Aug. 15, 2005
(Story taken from www.USAVolleyball.org)
VISAKHAPATNAM, India (Aug. 14, 2005) - Goran Bjelica scored a match-high 15 points to lead three players in double figures as Serbia and Montenegro posted a 3-0 win over the USA Men's Junior National Volleyball Team in the seventh-place match of the 2005 FIVB Men's U-21 World Championships at Swarnabharati Stadium Sunday morning.
Bjelica had 11 kills and four blocks in the 25-15, 25-19, 25-21 victory for Serbia and Montenegro, which also finished seventh at the last World Championships in 2003.
Tomislav Dokic tallied 12 points on 10 kills and two blocks, while Jovan Culafic added 10 points on 10 kills.
Paul Lotman (Lakewood, Calif.) scored 12 points on 12 kills to lead the United States, which finished the tournament with a record of 2-5 and in eighth place.
"I think the timing of the match did affect us," said USA team captain Jacob Schkud (Santa Monica, Calif.) of playing the first of four matches on the day. "We were not able to do our best. We started off slowly and could only play a little better in the last set. Serbia won by taking advantage of our mistakes."
Jayson Jablonsky (Yorba Linda, Calif.) scored eight points on seven kills and one block in Sunday's loss and finished the tournament sixth overall in scoring with 96 points on 79 kills, nine service aces and eight blocks.
Daniel Mathews (Milwaukee, Wis.) added seven points on six kills and one block and David Smith (Saugus, Calif.) chipped in with five points on three kills and two blocks. Smith finished fourth overall in total blocks with 16 and seventh overall in blocks per set (0.64).
Libero Tony Ker (Valencia, Calif.) finished second among all players in digs per set (1.96) and third in total digs (49) for Team USA, while setter Jonathan Winder (Irvine, Calif.) was fourth overall in assists per set (7.00).
The Americans, who have not competed at the World Championships since 1981, finished in seventh place in their previous two appearances (1977 and 1981).
In the gold medal match, Russia swept Brazil, while in the bronze medal match Cuba defeated the Netherlands, 3-0. Iran needed four sets to capture fifth place over Korea.
FIVB Men's U-21 World Volleyball Championships
Final Round Schedule/Results
Final Standings
Gold-Russia
Silver-Brazil
Bronze-Cuba
4-Netherlands
5-Iran
6-Korea
7-Serbia and Montenegro
8-USA
9-Germany
9-India
11-Morocco
11-Tunisia
Final Round Results
Sunday, Aug. 14
Seventh-Place Match
Serbia and Montenegro def. USA, 3-0 (25-15, 25-19, 25-21)
Fifth-Place Match
Iran def. Korea, 3-1 (21-25, 25-22, 25-18, 25-19)
Third-Place Match
Cuba def. Netherlands, 3-0 (25-23, 25-18, 30-28)
Championship Match
Russia def. Brazil, 3-0 (30-28, 25-18, 25-23)
Saturday, Aug. 13
Championship Semifinals
Russia def. Netherlands, 3-0 (25-17, 25-19, 25-23)
Brazil def. Cuba, 3-0 (25-21, 25-18, 25-23)
Consolation Semifinals
Korea def. USA, 3-1 (25-22, 18-25, 25-19, 25-21)
Iran def. Serbia and Montenegro, 3-0 (25-15, 25-19, 25-19)
USA Pool Play Results
Saturday, Aug. 6
Netherlands def. USA, 3-0 (25-18, 25-23, 25-23)
Sunday, Aug. 7
Brazil def. USA, 3-0 (25-22, 25-22, 35-33)
Monday, Aug. 8
Iran def. USA, 3-1 (25-21, 25-21, 19-25, 25-23)
Wednesday, Aug. 10
USA def. Tunisia, 3-0 (25-17, 25-14, 27-25)
Thursday, Aug. 11
USA def. Germany (25-23, 21-25, 25-22, 25-27, 15-10)
USA Men's Junior National Volleyball Team Roster
Name, Position (Hometown)
Paul Beckwith, S (Pacific Palisades, Calif.)
Theodore Brunner, MB (Ridgefield, Conn.)
Jayson Jablonsky, OH (Yorba Linda, Calif.)
Tony Ker, L (Valencia, Calif.)
Paul Lotman, OH (Lakewood, Calif.)
Daniel Mathews, S (Milwaukee, Wis.)
Matthew McCarthy, MB (Wheaton, Ill.)
Jacob Schkud, OH/RS (Santa Monica, Calif.)
David Smith, MB (Saugus, Calif.)
Matthew Webber, RS (Brentwood, Calif.)
Jake Wiens, OH (Clovis, Calif.)
Jonathan Winder, S (Irvine, Calif.)
Head Coach: John Speraw
Assistant Coach: Fred Chao
Assistant Coach: Shane Davis
Team Manager: Tom Tait
Trainer: David Dyck
