Stanley and Priddy are both expected to be active in 2014. “There are a number of veterans who will continue to impact our team,” Speraw said. “Reid, Clay, David Lee and Sean Rooney are the re- maining players from the ‘08 team. Their positive influence is critical to maintaining a ‘gold medal’ winning culture. All three (Priddy, Lee and Rooney) played very well in our NORCECA Tournament last fall and we are looking for continued success with
2014 FIVB World League U.S. Men’s Schedule:
May 24-25 U.S. Men at Varna, Bulgaria (Palace of Culture and Sports) June 6-7 Russia at U.S. Men in Long Beach, Calif. (Walter Pyramid) June 13-14 Serbia at U.S. Men in Chicago (UIC Pavilion) June 20-21 Bulgaria at U.S. Men in Hoffman Estates (Sears Centre Arena) June 27-28 U.S. Men at Kaliningrad, Russia (Yantarny) July 4 July 6
U.S. Men at Novi Sad, Serbia (SPC Vojvodina) U.S. Men at Beograd, Serbia (Hala Pionir)
Final Round (must qualify): July 16-20 Florence, Italy
these three on the court. Especially after last summer’s World League when both Reid and Sean were off the roster. Their inclusion this year should help us play better and, hope- fully, qualify for the finals.” The anchor for the Americans will be Matt Anderson, who established himself as one of the premier players in the world in a season when he led the U.S. team in points scored in seven of 10 World League matches and all five matches at the FIVB World Grand Champions Cup. “We asked quite a bit of Matt last summer. He played both outside hitter and opposite for
us,” Speraw said. “Whatever we needed him to do, he did without complaint and with 100 percent commitment to the team. His adapt- ability proved how skilled he has become and will continue to be critical to our success as we strive to find the correct system for our personnel and ways to get our best seven players on the court.” Speraw thinks Anderson is far from reach- ing his peak. “He has continued to improve as a player over this past season,” he said. “He is playing in a good league and on a good team, which has afforded him the opportu- nity to compete against the very best in the world. His commitment to become the best
in the world is fun to watch. Sometimes you find great work ethic in less talented players. Many times the most talented players rely solely on their abilities and never develop a work ethic. In rare cases someone with great talent also has a great work ethic. When that happens, great things can occur. I remember thinking that when I was younger and watching my good friend Jeff Nygaard play at UCLA. I thought of it again watching someone like
Clay Stanley. Matt is also in that mold.” The FIVB World League is an elite annual
men’s volleyball competition in which the best teams in the world compete in pool play over seven weeks trying to qualify for the Final Round and a first-place prize of $1 million. This year the U.S. Men will compete in
World League Pool B along with Russia, Bulgaria and Serbia. The top two teams in the pool will advance to the Final Round on July 16-20 in Florence, Italy.
The U.S. Men, ranked No. 4 in the world,
won World League in 2008 and finished second in 2012.
U.S. Women’s National Team eyes busy spring and summer
T
he No. 2 U.S. Women’s National Volleyball Team will have a busy summer starting with the FIVB Women’s Volleyball World Championship NORCECA qualification tournament it hosts May 15-18 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. The four-team tournament includes the USA, Guatemala, Panama and Honduras. The event will be held in conjunction with the men’s qualification event that includes the USA, Guatemala, Haiti and St. Lucia. The winner for both qualifiers will earn a ticket to their respective FIVB World Championship. Team USA does not have an extended break after the World Championship qualifier as it competes in the Montreux Volley Masters May 27 to June 1 in Montreux, Switzerland. The U.S. is in Pool B with No. 3 Japan, No. 8 Dominican Republic and No. 9 Germany. Pool A has No. 1 Brazil, No. 5 China, No. 6 Russia and host Switzerland. The Pan American Cup will be hosted in Mexico City June 10-21 in a 12-team format.
Team USA has won the past two Pan American Cups, which will serve as a qualifier into the 2015 FIVB World Grand Prix. The 2nd Annual USA Volleyball Cup will bring No. 1 Brazil to the United States to play
NO GLASS CEILING: Alisha Glass and her teammates are in for a busy summer.
the Americans in a four-match series between July 3-13. Last year the U.S. hosted No. 3 Japan in three cities in Southern California and won all three matches. Check the USA Volleyball website for specific dates and locations as this information becomes available. The U.S. competes in the FIVB World Grand Prix Aug. 1-24. The Americans face Japan, Russia and Turkey Aug. 1-3 at a site to be announced during the first preliminary weekend. Team USA challenges host Brazil, Russia and Korea in the second weekend Aug. 8-10 in Sao Paulo. The U.S. travels to Thailand the final weekend to play the hosts, Brazil and Dominican Republic. The top four teams during the preliminary round advance to the Final Round, held Aug. 20-24 in Tokyo, as well as host Japan and the winner of Pools J-O. The FIVB Women’s World Championship will take place Sept. 23-Oct. 12 in cities across Italy.
PHOTO: PETER BROUILLET
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