The United States men’s national volleyball team opened the second round of the FIVB World Championship in Ancona, Italy Thursday, losing to the Czech Republic, 25-19, 25-22, 25-22.
The Americans suffered their first loss of the championships and will try to rebound against 21st-ranked Cameroon Friday. The countries will be meeting for the first since 1990, and the second time overall.
The 36th-ranked Czech Republic recorded its third victory over a World Top 10 team, and just the fifth in 25 meetings with the United States since 1981. They previously played at the 2008 Four Nations Tournament in Germany, where the United States won.
Clay Stanley and Reid Priddy each had 11 kills to lead the U.S. Stanley leads the Americans with 66 points on 51 kills, six blocks and nine aces.
Stanford grad Kevin Hansen averages 4.33 running sets per set.
The U.S. defeated Mexico, Venezuela and Argentina during the first round of the championships, which ended Monday.
Women’s volleyball
The United States dropped a 25-22, 25-20, 18-25, 25-20 friendly match to host Brazil on Wednesday night, completing a four-match exhibition tour ahead of the FIVB World Championships, which begin Oct. 29 in Japan.
Stanford grad Foluke Akinradewo recorded seven kills and a match-high six blocks. Cardinal grad Cynthia Barboza also contributed a point.
Brazil, the top-ranked team in the world by the FIVB, won all four exhibition matches. The Americans, ranked second, beat Brazil to win last month’s FIVB Grand Prix title.