The winning feeling (Day 11)

The 3500 spectators packed up into the Avila Camacho Sports Complex just witnessed an incredible volleyball match between us and the USA. 2 hours and 28 minutes of hard-hitting volleyball between 2 teams with pretty much the same attributes: young and inexperienced, physical and talented, and more, importantly, very courageous. This match was one of the most entertaining one I have witnessed in a long time. We pulled away with a 3-2 win with the game scores being: 21-25, 25-23, 37-39, 35-33, 15-12. Wow!

Spencer Leiske celebrating one of our many points
with Ciaran McGovern and Jacob Kilpatrick

As the score indicates, the whole was played with both teams being very close throughout. After being tied late in the 1st set, we let it slip away when the Americans blocked us one on one 2 or 3 times. But the guys re-grouped, kept their composure and we were able to win the second set. The 3rd and the 4th games were real battles where we had a set point in the 3rd but couldn't capitalize. Tables turned in the 4th and we pulled away with the win after being down 21-16. That gave us all the confidence we needed to win the 5th set. 

Spencer Leiske was our top scorer with 37 points, including 33 (yes, 33) kills. We out blocked the Americans 24-17 and out aced them 3-0 ! Winning feels good !

So this win puts us in 3rd place of our pool at the moment with 3 points, 1 more than Puerto Rico - who we play tomorrow - and 2 behind the Americans. Keep in mind that the tournament uses a 5-point scale to create the standings: 5 points for a 3-0 win, 4 points for a 3-1 win, and so on… So a win tomorrow against Puerto Rico would assure us of of at least 3rd place in our pool. 

I guess the true test will come tomorrow. We play at 1pm against the Puertoricans who will have had close to 24 hours to rest - they played also at 1pm today - while we will have 15. Bring them on.

Good night.