U.S. Volleyball Makes A Stand American Men And Women Earn Wins In Exhibition Matches Held At The Arena
Spokane received one of the first previews of the U.S. Olympic men’s volleyball team and it was certainly a sixstar showing.
Coach Fred Sturm only made one substitution Sunday night as the Americans rolled over Japan 15-9, 15-2, 15-9.
The match was part of Stars & Spikes the Road to Atlanta Tour, a four-city doubleheader with the U.S. women playing Canada, at the Arena.
The U.S. women, ranked No. 1 in the world, showed their talent and depth - seven of the top players are taking a break - by defeating Canada 15-8, 15-10, 15-8.
“We’re very young,” Sturm said of his men’s team. “This is only their second match together. They need court time. It was more important to give this group time on the court than make changes.”
The one substitution came midway through the third game. That was the only game Japan led, opening a 3-0 lead before the U.S. scored the next eight points.
“Japan is the kind of team you don’t want to open the door,” Sturm said. “We wanted to control the match and stay in control of the match. They’re a much better team than they showed tonight.”
Among his group of 12, Sturm expects at least 10 to be on the Olympic team in Atlanta next year, including three Olympic veterans, captain Bob Ctvrtlik, Scott Fortune and Bryan Ivie.
Setter Lloy Ball, 23, outside hitter Mike Lambert, 21, and Jeff Nygaard, 23, now fill out the starting lineup.
“Last night I played pretty good in my first start. I got in a pretty good groove,” said Lambert, a Hawaiian who played at Stanford. “My main goal was to come out and be strong again, make a good showing. I think I did. There are a few errors when I think back on it but we’re coming around. I’m pretty happy.”
The 6-foot-6 Lambert, the youngest player on the team, drew loud cheers from the crowd of 4,978 with his powerful kills. He finished with 19 kills and five blocks.
What will likely make this American team special, though, is Ball. At 6-9, he is the tallest player. He comes from Woodburn, Ind., and Indiana Purdue-Fort Wayne University. A setter of his size can turn a lot of mistakes into advantages.
“Italy is the team to beat, then Brazil,” Sturm said. “Then there is a group of about five.”
That group includes the U.S. and Japan, along with Holland, Cuba and Russia.
After the four-city tour concludes tonight in Dallas, the Americans head to the World Cup in France next month. That is the first tournament to qualify teams for the Olympics. The U.S. qualifies as host but doesn’t want to miss the competition.
The U.S. women are off to the Dominican Republic for a tournament as coach Terry Liskevych works to get his reserves quality experience. Among those added to the team is Kelly Cunningham, a Lewis and Clark and Gonzaga University graduate.
“These kids are playing well,” Liskevych said. “That goes along with our plan to get them experience against international competition.”
Natalie Williams, a 6-1 UCLA graduate, had 17 kills and four blocks. Williams is coming off a serious knee injury.
“I wasn’t too concerned (about the ACL injury to her right knee), most everyone comes back,” she said. “I had enough desire to come back…. It made me stronger mentally so it was a positive experience from that end.”
She reached full strength in January and played full time in the recently concluded World University Games. That put her in shape for her turn to step up for the national team.
“This gives (Liskevych) the opportunity to see me,” Williams said. “I just think of (being a reserve) as a challenge. Sometimes it’s frustrating … but my goal is to be on the Olympic team.”
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