Oct. 9, 2015
Oct. 6, 2015
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Three Penn State men's volleyball alums, as a part of the U.S. Men's Volleyball National Team, qualified for the 2016 Olympic Games and won the FIVB World Cup Sept. 23 in Tokyo, Japan.
In their final match of the tournament, the U.S. Men defeated Argentina in four sets (25-20, 25-21, 17-25, 25-20) at the Yoyogi National Gymnasium.
It's the first time the U.S. Men have won the World Cup since 1985, and the first time ever that they have qualified for the Olympics at the World Cup.
Over the course of the tournament the U.S. national team boasted a record of 10-1 record, with their lone loss coming to Poland in four sets.
Outside hitter Matt Anderson, a Nittany Lion from 2006-2008, was named the tournaments Most Valuable Player.
"I can't become MVP without a supporting cast," Anderson said.
"I played well, but the team played extremely well together and fought through some really tough matches and some really tough times. We put ourselves in a great position. So MVP is for the team, not me."
Anderson scored 15 points, including a match-high five aces and one block to go with nine kills.
But it was outside hitter Aaron Russell, who just finished his college career in May, who led the U.S. in scoring with a match-high 17 kills and one ace.
Russell wrapped up a four-year career (2012-2015) in the blue and white this past May helping lead the Nittany Lions to the NCAA semi-finals.
Middle blocker Max Holt, a Nittany Lion from 2006-2009, was named the Most Impressive Player of the match, finishing with 12 points on 10 kills and two blocks in the match against Argentina.
Information from www.teamusa.org and USA Volleyball was used in this story.
U.S. Results for the 2015 FIVB World Cup
Round 1 in Hiroshima
Sept. 8: USA def Australia, 25-23, 25-12, 25-15
Sept. 9: USA def Japan, 25-23, 21-25, 25-11, 25-14
Sept. 10: USA def Canada, 25-21, 25-20, 25-17
Sept. 11: USA def Italy, 25-18, 25-23, 29-27
Sept. 12: USA def Egypt, 25-20, 25-13, 25-21
Round 2 in Osaka
Sept. 15: USA def Venezuela, 25-16, 25-18, 25-20
Sept. 16: USA def Iran, 20-25, 25-19, 25-22, 25-21
Sept. 17: USA def Tunisia, 25-14, 25-19, 29-27
Round 3 in Tokyo
Sept. 21: Poland def USA, 17-25, 25-15, 25-23, 25-15
Sept. 22: USA def Russia, 23, 26-24, 25-17
Sept. 23: USA def Argentina, 25-20, 25-21, 17-25, 25-20