CONTACT US

Contact Form

    News Details

    Volleyball Nations League: Team USA squanders chances in 5-set loss to Argentina
    • July 8, 2023

    Team USA’s T.J. DeFalco shows his frustration after they lost to Argentina in five sets in a Volleyball Nations League match on Friday night at the Anaheim Convention Center. Argentina won, 25-18, 23-25, 23-25, 43-41, 15-12. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

    Team USA middle blocker Maxwell Holt, right, spikes the ball as Argentina’s Nicolas Zerba defends during the first set of a Volleyball Nations League match on Friday night at the Anaheim Convention Center. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

    Argentina middle blocker Agustin Loser Bruno, left, spikes the ball as Team USA’s Maxwell Holt looks to block during the first set of a Volleyball Nations League match on Friday night at the Anaheim Convention Center. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

    Team USA setter Micah Christenson passes the ball to a teammate during their Volleyball Nations League match against Argentina on Friday night at the Anaheim Convention Center. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

    Team USA setter Micah Christenson, right, goes up for a block against Argentina’s Luciano Palonsky during the first set of a Volleyball Nations League match on Friday night at the Anaheim Convention Center. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

    Team USA opposite hitter T.J. DeFalco slides as he reaches to save the ball during the first set of a Volleyball Nations League match against Argentina on Friday night at the Anaheim Convention Center. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

    Argentina opposite hitter Bruno Lima celebrates after scoring a point during the first set of a Volleyball Nations League match against Team USA on Friday night at the Anaheim Convention Center. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

    Team USA opposite hitter Matthew Anderson looks on during the first set of a Volleyball Nations League match against Argentina on Friday night at the Anaheim Convention Center. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

    Team USA opposite hitter Matthew Anderson, top, spikes the ball as Argentina’s Luciano Vicentin, left, and Agustin Loser Bruno defend during their Volleyball Nations League match on Friday night at the Anaheim Convention Center. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

    Team USA coach John Speraw looks on during the first set of a Volleyball Nations League match against Argentina on Friday night at the Anaheim Convention Center. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

    Team USA opposite hitter Thomas Jaeschke celebrates a point during the second set of a Volleyball Nations League match against Argentina on Friday night at the Anaheim Convention Center. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

    Team USA opposite hitter Matthew Anderson serves during the second set of a Volleyball Nations League match against Argentina on Friday night at the Anaheim Convention Center. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

    Argentina opposite hitter Luciano Vicentin, left, scores past Team USA’s Micah Christenson (11), Jeffrey Jendryk II (4) and T.J. DeFalco during the second set of a Volleyball Nations League match on Friday night at the Anaheim Convention Center. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

    Team USA middle blocker David Smith serves during the second set of a Volleyball Nations League match against Argentina on Friday night at the Anaheim Convention Center. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

    Team USA opposite hitter Matthew Anderson celebrates after a point during the second set of a Volleyball Nations League match against Argentina on Friday night at the Anaheim Convention Center. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

    Team USA opposite hitter Matthew Anderson serves during the second set of a Volleyball Nations League match against Argentina on Friday night at the Anaheim Convention Center. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

    Team USA oppposite hitter T.J. DeFalco, right, tips the ball as Argentina’s Bruno Lima defends during the second set of a Volleyball Nations League match on Friday night at the Anaheim Convention Center. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

    Team USA setter Micah Christenson sets up a shot for a teammate during the second set of a Volleyball Nations League match against Argentina on Friday night at the Anaheim Convention Center. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

    Team USA opposite hitter Matthew Anderson serves during the second set of a Volleyball Nations League match against Argentina on Friday night at the Anaheim Convention Center. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

    Team USA opposite hitter Matthew Anderson, left, and setter Maxwell Holt try to block a shot during the second set of a Volleyball Nations League match against Argentina on Friday night at the Anaheim Convention Center. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

    Team USA libero Erik Shoji celebrates after they won the second set of a Volleyball Nations League match against Argentina on Friday night at the Anaheim Convention Center. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

    Team USA fans cheer during the second set of a Volleyball Nations League match against Argentina on Friday night at the Anaheim Convention Center. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

    Team USA setter Micah Christenson serves during the fourth set of their Volleyball Nations League match against Argentina on Friday night at the Anaheim Convention Center. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

    Team USA setter Micah Christenson (11) spikes the ball during the fourth set of their Volleyball Nations League match against Argentina on Friday night at the Anaheim Convention Center. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

    Team USA’s Erik Shoji misses a ball during the fourth set of a Volleyball Nations League match against Argentina on Friday night at the Anaheim Convention Center. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

    Team USA’s Erik Shoji reacts after Argentina scores during the fourth set of their Volleyball Nations League match on Friday night at the Anaheim Convention Center. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

    Team USA setter Micah Christenson returns a shot during the fourth set of their Volleyball Nations League match against Argentina on Friday night at the Anaheim Convention Center. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

    Team USA middle blocker David Smith (20) elbows the ball during the fourth set of their Volleyball Nations League match against Argentina on Friday night at the Anaheim Convention Center. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

    Argentina players celebrate after defeating Team USA in five sets in their Volleyball Nations League match on Friday night at the Anaheim Convention Center. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

    Argentina players react after defeating Team USA in five sets in a Volleyball Nations League match on Friday night at the Anaheim Convention Center. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

    Argentina’s Manuel Armoa celebrates after they defeated Team USA in five sets in their Volleyball Nations League match on Friday night at the Anaheim Convention Center. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

    Argentina players and coaches celebrate after defeating Team USA in five sets in a Volleyball Nations League match on Friday night at the Anaheim Convention Center. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

    A ball boy with autographs on his jersey is seen during the first set of a Volleyball Nations League match between Team USA and Argentina on Friday night at the Anaheim Convention Center. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

    Team USA setter Micah Christenson serves during the fourth set of their Volleyball Nations League match against Argentina on Friday night at the Anaheim Convention Center. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

    of

    Expand

    ANAHEIM — In the end, Team USA wasted so many opportunities in a pivotal fourth set of its Volleyball Nations League match against Argentina on Friday night that U.S. coach John Speraw couldn’t keep them all straight.

    “I don’t remember all of them off the top of my head,” Speraw said.

    The U.S. blew five match points in a marathon fourth set that ultimately proved soul-crushing and let a series of early leads slip away in Argentina’s 25-18, 23-25, 23-25, 43-41, 15-12 victory at the Anaheim Convention Center.

    “Certainly disappointed to have some of those swings and not finish it off,” Speraw said after the 2-hour, 36-minute match. “And so we’ll have to go back and try and learn from it.”

    The U.S. players will need to be fast learners. Up next is a Saturday night match against France, the reigning Olympic champion.

    “I thought of that in the middle of the fourth set. This is where this tournament gets really, really hard,” Speraw said. “I’m looking at some of our players and I just don’t know if we can roll out the same team tomorrow.”

    Team USA was never able to find its rhythm in the opening set but seemed to take control of the match in the second and third sets.

    “They came out pretty hot,” U.S. libero Erik Shoji said. “They were just crushing side out and also transition. They played great that first set, then we kind of settled in a little bit and started to slow them down a little bit and so they made some changes and we played well.”

    The shift in momentum was due in part to Speraw’s decision to replace Jeff Jendryk with David Smith at middle blocker.

    “We were looking for a little more offense,” Speraw said. “Jeff is a really offensive player and he was hitting .125 when I took him out, just hasn’t scored well enough. So I was looking for Dave to come in, maybe look for a little bit more of a serve, look for a little bit more experience against a team that runs a pretty unique offense, has a pretty unique setter. I think Dave did do that. He stuffed a bunch of really nice out-of-system balls. He killed some really nice balls but unfortunately had some errors I wish he could get back.”

    Smith wasn’t alone in a fourth set that got away from the hosts.

    The U.S. led 21-17 in the fourth before the wheels came off. Argentina had six service errors in the set only to be outdone by Team USA’s 12 errors.

    “When we’re up on a team, especially late when they’re making mistakes we can’t mirror that. We can’t give them their points back that they gave us,” U.S. opposite hitter Matt Anderson said. “Those are the opportunities that great teams take advantage of and I consider us a great team. Unfortunately, we let ourselves down with those mistakes. The good thing to take away is (if) we get rid of those mistakes, we win these sets and we win these matches so that’s on us and that’s completely controllable by us.”

    Related Articles

    Olympics |


    Team USA opens Volleyball Nations League by sweeping Cuba

    Olympics |


    AVP professional beach volleyball returns to Hermosa Beach July 7

    ​ Orange County Register 

    News