Report By B.J. Hoeptner Evans
Showing no signs of a letdown after winning its pool on Friday, the United States defeated Netherlands 3-0 (25-19, 25-18, 26-24) in the teams’ final 2009 FIVB World League pool play match before 4,825 at Charles Koch Arena.
Team USA ends pool play with a 9-3 record. Netherlands, which was making its first World League appearance in six years, finishes at 4-8. The United States will travel to Serbia on Sunday for the final round, which begins on Tuesday. The FIVB announced Saturday that the other final round teams will be Argentina, Brazil, Cuba, Russia and host Serbia.
The United States’ Evan Patak (Pleasanton, Calif.) scored 12 points on seven kills, two blocks and three aces. Andy Hein (Carol Stream, Ill.) scored 11 points on eight kills and three blocks. David Smith (Saugus, Calif.) had 10 points six kills and four blocks.
Paul Lotman (Lakewood, Calif.) scored nine points on seven kills and two blocks. Scott Touzinsky (St. Louis, Mo.) added six points on four kills, one block and one ace. Donald Suxho (Korce, Albania) scored three points on one kill and two blocks.
Jeroen Rauwerdink, Niels Klapwijk and Lars Lorsheijd each scored eight points for Netherlands.
Both teams used many players. Team USA looked to gain experience. The Netherlands looked to prolong the match.
“We had the opportunity to play guys who have done a tremendous job in practice: David Smith, Paul Lotman and Alfee Reft,” U.S. Head Coach Alan Knipe (Huntington Beach, Calif.) said. “Actually, I thought they played harder (than the team on Friday night) trying to maximize their opportunity.”
Smith started at middle blocker for David Lee (Alpine, Calif.). Lotman started at outside hitter for Sean Rooney (Wheaton, Ill.) and Reft (Oxnard, Calif.) started at libero for Rich Lambourne (Tustin, Calif.).
Knipe also started Patak at opposite, Touzinsky at outside hitter and Donald Suxho at setter.
Every U.S. player got in the match except Lee.
Suxho was credited with 28 running sets on 62 attempts. Lotman was credited with 19 excellent receptions on 25 attempts. Reft had five digs on 13 attempts.
The United States’ serving looked strong in the first set as it held an 8-6 lead at the first technical timeout (TTO), including aces by Patak and Touzinsky. The lead increased to four (16-12) at the second TTO. Leading 17-13, the United States scored three straight points behind the serves of Kevin Hansen, who had come in as a substitute server. Netherlands could not string together enough points to mount a challenge and the United States won the set 25-19, earning the final point on a second Patak ace.
The U.S. dominance continued in the second set. Team USA held an 8-5 lead at the first TTO, including Patak’s third ace of the match and a kill and block by Smith. The U.S. lead was 16-12 at the second TTO, but Netherlands showed signs of life with a kill and an ace by Niels Klapwijk. But with the U.S. leading 16-13, Touzinsky took the serve and scored three straight points. Netherlands stopped the surge with a kill, but the damage was done and Team USA went on to win the set 25-18.
Netherlands looked stronger in the third set and led 8-7 at the first TTO behind two kills by Lorsheijd. Team USA led 16-15 at the second TTO. The United States got the 26-24 set and match victory on a triple block.