The veteran did it once more and now the USA males are most likely a victory away from clinching a spot within the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Matt Anderson, the 36-year-old reverse, had 14 kills, two aces and a team-high eight digs Thursday within the Highway to Paris Volleyball Qualifier because the People defeated Slovenia 25-18, 21-25, 25-20, 25-18.
It left them 5-0 with two matches to play within the event in Tokyo. The highest two groups within the pool clinch Olympic bids.
The USA can get rid of Serbia (3-2) on Saturday and will clinch if Slovenia (4-1) beats Japan (4-1). The USA performs Japan on Sunday to finish the event and Slovenia performs Serbia.
“For tomorrow we will simply deal with the primary level of the following match. I don’t know precisely what the situations are. We simply should hold profitable,” USA coach John Speraw advised VolleyballMag.com. “And that’s what we’re going to attempt to do on the primary level tomorrow.”
The USA is in Pool B the place, as we posted this, motion was completed for the day in Japan.
In Pool A in Rio, the race is extensive open. Heading into Thursday, Germany was 4-0 and Cuba, Italy and Brazil have been all 3-1. Brazil was to play Cuba, Italy had Iran and Germany was set for Czechia.
In Pool C in China, Poland is within the driver’s seat 5-0 after beating Argentina on Thursday. Canada sits 4-1 after having Thursday off and Belgium and Argentina have been tied at 3-2. Poland performs the Netherlands and China, whereas Canada faces China and Bulgaria.
Towards Slovenia, TJ DeFalco had 12 kills, six digs and a block, reserve Jeff Jendryk had 9 kills and a block, and David Smith — the oldest participant on the workforce at 38 — had seven kills and three blocks.
Aaron Russell had 5 kills and a block and setter Micah Christenson had a kill and three blocks.
“It was the 2 undefeated groups on high of the pool, so we knew it was going to be a battle,” Christenson advised Volleyball World. “Tonight they have been lacking their captain Tine (Urnaut), who’s a pal of mine and I want him a speedy restoration from no matter took him out of this recreation.
“However I feel we performed very well, except for six to eight factors. They did some actually good issues and we didn’t panic. We simply adjusted. We’re beginning to play a few of our greatest volleyball this summer time.”
Nik Mujanovic had 11 kills and a block for Slovenia and Klemen Cebulj had 11 kills and 6 digs. Alen Pajenk had six kills, three blocks and two aces.
“Slovenia is nice. I feel they confirmed that within the VNL, within the European Champs and on this event, so we got here in actually targeted, we had recreation plan and I feel general we did fairly good,” USA libero Erik Shoji advised VW. “We’re going to study from this one, rejoice just a little bit after which watch the Serbia and Japan recreation.
“Two powerful video games are developing for us. We expect the most effective from each and we’re excited to play.”
All matches could be seen on Volleyball World TV, the place you too can discover the schedule. Use “VOLLEYBALLMAG” for a reduction.