USA
The victory gave the U.S. a 2-1 record, while Italy fell to 1-2 with the loss.
Matthew Anderson notched a match-high 27 points for the U.S. in the triumph. Maxwell Holt and David Lee added 13 apiece.
Filippo Lanza led Italy with 22 points, while Jiri Kovar contributed 15.
Italy was close to clinch the match after the fourth set. They were ahead 19-17, but after Clark hammered a serve and it was 20-20. Back and forth it went, with the U.S. going up 23-22 before Zaytsev spiked to equalize at 23-23. A spike by Christenson gave the U.S. set point at 24-23, but Clark served long and the score was knotted again 24-24. A net infraction by Zaytsev made it 25-24 for the U.S. Priddy then served long and it was even again at 25-25. Kovar served into the net and the U.S. had its third set point. Holt responded with a serve into the net and it was 26-26. Clark’s spike gave the U.S. another set point. The U.S. then took the 37-minute set 28-26 on a block.
A strong serve by Lanza made it 3-3 in the fifth set. Zaytsev’s well-placed dink moved Italy ahead 6-5. The U.S. retook the lead at 8-7 on a block. A reception error by Dragan Travica tied it 9-9. Italy went back ahead 10-9 on a spike by Beretta. When Beretta fired a spike wide the U.S. was two points from victory at 13-11 and Italy called a timeout. Priddy sent a spike long and it was 13-12. The U.S. got match point at 14-12, but Lanza’s spike made it 14-13. The U.S. completed the win 15-13 when Travica sent his serve long.
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