Bench Helps U.S. Team Put East Germany Away : Rock, McLinden Spark Americans to Fourth Victory in Five Matches

Terry Liskevych must have smiled as he watched the play of Angela Rock and Melissa McLinden as the United States women’s volleyball team played the finale of a five-match series against East Germany at San Diego State’s Peterson Gym Friday night.

Liskevych, the U.S. coach, said the Americans can win any match if he can find just five players who are on. The key, though, is finding them.

Liskevych found two in Rock and McLinden, who both came off the bench to spark the United States to a 13-15, 15-7, 15-12, 15-7 victory over East Germany.

The victory was the Americans’ fourth in the series. And Liskevych rested three starters in the one American loss.

This series was the first time the United States had played East Germany since the Americans had lost, 3-2, at the World Championships in 1986. East Germany finished fourth at the Americans 10th.

Liskevych thinks this recent series has shown how far the Americans have come since starting the program from scratch after the 1984 Olympics.

“We weren’t sure about the East Germans (coming into this series),” Liskevych said. “But we’ve improved so much. We’ve given the rest of the world a message.”

Including the match at the championships, the East Germans and Americans had played to five games in their last five matches.

But the Americans put Friday’s match away in four.

The Americans trailed the first game, 12-7, when Rock and McLinden entered the game. Each had two kills as the USA rallied to tie it, 13-13. But East Germany took advantage of two consecutive errors to win, 15-13.

Rock and McLinden helped give the USA the momentum in Game 3 with the Americans leading, 11-10. Rock came in off the bench and had two kills and then teamed with McLinden on two blocks to help the United States take a 14-12 lead. McLinden then teamed with Caren Kemner for the game-winning block.

The role as backup is a new experience for Rock, 24, who started most of her collegiate career at San Diego State and did the same when she moved on to the national team.

But the last three months, Rock has primarily been used in a reserve role.

“In my mind she plays better off the bench than when she starts,” Liskevych said. “I know that, and she knows that. So, why mess with it.”

Rock may also know in her mind that she can best contribute as a role player, but in her heart she would like to be a starter.

“I kind of like (coming off the bench),” Rock said. “I only go in when it is exciting. But everyone wants to be a starter.”

Rock fit her role quite nicely as she had 9 kills and 7 blocks. McLinden added 11 kills and 4 blocks. Keba Phipps led all players with 23 kills, and Kemner had 15. Maike Art led East Germany with 15 kills.