University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
Bruins Help USA Earn Olympic Qualification
August 11, 2019 | Men's Volleyball
Setter Micah Ma'a (UCLA 2016-19), middle blocker Mitch Stahl (UCLA 2014-17) and outside hitter Garrett Muagututia (UCLA 2007-10) joined head coach John Speraw in helping the U.S. Men's National Volleyball team earn qualification for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics after winning its pool in the Intercontinental Qualifying Tournament contested this weekend in the Netherlands. (There will be a televised replay of the clinching match against the Netherlands at 7:30 p.m. PT on NBCSNย Sunday night)
This will mark the U.S. team's 12th appearance in the Olympic Games, including in each of the last 10 editions (1984-2020). The United States has captured the gold medal in the competition in 1984, 1988 and 2008 and finished on the podium with the bronze medal in 1992 and 2016.
The U.S. men, rated No. 2 in the world entering the weekend, successfully navigatedย through a pool which included No. 12 Belgium, No. 15 Netherlands and No. 24 South Korea.
Coach Speraw's National Team squad is coming off bronze medal finishes at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games and 2018 world championships.
U.S. Men's National Team Results โ Rotterdam, Netherlands
August 9 ---- USA d. Belgium 25-20, 25-19, 17-25, 25-18
ย ย Muagututia โ six kills, two blocks, two aces as a reserve
ย ย Ma'a โ played as a reserve
ย ย Stahl โ did not see action
August 10 ---- USA d. South Korea 25-20, 25-21, 25-16
ย ย Muagututia โ started and totaled 8 kills, 1 ace
ย ย Ma'a โ did not see action
ย ย Stahl - registered one block as a reserve
August 11 ---- USA d. Netherlands 25-18, 25-20, 17-25, 25-21
ย ย Muagututia โ started and totaled 1 kill
ย ย Ma'a โ did not see action
ย ย Stahl - did not see action
