Earvin Ngapeth vs. Aaron Russell | The Most Dramatic Match in Volleyball Nations League 2022

The United States and France were the third and fourth teams to stamp tickets to the men’s Volleyball Nations League 2022 Finals, after hosts Italy and Poland. The Americans came back from a set down against the French twice in their game in Osaka on Thursday to celebrate with a 3-2 (15-25, 25-22, 22-25, 25-14, 15-8) victory, their eighth in 10 matches since the start of the competition. It puts them on top of the current standings on 22 points. The point won lifted the French Olympic champions to second place, also on 22 points, but with a 7-2 win-loss record, enough to start packing for the trip to the Finals in Bologna from July 20 to 24.

Outside hitter Aaron Russell led USA’s scorers with 18 points, including three blocks and two aces, but refused to take individual credit for the success, claiming it was a team effort.

“I always think I can do better, but I think it was a great team win for us,” he said after the match. “Everybody played well in defence and we were really flowing in side-out too. It was good for us to respond to those tough matches that we lost and be able to win in five sets. The last time I stepped on the court I was maybe one of the younger or middle-aged guys. Now it’s fun to be able to step into this more important role and give guidance and support to the young guys.”

French star Earvin Ngapeth produced a match-high 19 points, including two blocks and an ace, and spiking at a 57% success rate. He opened the match with a high-flying pipe shot for the first point. Russell immediately reacted with the same to level the score at 1-1. It stayed balanced through 7-7, when France went on a four-point run crowned by a Barthelemy Chinenyeze ace for 11-7. Another ace from opposite Stephen Boyer’s off-the-net serve extended it to 18-8. Nicolas Le Goff spiked through the middle to bring set point at 24-15. An attack by USA went wide to close the set at 25-15 in France’s favour.

The second set started well for the Americans with a perfectly placed serve by their other outside TJ DeFalco putting them at a 2-0 lead. After 4-1, France scored three in a row with Ngapeth acing for 4-4, but it was a short-lived tie. DeFalco hit the overpass after Russell’s powerful serve for a 7-5 American lead. Russell aced for 17-13 and middle Jeffrey Jendryk followed up with a monster block for 18-13. In the money time, France scored four in a row on Jean Patry’s turn to serve, to level it at 22-22, but he made two unforced errors in a row to gift their opponents a set point, which their captain David Smith converted to a 25-22 win with an ace.

A French series of four consecutive points was crowned with an ace by outside Trevor Clevenot for a 7-4 lead in the third set. Later on, another ace, this time by Chinenyeze, extended it to 14-9. The Americans fought back to narrow the gap, but they only managed to get back to within one at 18-17 and 19-18. Frequently taking on playmaker functions in the match, Ngapeth set the ball to Clevenot, who scored for 24-21. The Americans sided out, but then served into the net for 25-22 the way of France.

USA stepped up their blocking efforts while capitalising on abundant French mistakes to dominate the fourth set. An ace by opposite Kyle Ensing gave them a 10-7 lead. Setter Micah Christenson extended that to 12-8 with a monster block as the Americans cruised towards tying the match. Set point was reached at 24-14 after a solo block by DeFalco. Then a powerful serve by Russell led to a high-flying hit by Ensing for the 25-14 set winner.

The tie-breaker was completely one-sided. Setter Christenson offered great variety in offence, while the French continued making too many unforced errors as the United States took an early lead and kept the pressure through the end to rejoice after a 15-8 win.

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