US men’s volleyball team gets win over Poland

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The U.S. men’s national volleyball team pulled out a five-set victory (25-18, 23-25, 27-25, 18-25, 16-14) over Poland in the FIVB World League Final Round earlier today in Rio de Janeiro.

The U.S. squad has a day off on Friday, while Poland faces Serbia in the final pool play match (9:15 a.m. PDT). If Serbia defeats Poland, Team USA advances to the World League semifinals as the second-place team in Pool F. The third-place team doesn’t advance, so if Poland wins, it comes down to the tie-breaker, which is the points ratio between the two teams.

In today’s victory, Reid Priddy and Clay Stanley each scored 21 points for the U.S. Stanley added 19 kills, one block and one ace. Priddy finished with 16 kills, a block and a match-high four aces -- including the match-winner.

Poland’s Mariusz Wlazly led all scorers with 31 points on a match-high 27 kills, two blocks and two aces.

During the tie-breaking fifth set, the U.S. held the lead several times, but Poland came back each time to tie the score. Trailing 12-13, Poland scored twice on a kill and an ace by Marcin Wika to take its first lead of the set and match point, 14-13.

Coach Hugh McCutcheon called a time out, and when play resumed the U.S. tied the score on Stanley’s kill. A Poland hitting error put the United States ahead and the ace by Priddy sealed the deal for the U.S.

In other action: Russia defeated Japan 3-0 (25-14, 26-24, 25-18). Japan will face Brazil in the first match on Friday.

-- Greg Johnson