2006 World Championships
USA cap perfect week with gold medal (FIVB)
08/28/2005
Caguas,
Puerto Rico, August 28, 2005 – Riley Salmon scored a
team-high 11 points to lead USA to a 3-0 win in the gold
medal match against hosts Puerto Rico at the 2006 World
Championship second round tournament – Norceca Pool D on
Sunday.
Salmon blasted 11 kills and added nine digs in the
25-22, 25-12, 25-21 victory for the United States, which
along with Puerto Rico clinched a spot in the 2006 World
Championships final round with their semifinal wins on
Saturday.
The top two finishers at this week’s qualifier in Puerto
Rico earned trips to the 2006 World Championships in
Japan as members of the NORCECA zone.
Canada and Cuba secured the first two NORCECA slots for
the World Championships at the "NORCECA E" World
Championship Qualification Tournament in Havana on
Sunday, Aug. 21.
Phil Eatherton and Dave McKienzie added eight points
apiece for the Americans, who finished the tournament
with a perfect 6-0 record while not losing a single set
along the way (18-0).
Eatherton had seven kills and one block while McKienzie
ripped six kills and two aces for Team USA, which won
its ninth-straight match and improved to 18-5 overall
this season.
In Sunday’s bronze medal match, Mexico swept Guatemala,
25-21, 25-17, 25-16.
In all, 24 teams will compete at the 2006 World
Championships from Nov. 16-Dec. 3 – nine from Europe,
five from Asia, four from NORCECA, two from Africa, two
from South America, the host team (Japan) and the 2002
champion (Brazil).
