FIVB Men’s World Championship, Italy: U.S. got big plans
Although the U.S. National Volleyball Team has earned a very good reputation in the first preliminary round of the FIVB Men’s World Championship 2010, the head coach, Alan Knipe still feels that they need to put more effort. In coach’s opinion, the current
team is not at the level of golden team, which captured 2008 World League and the Beijing Olympics Games.
The U.S. team is playing in the FIVB Men’s World Championship with the tag of Pool D and it is accompanied by three other teams in the squad; Argentina, Venezuela, and Mexico. The first round of the tournament has completed its run and each team has played
three matches against different competitors. All the matches of Pool D have been organised in Palacalafiore Sports Hall in Reggio Calabria, Italy. The first round of the tournament continued from 25-27 September, 2010. USA won all its matches and climbed up
the top spot in Pool D with 6 points in hand.
USA vs. Mexico
USA played its first match against Mexico. It was a tough match and USA played under huge pressure. The Mexicans enjoyed great rhythm in their play and got hold of game in first two sets. The U.S. team failed to grasp the game-plan of Mexicans in the beginning
and received 22-25 and 19-25 defeat. Somehow, they managed to raise their heads in the game and finally found their feet in third set. The crowd of 2,600 in the arena saw the transition and American players grabbed their attention by victory in third set with
the help of 25-18.
Afterward, the team remained consistent in their attack and dominated the opponents with an exceptional game. They claimed the last two sets by posting 25-22 and 15-11 and snatched match victory from Mexico.
USA vs. Venezuela
The second match was sort of breather for U.S. team. They came across the team from Venezuela, which they easily managed to dismiss in three straight sets. The U.S. players kept an upper-hand on Venezuelans from the beginning of the match. USA pulled off
first-set victory with a score of 25-19. In the second set, Venezuela put up some resistance and chased the score but ultimately USA attained better status by achieving 25-23. The final set also brought success for U.S. and they picked up 25-19 win. USA won
the second match from Venezuela.
USA vs. Argentina
USA battled out the third match against Argentine. Argentina was believed to be the favourite team in squad, and they created a lot of trouble for Americans. Nonetheless, the U.S. players exhibited great temperament and claimed 3-1 (22-25, 27-25, 25-22,
and 25-20) victory over Argentina in the last match of first preliminary round.
Coach’s vision
The coach is aware of the future prospects of the team and potential risks that they might be facing competing against world’s best teams. That’s why he urged the players to stay alert all the time and be prepared for the big challenges ahead. Alan Knipe
expressed delight about the team progress in first round of the FIVB Men’s World Championship, 2010. He said, “In USA we usually have a main target which is the Olympic medal, and we consider that goal more than any other competition else. I know everyone
here is thinking that we should be in the podium at the closure ceremony on the 10th of October but volleyball isn’t that easy. Everywhere I have been asked by the journalists; will you repeat the Olympic achievement here in Italy? But my answer is that we
build now a new team capable of achieving this in London 2012. We still have very good players at home and they will be introduced gradually into the team during the next two years to decrease the age average before the Olympics.”
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