2017 FIVB WORLD LEAGUE – GROUP 1
- Group 1
- July 4-8
- Curitiba, Brazil
- FIVB World League Finals
- Schedule/Results
The United States enters the Final Six of the World League through the loss of Belgium to France, while also winning a match over Poland.
Team USA began the World League run with a 0-3 first weekend, losing to Belgium, Serbia and Canada, earning just one point to their total. In week two, the USA crew recovered from their first week start to go 2-1. Their only loss came to France, who after this week was undefeated in the preliminary stages of the competition. The USA won against Russia and Italy to claim a 2-1 second-week record. In week three, the USA lost only to Russa, while winning matches over Iran and Poland, squeezing their way into the #6 spot of the World League.
Key Contributors
- Taylor Sander – Ranking third overall in points scored, Sander put down 146 points in the nine matches of the preliminary round. Those 146 points came off 118 kills, 15 blocks and 13 aces. Sander ranks #7 overall in serving with 0.37 aces per set along with 44 digs in the competition, ranking #10 overall in digs with 1.26 digs per set.
- Benjamin Patch – Patch ranks #7 overall in points scored in the World League with 126 on 111 kills, 14 blocks and one ace.
- David Smith – Smith ranks #20 overall in points scored with 88 on 54 kills, 23 blocks and 11 aces. In blocking, Smith ranks third overall with 0.66 blocks per set.
With the USA having two players putting out huge numbers and ranking in the top-ten of the competition in points scored, they could have a chance at the semifinals. Sander and Patch will have to remain hot for them to have this chance, along with solid performances by the remainder of the team.
Roster (* denotes 2016 Olympic team members)
- Thomas Carmody
- Taylor Sander*
- Jeff Jendryk
- James Shaw
- Kawika Shoji*
- Jake Langlois
- Thomas Jaeschke*
- Micah Christenson*
- Daniel Mcdonnell
- Benjamin Patch
- Carson Clark
- Jayson Jablonsky
- TJ DeFalco
- Garrett Muagututia
- Taylor Averill
- David Smith*
- Dustin Watten
- Erik Shoji*
Six players from the USA Olympic team that took third place over Russia. The team is using a mixture of experience and youth to move their way into the semifinals of the World League.
Final Six Play
The USA begins their World League Final Six play with #1-seed France on July 4, followed by #3 Serbia on July 5. The USA will make the semifinals of the competition based on their performance in these two matches, along with the rest of the competitions output.
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