USA men win third-straight match at World Cup

by Paul Soriano USA Volleyball Manager, Public Relations & Publications

Brook Billings scored a match-high 24 points to lead a balanced attack as the USA men's national volleyball team recorded a 3-1 World Cup win over Egypt at the Hiroshima Green Arena Friday afternoon (Thursday night in the United States).

Billings (Santa Barbara, Calif.) had 23 kills and one block in the 25-22, 25-19, 22-25, 25-14 victory that improved Team USA's World Cup record to 4-1 after two rounds of play.

The top three teams at the 12-team, two-week, round-robin tournament earn automatic bids to the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece.

"I knew that Egypt (would be) a competitive team since we lost one set to them at the World Championships last year," said Team USA head coach Doug Beal. "Today I used some players who have not played much here in the tournament. We are a deep team. I believe our depth is beneficial to us to compete throughout this tournament."

In all, seven American players scored six or more points. Riley Salmon (League City, Texas) scored 13 points while Gabe Gardner (San Clemente, Calif.) and Ryan Millar (Palmdale, Calif.) each scored 10 points.

Dnald Suxho (Los Angeles, Calif.) added seven points while Reid Priddy (Richmond, Va.) and Adam Naeve (Los Angeles, Calif.) chipped in with six points apiece.

The United States also held a dominating edge in blocking, 13-5, as its season record improved to 19-4. Suxho, starting at setter in place of Lloy Ball (Woodburn, Ind.), led all players with five blocks and added two kills. Millar and Salmon each had a pair of stuffs.

Elsafy Awad Hamdy scored 17 points and Fathy Youssef Saleh added 11 as Egypt suffered its fifth consecutive loss at the tournament.

"I think Egypt is getting better match-by-match," said Team USA libero Erik Sullivan (Encinitas, Calif.). "Their service reception and defense were good. We lost one set to a very good team."

The tournament field now has a day off for travel as it prepares for the next round.

In the third round (Nov. 23-25) the United States battles Tunisia, Korea and Venezuela in Fukuoka, Japan. In the fourth and final round (Nov. 28-30), Team USA squares off against Italy, defending world champion Brazil and France in Tokyo.

In other early action on Friday, Brazil remained unbeaten (5-0) by sweeping Tunisia, 25-17, 25-16, 25-11.

For more information, go to the USA Volleyball web site.