Spokane to Host World League Showdown

SPOKANE, Wash. (Aug. 3, 2006) – Three weeks ago, the U.S. Men’s National
Team was looking for its first victory in 2006 FIVB World League play after
losing two matches to Poland.

This weekend, it finds itself in first place in Pool A. Moreover, it will
face the team that once held the No. 1 position – Serbia & Montenegro – on
Aug. 4-5 at the Spokane Memorial Arena in Spokane, Wash. Both matches will
begin at 8 p.m. PDT and will be shown live on CSTV.

The United States improved its record to 4-2 with four straight victories
over Japan, losing just one set during that time. Serbia & Montenegro also
has a 4-2 record, with a three-set loss to Japan and a four-set loss to
Poland. The United States wins the tie-breaker between the two teams due to
the point differential by which it won and lost its matches as compared to
Serbia & Montenegro.

The United States knows that Serbia & Montenegro will bring plenty of
firepower to the showdown at the Spokane Arena.

“ Serbia & Montenegro certainly presents different challenges than Japan,”
U.S. Head Coach Hugh McCutcheon (Christchurch, New Zealand) said. “They have
more experience and have consistently been a better team internationally.

“From our end, we have to build on what we achieved against Japan and
maintain a consistent effort.”

Although Serbia & Montenegro has never won the World League title, it
finished second in 2005 and 2003 and third in 2004 and 2002 (competing as
Yugoslavia). Yugoslavia also won the OIympic gold medal at the 2000 Summer
Games.

The last time the United States played Serbia & Montenegro was in an Olympic
warm-up match in 2004. The U.S. Men won in three games (25-15, 25-18,
25-20).

In 2006 World League play, Serbia & Montenegro’s scoring leader has been
6-foot-7 opposite Ivan Miljkovic, who has 81 points on 71 kills, five blocks
and five aces in just four matches. He did not play in the first two matches
against Japan due to injury.

Andrija Geric, a 6-7 middle blocker, is second with 74 points on 47 kills,
21 blocks and six aces. Geric has played in all six of his team’s matches.
His blocking total of 21 is fourth among all World League players.

The United States continues to be led by 6-4 outside hitter Reid Priddy
(Richmond, Va.), who has 94 points on 78 kills, 14 blocks and two aces,
which is fourth among all World League players. Jim Polster (Laguna Niguel,
Calif.), a 6-6 outside hitter, is second with 65 points on 49 kills, 10
blocks and six aces.

McCutcheon does not expect any changes to the U.S. roster from last
weekend’s matches against Japan in Minneapolis, Minn.

For more U.S. World League information, go to
http://www.usavolleyball.org/National/06worldLeague.asp.

The FIVB World League web site is
http://www.fivb.org/EN/Volleyball/Competitions/WorldLeague/2006/.

2006 FIVB World League Standings as of Aug. 1, 2006

Pool A
USA 4-2
Serbia & Montenegro 4-2
Poland 3-3
Japan 1-4

Pool B
Brazil 6-0
Finland 3-3
Portugal 2-4
Argentina 1-5

Pool C
Russia 5-1
France 5-1
Italy 2-4
China 0-6

Pool D
Cuba 5-1
Bulgaria 5-1
Korea 2-4
Egypt 0-6

U.S. Roster
Serbia and Montenegro at USA
Aug. 4-5, 2006 in Spokane, Wash.
(Twelve-man rosters can be updated between World League weekends)

1. David Lee (MB, Alpine, Calif.)
2 Pieter Olree (OH, Reading, Pa.)
3 Jim Polster (OH, Laguna Niguel, Calif.)
5 Rich Lambourne (L, Tustin, Calif.)
6 Phil Eatherton (MB, Glencoe, Mo.)
7 Donald Suxho (S, Korce, Albania)
8 Reid Priddy (OH, Richmond, Va.)
12 Tom Hoff (MB, Park Ridge, Ill.)
13 Clay Stanley (OPP, Honolulu, Hawaii)
14 Kevin Hansen (S, Newport Beach, Calif.)
15 Gabe Gardner (OH, San Clemente, Calif.)
16 Dave McKienzie (OPP, Littleton, Colo.)

U.S. World League Schedule

Date: July 14-15
Opponent: Poland
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah - The "E" Center
Match 1: Poland defeats USA 3-1 (22-25, 25-23, 25-23, 25-23)
Match 2: Poland defeats USA 3-1 (26-24, 25-13, 20-25, 25-22)

Date: July 22-23
Opponent: Japan
Location: Hiroshima Green Arena
Match 1: USA defeats Japan 3-0 (25-15, 25-22, 25-17)
Match 2: USA defeats Japan 3-0 (25-12, 25-21, 25-18)

Date: July 29-30
Opponent: Japan
Location: Minneapolis, Minn. - Target Center
Match 1: USA defeats Japan 3-0 (25-18, 25-20, 25-18)
Match 2: USA defeats Japan 3-1 (25-15, 21-25, 25-17, 25-15)

Date: Aug. 4-5
Opponent: Serbia & Montenegro
Location: Spokane, Wash. - Spokane Memorial Arena

Date: Aug. 12-13
Opponent: Poland
Location: Katowice, Poland - Spodek

Date: Aug. 18-19
Opponent: Serbia & Montenegro
Location: Beograd, Serbia - Hall Pionir

World League Final
Date: Aug. 23-27
Location: Russia

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