MEN’S VOLLEYBALL
LONDON OLYMPICS PREVIEW
“We’ve really struggled and had a lot of growing pains. But as much
as we all wanted to win after 2008 and keep it going, I’ll take timing this just right and going on an Olympic run. That’s our focus.” Reid Priddy
history.
Setting is a big ques- tion mark going into London. Four years ago, veteran Lloy Ball was the starter, and he was regarded as one of the best setters in the world, having played in three previous Olym- pics and won a lot of matches in big-time European club tourna- ments. As Beal, now USA Volleyball’s chief executive offi cer, says, “Lloy touches the ball as well as any setter we’ve ever had, includ- ing Dusty Dvorak and Jeff Stork,” the respec- tive starters on the 1984 and 1988 Olympic Games gold-medal teams. Ball’s shoes are big ones for the 36-year-old Suxho to fi ll, and fi lling them the way Ball fi lled them may not be pos- sible. But if Suxho can get into a good rhythm with the hitters this summer as the team plays World League matches leading toward the Olympics, Beal is hopeful that the U.S. can contend in London. “I think Suxho has a lot of capabilities, a lot of talent,” Beal says. “He just has to kind of relax and not worry about the last play, not try to be perfect. To a certain degree, he’s got to not over-think the game. But there’s very little doubt in my mind that he has the ability to play at a very high level.”
Hitting stride
The talent at outside hitter, both on the left and at opposite, is certainly there, and the key in London will be whether the vets
Priddy was also a big part of the suc- cess four years ago, and alongside him is an up-and-comer, 6-10 Matt Anderson, who brings major size and a physical presence to the court. The native of West Seneca, N.Y., led Penn State to the NCAA championship in 2008, his junior season, and he was the AVCA Co-Player of the Year with Long Beach State’s Paul Lotman, who is also now a mem- ber of the U.S. national team.
ON THE ATTACK: Former Penn State star Matt Anderson will be an Olympic Games rookie in London. (Photo: Don Liebig)
and fi rst-time Olympians can put it all to- gether for the fi rst time and create an offense that’s similarly effective to the one that powered the team in Beijing. Stanley was an absolutely huge contributor to the gold medal four years ago, and if he can approach that level again, it will be a big boost. “Clay is starting to round into form,” Sato says. “He took a year to get his knee cleaned up, and he got in fantastic shape. He’s look- ing lean and mean.”
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“Anderson just keeps getting better,” Beal says. “He’s the most physical outside hitter we’ve had since (1984 Olympic gold medalist) Pat Powers.” In the middle, David Lee (Alpine, Calif.) has remained in the starting role he held in Bei- jing, where he was the second leading blocker in the 2008 Olympics. Russell Holmes and Ryan Millar, both products of Brigham Young University, have shared the other starting middle blocker position during the quadrennial. Holmes, who grew up in Fountain Valley, Ca- lif., is shooting for his fi rst Olympic Games spot. Holmes’ pres-
ence in the starting lineup at the NORCECA tournament this spring was noteworthy con- sidering he replaced three-time Olympian Millar, who will likely still see playing time this summer. “We have a number of great middles, but too many good things were happening when Russell was on the fl oor (in the NORCECA tournament) for us not to have him out there,” Knipe says. “He’s so quick off the
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