B.J. Evans
Manager, Media Relations and Publications
Phone: 719-228-6800
E-Mail: bj.evans@usav.org

ANAHEIM, Calif. (May 15, 2008) - The U.S. Men's National Volleyball Team defeated Germany 3-1 (25-17, 25-23, 22-25, 25-20) on Thursday in an exhibition match played in Chemnitz, Germany. The U.S. Men played the match to help Germany prepare for its Olympic qualification tournament on May 23-25 in Dusseldorf. Team USA will return home Friday to begin preparing to play Argentina at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Exhibition for Volleyball on May 27 in Irvine, Calif.

The U.S. Men were credited with 10 aces in the match as compared to five for Germany. Team USA also out-hit Germany 51-45 and out-blocked it 11-9. Team USA was credited with converting 60 percent of its kill attempts as opposed to 49 percent for Germany. Scott Touzinsky (St. Louis, Mo.) led the U.S. Men in scoring with 20 points on 14 kills, a match-high four blocks and two aces. Touzinsky was credited with converting 70 percent of his kill attempts and also with 36 percent excellent receptions on 22 attempts. Sean Rooney (Wheaton, Ill.) added 17 points on 12 kills, three blocks and two aces.

Brook Billings (Santa Barbara, Calif.) scored 16 points on 15 kills and one ace. Delano Thomas (Sacramento, Calif.) scored 13 points on seven kills, three blocks and three aces. Phil Eatherton (Glencoe, Mo.) scored three points on three kills and Kevin Hansen (Newport Beach, Calif.) scored three points on three aces. U.S. libero Rich Lambourne (Tustin, Calif.) was credited with 24 percent "excellent" receptions on 17 attempts with two errors. Jochen Schops led Germany with 20 points on a match-high 18 kills, one block and one ace.

U.S. Head Coach Hugh McCutcheon (Christchurch, New Zealand) started Rooney and Touzinsky at outside hitter, Eatherton and Thomas at middle blocker, Billings at opposite, Hansen at setter and Lambourne at libero. Evan Patak (Pleasanton, Calif.), Andrew Hein (Carol Stream, Ill.) and Brandon Taliaferro (San Clemente, Calif.) all played as substitutes.

UPCOMING U.S. EVENTS: The U.S. Men will be playing the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Exhibition for Volleyball against Argentina at 7 p.m. on May 27 at the Bren Events Center in Irvine, Calif. Tickets for the FIVB World League matches in Hoffman Estates, Ill. (June 20-21 vs. Bulgaria), Green Bay, Wis. (June 27-28 vs. Finland) and Bloomington, Ill. (July 11-12 vs. Spain) are now on sale. To purchase tickets, go to the USA Volleyball World League site at www.usavolleyball.org/national/08WL.asp.

U.S. Men's Team Roster
2 Sean Rooney (OH, 6-9, Wheaton, Ill., Pepperdine)
4 Evan Patak (Opp, 6-8, Pleasanton, Calif., UC Santa Barbara)
5 Rich Lambourne (L, 6-3, Tustin, Calif., BYU)
6 Phil Eatherton (MB, 6-9, Glencoe, Mo., Ball State)
7 Donald Suxho (S, 6-5, Korce, Albania, USC bv)
10 Riley Salmon (OH, 6-6, League City, Texas, Pierce College)
11 Brook Billings (Opp, 6-5, Santa Barbara, Calif., USC)
12 Andrew Hein (MB, 6-11, Carol Stream, Ill., Pepperdine)
14 Kevin Hansen (S, 6-5, Newport Beach, Calif., Stanford)
15 Gabe Gardner (Opp, 6-9, San Clemente, Calif., Stanford)
16 Brandon Taliaferro (S, 6-5, UCLA, San Clemente, Calif.)
17 Delano Thomas (MB, 6-7, Sacramento, Calif., Hawai'i)
18 Scott Touzinsky (OH, 6-6, St. Louis, Mo., Long Beach State)

Head Coach: Hugh McCutcheon
Team Manager: Russell Rose
Assistant Coach: Ron Larsen
Assistant Coach: Jay Hosack
Technical Coordinator: Jamie Morrison
Medical Support: Aaron Brock