USA men open Volleyball Nations League third round with sweep of Cuba

The USA had to go overtime to win the first set, but then cruised to a 27-25, 25-17, 25-15 sweep of Cuba on Wednesday night in the third round of Volleyball Nations League.

The Americans, playing in the Anaheim Convention Center, just a short distance from their home training site, dominated in every stat, including 38-30 in attacks, 7-4 in blocks and 8-2 in aces, four by Matt Anderson.

For that matter, the veteran had nine kills with no errors in 19 attacks to hit 37%, He also had four digs.

Among the other third-round openers, Japan won to remain the lone unbeaten and Poland pulled off a reverse sweep against Slovenia.

Friday in Anaheim, Argentina plays Germany, Serbia plays Cuba and Bulgaria plays Iran. Earlier in the Philipines, the slate showed Brazil vs. Netherlands, Italy vs. Canada and Slovenia vs. China.

The Americans (8-1), currently alone in second place, have Thursday off before playing Argentina on Friday.

The USA’s Aaron Russell had nine kills with also no errors in 19 attacks, two blocks and an ace. TJ DeFalco had seven kills with no errors in 13 swings, a block, two digs and an ace. David Smith had five kills, two blocks and an ace, and Max Holt had four kills, a block and an ace.

Setter Micah Christenson had a kill in his only try, a block and two digs and libero Erik Shoji had seven digs.

Cuba dropped to 2-7. Migeul Castro had 11 kills and an ace and Jaime Herrera had 10 kills and an ace.

Tuesday’s results

The third round got underway in Pasay City, Phillpines, with Italy dealing a 23-25, 25-20, 25-15, 25-21 defeat to Brazil, leaving both teams 6-3. The Italians had 13 aces, while Brazil had three.

Yuri Romano led Italy with 16 kills and four ace. Alessandrop Michieletto had 14 kills and three aces, and Gainluca Galassi had seven kills, four blocks and an ace.

Brazil’s Henrique Honorato had 14 kills and an ace and Ricardo Souza had nine kills and two aces.

In the second match, Japan (9-0) beat China (2-7) as four players had 10 or more kills in a 24-26, 25-23, 21-25, 25-23, 15-12 victory.

Yuki Ishikawa had 16 kills, a block and an ace. Kento Miyaura had 14 kills and an ace. Ran Takahashi had 10 kills and four aces, and Yuji Nishida had 11 kills and an ace.

China, which lost despite having a 17-4 blocks advantage, got 17 kills, two blocks and two ace from Jingyin…