November 19, Nagano: The USA got off the mark in the Nagano White Ring with a hard-fought win over the Czech Republic.
The Americans had slumped to defeat in their first two matches against Venezuela and Bulgaria, but made no mistake this time as they downed the Czechs 25-16, 15-25, 25-20, 25-23.
Both sides dealt each other crushing blows in the first two sets, but eventually the USA came through to consign the Czechs to a second loss in three matches.
USA coach Hugh McCutcheon had stated his intentions before the match to "dig ourselves out of this hole", but the Europeans were not likely to be so compliant.
Both teams matched each other point-for-point in the opening stages, with Ondrej Hubecek particularly effective for the Europeans.
But James Polster and captain Thomas Hoff also got into the groove early on, and Donald Suxho found his range with a clever lob.
The Americans opened the first gap in the scoring, and pretty soon Polster had widened it to 15-9.
The USA were looking in the mood to get off the mark in the World Championships, as David McKienzie demonstrated with another venomous point.
Czech captain Martin Lebl tried to find a way through as he scored at the net, but William Priddy fired one back immediately afterwards to win the next point.
A Ryan Millar block and a Hoff smash took the US closer, and a missed serve from the Czechs gave them set point. The Czech Republic held out for two more points, until Polster clinched the set with a cross-court smash. The Czechs began the second set with more success. Spiker Jan Stokr was finding more room to manoeuver, and the US were beginning to make unforced errors.
US coach McCutcheon took a time-out as the Czechs took an 11-6 lead, hoping to disrupt the Europeans from their steadily growing momentum.
But Marek Novotny kept his focus to fire in a smash, and an American defensive mix-up strengthened the Czechs' hand at 16-10.
A few more Stokr assaults increased the lead, and another one brought set point to the Europeans at 24-14. Novotny finished the job, as the Czechs hauled themselves back on terms at 1-1.
Neither side could find much consistency as the third set began. Peter Platenik gave the Czechs points with his commanding blocking, and Priddy and Hoff notched unchallenged at the net, but neither team looked like they had hit their stride yet.
The US maintained a slight advantage as the set moved into double figures, and Ryan Millar was doing enough to gain a foothold for his side.
Michal Rak hit back for the Czechs, but the US were doing just enough to stay ahead of them. At 19-17 the USA still had a cushion, but a block from Czech captain Martin Lebl reduced the deficit to just one point.
But the US hit straight back, and Polster regained their three-point lead at 23-20. Hoff then landed a service ace for set point, and a mix-up in the Czech attack handed the USA the third set.
But the European side were not finished yet. A David Konecny ace gave the Czechs hope at the start of the fourth set, even if Priddy and Millar were keeping the US right behind them.
The set would remain tight as the score reached 13-13, before McKienzie put the US in front with another spike from the wing. A pair of Rak blocks then turned the tables just as it looked like the US were heading for the home straight, as the Czechs went into the second TTO 16-15 up. If the Americans wanted to end the match now, they were going to have to do it the hard way.
A Millar block on Lebl took the US 20-18 ahead, although no-one could deny the Czech captain as he hit back on the next point.
Eventually the US had set point when McKienzie threaded the ball through the Czech blockers, and Polster finished to register a first victory for his team.
