, 25-20, 15-8)
Semifinal 2: Russia def. Iran, 3-1 (21-25, 25-22, 25-23, 25-21)
Fifth-Eighth Place 1: Bulgaria def. USA, 3-0 (26-24 25-20 25-22)
Fifth-Eighth Place 2: Argentina def. Cuba, 3-0 (25-20, 25-19, 25-23)
Ninth-12th Place 1: Egypt def. Japan, 3-1 (24-26, 26-24, 25-20, 25-19)
Ninth-12th Place 2: Slovenia def. Morocco, 3-0 (25-17, 25-18, 25-23)
July 15
11th-12th Place: Japan def. Morocco, 3-1 (25-23, 25-23, 20-25, 25-21Ninth-10th Place: Slovenia def. Egypt, 3-1 (25-23, 23-25, 25-19, 25-16)
Seventh-Eighth Place: USA def. Cuba, 3-1 (30-28, 20-25, 25-23, 25-20)
Fifth-Sixth Place: Argentina def. Bulgaria, 3-0 (26-24, 25-15, 25-20)
Third-Fourth Place: Iran def. Italy, 3-1 (27-25, 19-25, 25-20, 25-17)
Championship: Brazil def. Russia, 3-0 (25-18, 25-18, 25-19)

Final Standings
Pool A (Playing in Casablanca)
Iran 4-1
Italy 3-2
Cuba 3-2
Bulgaria 3-2
Japan 2-3
Morocco 0-5
Pool B (Playing in Rabat)
Brazil 4-1
Russia 4-1
USA 3-2
Argentina 2-3
Slovenia 1-4
Egypt 1-4

Source: USA Volleyball