USA men win second-straight match against Japan

by Paul Soriano USA Volleyball Manager, Public Relations & Publications

Gabe Gardner scored a team-high 15 points and Clay Stanley added 14 as the USA men's national volleyball team swept Japan on Tuesday night in Fukui, Japan.

Gardner (San Clemente, Calif.) posted 14 kills, one block and a hitting percentage of .700 in the 25-21, 25-14, 25-22 victory in the third match of a four-match series between the two teams.

The series concludes in Osaka on Thursday, April 29.

Stanley (Honolulu, Hawaii) blasted 12 kills to go along with two blocks as the United States won its second-straight match in the series since losing the opener on April 24.

Tom Hoff (Park Ridge, Ill.) added 10 points on seven kills, a match-high three blocks and a hitting percentage of .875.

As a team, the Americans hit .479 for the match (40 kills, five errors, 73 attempts) and outblocked Japan, 11-2.

Reid Priddy (Richmond, Va.) and Scott Bunker (Beaver, Utah) each scored five points while setter Donald Suxho (Korce, Albania) added four points as Team USA improved to 8-1 overall this season.

Takahiro Yamamoto scored a match-high 17 points on 17 kills to lead Japan, which hit just .215 in the match (36 kills, 19 errors, 79 attempts).

USA Men vs. Japan

Saturday, April 24 (Wakayama): Japan def. USA, 3-0 (25-20, 25-22, 25-23)

Sunday, April 25 (Ootsu): USA def. Japan, 3-2 (20-25, 24-26, 25-22, 25-18, 16-14)

Tuesday, April 27 (Fukui): USA def. Japan, 3-0 (25-21, 25-14, 25-22)

Thursday, April 29 (Osaka): Japan vs. USA

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