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Post by midwestfan on Jan 5, 2004 21:48:03 GMT -5
The US plays today/tonight, has anyone heard anything? I saw on the FIVB page where Cuba and Mexico both won.
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Post by My2Sense on Jan 6, 2004 2:37:02 GMT -5
www.usavolleyball.org/VolleyballNews/news.asp?id=594I don't know the status, but here's the article from the USA VB site:  USA Men Gearing Up for NORCECA Olympic Qualifier COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Dec. 23, 2003) – The USA men's national volleyball team will start the new year with its second chance to qualify for the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece. Team USA, which narrowly missed qualifying in November by finishing fourth at the World Cup in Japan (the top three teams—Brazil, Italy and Serbia and Montenegro—all earned early tickets to Athens), has two more opportunities to reach Greece. The men's first chance comes in January at the NORCECA Continental Olympic Qualifier in Caguas, Puerto Rico. The United States, which won the 2003 NORCECA Championship in September to qualify for the World Cup, will compete with Canada, Cuba, Mexico and Puerto Rico from Jan. 4-10, 2004, with an Olympic bid going to the tournament champion. "I know we will have a tough competition in Puerto Rico," said Team USA Head Coach Doug Beal. "We know the teams quite well. Canada is a good volleyball team and Cuba, Mexico and Puerto Rico will also be quality opponents." Following the conclusion of the World Cup on Nov. 30, the members of Team USA scattered all over the world. Athletes playing professionally overseas in Brazil, Greece, Italy, Japan and Russia rejoined their teams, while a number of players resumed training at the United States Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., after a two-week break. The team will reunite in Puerto Rico on Saturday, Dec. 27, to begin intensive training for what figures to be the most important tournament of the year to date. Once the team is in Puerto Rico, it hopes to duplicate its efforts of four years ago when it finished fourth in the 1999 World Cup and then qualified for the 2000 Olympics by winning the NORCECA Continental Olympic Qualifier in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. "We are looking forward to the opportunity to qualify (in Puerto Rico)," Beal said. "We want to go back and do what we did four years ago." The NORCECA Continental Olympic Qualifier will be a five-team, single round-robin event. Following a bye on Jan. 4, the United States will play Mexico on Jan. 5, Cuba on Jan. 6, Canada on Jan. 7 and Puerto Rico on Jan. 8. After the round-robin portion of the tournament, the top four teams will square off in the semifinals on Jan. 9. The championship match will be on Jan. 10. Should the USA men fail to qualify in Puerto Rico, it will be assigned by the FIVB to one of the three men's World Olympic qualifiers to be held in Japan, Spain and Portugal in May 2004. The United States would then need to win that world qualifier to advance to Athens. NORCECA CONTINENTAL OLYMPIC QUALIFYING TOURNAMENT USA Schedule Monday, Jan. 5, 2004 Mexico vs. USA Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2004 Cuba vs. USA Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2004 Canada vs. USA Thursday, Jan. 8, 2004 Puerto Rico vs. USA Friday, Jan. 9, 2004 Semifinals No. 1 Seed vs. No. 4 Seed No. 2 Seed vs. No. 3 Seed Saturday, Jan. 10, 2004 Bronze Medal Match Gold Medal Match Photo of Lloy Ball and Ryan Millar Courtesy of FIVB
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Post by CaliforniaVBfan on Jan 6, 2004 3:08:25 GMT -5
The Canadian Press reports: "The United States beat Mexico" canada.com/sports/story.html?id=A37D8B1F-9E46-485C-8BE2-7941CEB9FA4CCAGUAS, Puerto Rico (AP) - Puerto Rico defeated Canada in four sets Monday in the men's Olympic volleyball qualifying tournament. Canada captured the first game 25-23 but Puerto Rico rallied to take the next three contests 25-21, 25-23 and 25-21. In other action Monday, the United States beats Mexico. The first phase of the tournament runs through Thursday, with the top four teams advancing to the semifinals. Only one squad will qualify for the 2004 Games, which will be held in Athens. © Copyright 2004 The Canadian Press |
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Post by diggger33 on Jan 6, 2004 12:40:17 GMT -5
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Post by My2Sense on Jan 6, 2004 13:36:16 GMT -5
For Immediate Release Jan. 6, 2004 <br> USAMen Begin NORCECA Olympic Qualifier with Sweep ofMexico <br> CAGUAS,Puerto Rico – Riley Salmon scored a match-high 11 points and Clay Stanley added 10 as the USA men’s national volleyball team swept Mexico to begin play in the NORCECA Olympic Qualifying Tournament Monday night. Salmon (League City, Texas) posted six kills, three blocks and two service aces in the 28-26, 25-14, 25-16 victory for the United States (1-0). Stanley (Honolulu, Hawaii) blasted eight kills to go along with two blocks for Team USA, which continues round-robin action in the five-team tournament Tuesday night against Cuba (1-0). The top four teams at the end of the round-robin portion of the tournament advance to the semifinals on Friday, Jan. 9. The tournament champion qualifies for the 2004 Olympic Games later this summer inAthens, Greece. Every player on theUSA roster saw action in the first match and nearly everyone scored. Brook Billings (Santa Barbara, Calif.) and Tom Hoff (Park Ridge, Ill.) scored seven points apiece, while Lloy Ball (Woodburn, Ind.) and Ryan Millar (Palmdale, Calif.) each recorded five points. Gabe Gardner (San Clemente, Calif.) and Dave McKienzie (Littleton, Colo.) added four points each while Reid Priddy (Richmond, Va.) chipped with two points. As a team, theUnited States outblocked Mexico, 15-2. The Americans also held a 5-0 advantage in service aces and outhit their opponents, .403 to .040. Jose Luis Martell scored 11 points on 11 kills to leadMexico (1-1). In other action Monday night,Puerto Rico defeated Canada, 3-1 (23-25, 25-21, 25-23, 25-21). The tournament began on Sunday as Mexico shocked Puerto Rico, 3-2 (25-22, 17-25, 25-23, 23-25, 15-13) and Cuba beat Canada, 3-1 (26-24, 25-22, 16-25, 30-28). NORCECA OLYMPIC QUALIFYING TOURNAMENT Standings <br>USA (1-0) Cuba (1-0) Mexico (1-1) Puerto Rico (1-1) Canada (0-2) <br>USASchedule/Results <br>Monday, Jan. 5, 2004 USA def. Mexico, 3-0 (28-26, 25-14, 25-16) <br>Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2004 Cuba vs. USA <br>Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2004 Canada vs. USA <br>Thursday, Jan. 8, 2004 Puerto Rico vs. USA <br>Friday, Jan. 9, 2004 <br>Semifinals No. 1 Seed vs. No. 4 Seed No. 2 Seed vs. No. 3 Seed <br> Saturday, Jan. 10, 2004 <br>Bronze Medal Match Gold Medal Match <br> ________________________________________ <br> Paul Soriano Manager, Media Relations & Publications USAVolleyball 715 South CircleDrive Colorado Springs,CO80910 Tel: (719) 228-6800 Fax: (719) 228-6899 paul.soriano@usav.org www.usavolleyball.org <br>Get in the Rotation! Subscribe to the free USA Volleyball e-newsletter at: www.usavolleyball.org/news/email.asp |
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Post by My2Sense on Jan 7, 2004 12:42:34 GMT -5
US is now 2-0! For Immediate Release Jan. 6, 2004 USAMen Improve to 2-0 at NORCECA Olympic Qualifier CAGUAS,Puerto Rico – Brook Billings scored a team-high 17 points to lead four players in double figures as the USA men’s national volleyball team defeated Cuba, 3-1, in a battle of unbeaten teams at the NORCECA Olympic Qualifying Tournament Tuesday night. Billings (Santa Barbara, Calif.) had 16 kills and one block in the 25-16, 25-21, 23-25, 25-22 victory for Team USA, which improved to 2-0 in the five-team tournament. Cuba dropped to 1-1. The top four teams at the end of the round-robin portion of the tournament advance to the semifinals on Friday, Jan. 9. The gold-medal match is Saturday, Jan. 10. The tournament champion qualifies for the 2004 Olympic Games later this summer inAthens, Greece. Riley Salmon (League City, Texas) and Ryan Millar (Palmdale, Calif.) each scored 12 points in the win for the United States, while Tom Hoff (Park Ridge, Ill.) added 11 points. Salmon had 12 kills, Millar had eight kills and four blocks and Hoff posted seven kills and four blocks in the win for the Americans. Dave McKienzie (Littleton, Colo.) chipped in with seven points on five kills and two blocks while Lloy Ball (Woodburn, Ind.) and Gabe Gardner (San Clemente, Calif.) tallied four points apiece to cap the scoring for Team USA. Tomas Aldazabal scored a match-high 20 points on 19 kills and one block to leadCuba. In other action Tuesday night,Canada defeated Mexico, 3-1. NORCECA OLYMPIC QUALIFYING TOURNAMENT Standings USA (2-0) Cuba (1-1) Puerto Rico (1-1) Mexico (1-2) Canada (1-2) USASchedule/Results Monday, Jan. 5, 2004 USA def. Mexico, 3-0 (28-26, 25-14, 25-16) Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2004 USA def. Cuba, 3-1 (25-16, 25-21, 23-25, 25-22) Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2004 Canada vs. USA Thursday, Jan. 8, 2004 Puerto Rico vs. USA Friday, Jan. 9, 2004 <br>Semifinals No. 1 Seed vs. No. 4 Seed No. 2 Seed vs. No. 3 Seed Saturday, Jan. 10, 2004 Bronze Medal Match Gold Medal Match ________________________________________ Paul Soriano Manager, Media Relations & Publications USAVolleyball 715 South CircleDrive Colorado Springs,CO80910 Tel: (719) 228-6800 Fax: (719) 228-6899 paul.soriano@usav.org www.usavolleyball.orgGet in the Rotation! Subscribe to the free USA Volleyball e-newsletter at: www.usavolleyball.org/news/email.asp |
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Post by CaliforniaVBfan on Jan 7, 2004 17:00:08 GMT -5
The current standing can be found at the FIVB site: www.fivb.org/EN/Volleyball/Competitions/Continental%20OQT/Norceca_Men.aspSorry, the format is a bit messed up. The team listed first won. Teams…………Set…..Result per set (points)……………..Total Points…Time….Audience CUB-CAN…….3-1….26-24 25-22 16-25 30-28…...……....97-99 MEX-PUR…….3-2….25-22 17-25 25-23 23-25 15-13…..105-108……..1:57….…3,000 USA-MEX…….3-0….28-26 25-14 25-16…………………..…….78-56………1:07……....585 PUR-CAN…….3-1…..23-25 25-21 25-23 25-21…………..98-90………1:52…….1,832 CAN-MEX……3-0…..25-22 25-19 25-19……………..………….75-60……...1:09……....945 USA-CUB…….3-1…..25-16 25-21 23-25 25-22…………...98-84……...1:42…….3,256 |
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Post by CaliforniaVBfan on Jan 7, 2004 17:38:15 GMT -5
Who is on the current NORCECA roster?
I can't find the 2004 NORCECA roster on the USA VB site. From the recent reports I have extracted the following names (but only the players who scored are mentioned in the write-ups)
Clay Stanley
Riley Salmon
Dave McKienzie
Reid Riddy
Gabe Gardner
Lloy Ball
Tom Hoff
Brook Billings
Ryan Millar
I am assuming that Erik Sullivan is the libero?
Dave McKienzie is new on the team from the World Cup
Two World Cup players are not listed in the NORCECA write-ups: Jim Polster and Adam Naeve. I am assuming that one of them did not make it.
Does anybody know more?
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Post by CaliforniaVBfan on Jan 7, 2004 22:20:56 GMT -5
USA sweeps Canada 27-25, 30-28, 25-21 It looks like the US has a good chance to qualify for the Olympics this time around. In the absence of any volleyball NORCECA news in the US, I went to the Canadian News site: www.canada.com Americans sweep Canada 3-0 at regional men's Olympic volleyball qualifier Canadian Press Wednesday, January 07, 2004 CAGUAS, Puerto Rico (CP) - The United States swept past Canada 3-0 on Wednesday in a regional men's volleyball Olympic qualifying tournament. The Americans earned the victory with scores of 27-25, 30-28, 25-21. The loss was the third in four tournament games for Canada, which registered its lone victory Monday against Mexico. "We improved a bit today and battled hard in the first two sets," said Winnipeg's Scott Koskie, the Canadian team captain. "Again we had opportunities to close out the sets and we didn't." Paul Duerden of London, Ont., led the way for Canada with 13 points (12 kills, one service ace) while Murray Grapetine of Wetaskiwin, Alta., added 12 points (10 kills, one block and a service ace). "I'm very proud of our team's performance," said national team coach Stelio DeRocco. "We battled hard right to the end but once again we did not capitalize at the end of the sets. "The U.S. beat us because they did not make those mistakes at the end of the set." Canada is one of five teams participating in this event, along with the U.S., Cuba, Mexico and Puerto Rico. Following the round robin, the top four clubs will advance to the semifinal round, with the eventual champion earning the lone Olympic berth up for grabs. If the Canadians don't win the tournament, they can still qualify for the 2004 Games, which will be held in Athens. In May, there will be three separate tournaments consisting of four teams each (usually involving the 12 highest ranked teams yet to qualify for the Games) with the winners of those events garnering the last three Olympic berths. Canada entered the Puerto Rico qualifying tournament ranked No. 10 in the world. |
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Post by USAFAN on Jan 7, 2004 22:29:12 GMT -5
Clay Stanley fractured his finger in the Cuba match last night. Don't know how long he will be out, but with the strength that these men hit at, having to block would be painful, unless it was completely healed.
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Post by doctordubya on Jan 8, 2004 8:06:49 GMT -5
Clay Stanley fractured his finger in the Cuba match last night. Don't know how long he will be out, but with the strength that these men hit at, having to block would be painful, unless it was completely healed. That's a tough one - USA Men need everyone fully fit moving towards the Olympics. At least they have a ready-to-go deputy at the opposite in Billings. This means they should hopefully avoid the scenario of four years ago when George Roumain had to play through all sorts of nasty injuries before and during the Olympics because the back-ups at opposite were not at the same level. |
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Post by roy on Jan 8, 2004 16:16:07 GMT -5
As long as the USA men don't get sloppy or overconfident, they should get their ticket to Athens. They are the overwhelming favorites in this tournament, so it shouldn't be a problem to qualify. But again, if they let down their guard, anything can happen.
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Post by USAFAN on Jan 8, 2004 19:48:39 GMT -5
I think everyone expects the USA to win the tournament, but Cuba can be suprising. When they are clicking on all cylinders they could definitely give the USA a run for their money. The real question in my mind, is if the USA team is capable of improving to the point where they can challenge for a medal. It seems that this upcoming Olympics the exact reverse of what happened last time around will be the case. In 2000 the USA had won a lot of matches and even a large tournament, and people were expecting them to medal. The women were relatively untested and no one was expecting much out of them. This time around people aren't really expecting much out of the men, but are expecting the women to medal. Hopefully the USA men team can overcome the experience and have both USA teams bring home medals. FIrst they need to take care of the Norceca.
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Post by VBfanatic on Jan 8, 2004 21:23:15 GMT -5
I am watching the games down in Puerto Rico. Here are some interesting facts to those who are interested:
1. Cuba has by far the most exciting team with 2 high-skyers on outside and opposite. They beat Canada and Puerto Rico. They have a very young team.
2. Team USA is having a OK tournament with good performances from Lloy Ball and Ryan Millar.
3. Hector 'Picky' Soto from IPFW is THE most exciting player to watch in the tournament. He literally jumps out of the gym and makes huge plays. He had lots of fun while hititng over the top of Canadian blockers the other day.
4. USA will most likely qualify for the Olympics.
I am here for vacation and I would like to answer any questions you have?
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Post by halesvb11 on Jan 8, 2004 22:25:18 GMT -5
who else is playin for PR.... quinones, antonetti, victor bird, fill me in
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