One of many strangest, and most surprising, storylines of the Paris Olympic Video games is the abrupt break up of Andy Benesh and Miles Partain and their coach, Mike Placek.
This previous Wednesday, early in Benesh and Partain’s ultimate spherical of pool play — an eventual three-set win over Brazil’s George Wanderley and Andre Loyola — NBC courside reporter Dain Blanton talked about on the published that Placek hadn’t been current within the workforce assembly earlier than the match. Blanton stated that when he requested Benesh about Placek’s absence, the 6-foot-9 blocker stated that they had been shifting in a unique path.
Since, mum has been the phrase.
After the win over Brazil, Benesh answered VolleyballMag editor Lee Feinswog’s query about it by saying “We’re simply centered on getting ready for the following matches.”
On Saturday morning, Benesh and Partain launched this assertion by way of USA Volleyball:
“We’re very grateful for Mike Placek’s generosity, dedication, and tireless efforts main as much as the Olympics. His dedication and contributions have been unwavering.
“After cautious consideration, we’ve got determined it’s best for us to half methods and discover completely different strategic paths. We stay deeply appreciative of what Mike has performed for us and want him continued success in all his future endeavors.
“We favor to maintain this resolution personal. We’re releasing this official assertion to make clear and tackle some deceptive rumors concerning the scenario. We’ve an incredible assist workers and respect their effort and dedication throughout this transition.”
Placek was unavailable for remark.
He has been working with Benesh and Partain since they initially partnered up within the fall of 2022, serving to them to 3 straight Elite16 medals in the summertime of 2023, all however clinching their spot in Paris only a few months into the qualifying course of. On the AVP, they made three straight finals, successful in Huntington Seaside and Atlanta, ending the season 14-2 and the 2023 Staff of the 12 months.
Benesh and Partain have been on a relative hunch since, successful only one medal, a bronze in June on the Ostrava Elite16, whereas mixing in 4 fifth-place fiishes and 5 ninths. They haven’t had the chance to play an AVP this summer season, as the one occasion, in Huntington Seaside, was the weekend earlier than the Espinho Elite16 in Could.
The tipping level, it appeared, was a near-disaster of a second set towards Morocco within the second match of the Olympics. Benesh and Partain blew an 18-10 lead, needing to lengthen the set to 28-26 towards the worst-ranked workforce within the area. It’s vital to notice that on the Seaside Professional Tour and within the Olympic Video games, coaches should not allowed to teach throughout matches, and are seated away from the gamers. No matter went amiss through the match itself can’t be placed on Placek.
Two days later, towards George and Andre, a completely completely different model of the workforce confirmed up. Benesh and Partain reverted to the high-risk system they deployed in 2023, jump-setting practically each ball, optioning in serve-receive from spots on the courtroom few, if any — even Sweden — would try. It labored, as they alas beat George and Andre, who had crushed them in three out of the 4 earlier conferences.
“We discovered our mojo once more and we’re tremendous excited to get well and put together for whoever we had subsequent,” Benesh stated after the Brazil win. “[The options and jump-setting] will probably be again. It’ll be again for eternity. We’re tremendous proud of the type we performed with at present and we’re going to proceed that.”
Placek can be the coach for Terese Cannon and Megan Kraft, who’re having fun with an incredible summer season, that included a silver in Gstaad and bronze on the Vienna Elite16.
Paul Lotman, the assistant on each staffs, is in Paris and is serving because the de facto interim head coach. Benesh and Partain subsequent play within the spherical of 16, towards Italy’s Paolo Nicolai and Sam Cottafava, on Monday.
Within the week main as much as the Paris Olympics, Benesh and Partain educated with Nicolai and Cottafava, and in addition hosted an exhibition in San Diego towards the Italians.
