USA men sweep Mexico, reach NORCECA semifinals

by Paul Soriano USA Volleyball Manager, Public Relations & Publications

Tom Hoff scored a match-high 12 points to lead four players in double figures as the USA men's national volleyball team secured a spot in the 2003 NORCECA Zone Championship semifinals with a 3-0 win over Mexico Friday night in Culiacan, Mexico.

Hoff (Park Ridge, Ill.) had six of Team USA's 13 blocks and added five kills and one service ace in the 25-17, 25-22, 29-27 victory as the United States concluded play in Pool B with a perfect 3-0 mark.

With the win, the Americans earned an automatic berth in the tournament semifinals on Monday night and a day off from competition on Sunday.

With a win in Monday's semifinals, the United States will earn an automatic bid to the first Olympic qualifier of the quadrennial, the 12-team World Cup in Japan from Nov. 16-30.

The top three teams at the World Cup automatically qualify for the 2004 Summer Olympic Games in Athens, Greece.

Canada also advanced to the semifinals thanks to a 3-2 win over Cuba in Pool A action.

Mexico emerged from pool play as the No. 2 team from Pool B and will face Puerto Rico (Pool A No. 3) in the quarterfinals on Sunday. In the other quarterfinal, the No. 2 team from Pool A, Cuba, will battle Panama, the No. 3 team from Pool B.

Reid Priddy, Ryan Millar and Riley Salmon joined Hoff with double-figure points as Team USA improved to 13-3 on the season.

Priddy (Los Angeles, Calif.) scored 11 points on five kills, a match-high four aces and two blocks, while Millar (Palmdale, Calif.) and Salmon (League City Texas) each had 10 points on seven kills, two blocks and one ace.

Clay Stanley (Honolulu, Hawaii) tallied eight points on eight kills, while setter Lloy Ball chipped in with four points on three aces and one block.

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