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In the biggest preliminary round match for the United States, BYU opposite Ben Patch showed why he was an All-American selection as a true freshman.
Patch had a match-high 19 kills as the United States swept Canada 25-15, 25-15, 25-22 on Monday in Turkey to clinch a No. 2 seed for the playoff round at the FIVB Men’s U21 Junior World Championship.
This was the third consecutive preliminary round match that Patch, the 2013 AVCA National Newcomer of the Year, led the United States (2-2, 2-2 Pool C) in the kills. In addition, it was the most kills in a single-match for any U.S. player so far during the international tournament.
Patch was the only U.S. player to finish the match with double-digit kills. Loyola outside attacker Thomas Jaeschke had seven kills, while Ohio State outside attacker Michael Henchynadded six kills against Canada (2-2, 2-2 Pool C).
Outside attacker Stephen Maar in the loss had a team-high 11 kills — the only Canadian player to finish with more than five kills.
Ohio State middle attacker Driss Guessous also had a match-high three blocks as the United States out-blocked Canada 9-6. In addition, Canada committed a tournament-high 25 errors – 10 more than the United States.
With this victory, the United States finishes Pool C in second place and will advance to play Brazil (2-2, 2-2 Pool D) on the Round of 16 on Wednesday. The United States entered its pool-play finale on a two-match losing streak and needed to sweep Canada to avoid getting the lowest postseason seed and having to play the defending-tournament champions Russia in the Round of 16.
The United States last met Brazil at the 2011 World Championship preliminary round, which Brazil won in four games.
The winner of the of the Brazil-United States playoff match will advance to player of the winner of Turkey-Mexico in the quarterfinals.