Osaka, Japan, September 16, 2015 –
USA picked up their fifth straight sets win of the tournament sixth overall to remain unbeaten at the FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Cup Japan 2015, defeating Venezuela 3-0 (25-18, 25-16, 25-20) in Osaka on Wednesday.
It was as clinical as ever from the Americans as Matt Anderson topped scored on 14 points from nine spikes, four blocks and six aces. Venezuela were led by Willner Rivas on eight.
It was a lively start with USA building a huge 8-2 lead. But a pair of Kervin Pinerua aces brought Venezuela back to 9-7. The United States were not unsettled though as their serving game picked up where it left off in Hiroshima, hitting the Venezuelans hard. A Russell spike down the middle put USA up 1-0.
USA continued to dominate the second set, and despite the error count on both sides of the net remaining fairly even, it was the world No.5’s superior attack which nudged them ahead at 12-5. Their sideout game was also working well as they refused to allow Venezuela to have a serving run before captain David Lee sent a powerful spike to the floor to claim the second.
Venezuela were not going down without a fight and kept on the United States’ heels as the third set began. Again the United States went ahead, their performance from the serve line giving them a good base to launch an offense. Venezuela pulled to within three at 23-20. But the United States rarely gave their rivals a chance to get going, siding out at almost every opportunity and eventually taking the set 25-20 and with it, the match.
