[Editor’s note: Off the Block is partnering with Ball State at the Games to provide the volleyball community with in-depth coverage of the U.S. Men’s National Team as it competes for an Olympic gold medal.]
Grace Hollars | Ball State at the Games
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The United States went undefeated during its three-match weekend home stand as it beat Russia, Australia and Bulgaria. With these victories, the United States (8-1, 23 points) clinched a berth to the six-team FIVB World League finals next week in Poland. Check out the images from all of the United States’ matches this weekend.
The United States celebrates after a hard fought point in the fourth set against Bulgaria. The team trailed the final set 10-3 before rallying to win the set and the match.
Outside attacker Reid Priddy passes the ball after being insterted into the lineup in the second set of the United States’ four-set win on Friday. The outside hitter posted four kills, three blocks and one ace against Bulgaria.
Micah Christenson, David Smith and Taylor Sander attempt to block a kill attempt from Bulgaria opposite Tsvetan Sokolov. The United States out-blocked Bulgaria 13 to 5 in its victory on Friday in Dallas.
Opposite Matt Anderson hits a kill attempt through the block during the second set of the United States win versus Bulgaria on Friday. Anderson recorded 12 kills, two blocks and one ace in the four-set win.
With 13 kills, two blocks and one ace, Taylor Sander led the United States in points in victory its against Bulgaria on Friday.
Outside attacker Thomas Jaeschke is called for a net violation in the first set of the United States’ World League match against Bulgaria. Jaeschke started in the U.S. victroy, but came out in the middle of the second set and didn’t return to the match.
Outside hitter Thomas Jaeschke, delivers a jump serve in the opening set of the United States’ FIVB World League victory against Bulgaria. Jaeschke had four kills on 12 attempts.
U.S. middle attacker David Lee serves in the team first-set loss to Bulgaria in FIVB World League play on Friday. in Dallas. Lee had a team-high four blocks and added eight kills as the United States rallied to beat Bulgaria in four games.
Ball State at the Games is a journalism class at Ball State University that will have students gain real-world experience by traveling to Rio de Janeiro to cover the Olympics on-site. This will be the third Olympics that Ball State at the Games will cover, but it is the first games that the class’ primary focus will be covering volleyball.
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