Aug. 10, 2009

Courtesy of Penn State Athletics

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Penn State men's volleyball sophomore Joe Sunder helped guide the U.S. Men's Junior National Team to an eighth place finish in the FIVB Men's Junior World Championships. The U.S. finished with a 2-6 overall record.

Sunder played in every match in Pool F play from Aug. 4-6 and in the final round Aug. 8-9. In the opening match of Pool F on Aug. 4, the U.S. suffered a 3-1 (21-25, 23-25, 25-22, 17-25) setback to Brazil. Every player on the U.S. roster scored with Sunder tallying three points on three kills.

After a 3-0 (23-25, 23-25, 23-25) loss to Cuba on Aug. 5, the U.S. put up a strong fight against Iran on Aug. 6, but fell 3-2 (25-23, 21-25, 18-25, 25-20, 10-15). Sunder posted one kill in the match.

In the Final Round, the U.S. was swept by Russia, 3-0 (19-25, 18-25, 18-25) and lost 3-1 (25-22, 17-25, 12-25, 18-25) to Iran to finish eighth in the championship. Sunder had three points on three kills against Russia and two kills and a block for three points versus Iran.

Sunder heads into his second season with the Nittany Lion men's volleyball team this year. In his first season under head coach Mark Pavlik, Sunder played in all 31 matches starting in 28. He totaled 251 kills, 23 aces, 120 digs and 52 total blocks in 2009 to help the Nittany Lions to their 21st EIVA Championship title and their 24th NCAA appearance.

Pool A Results
July 30

USA def. Belarus, 32-30, 21-25, 25-18, 30-28


July 31

India def. Tunisia, 25-11, 25-15, 25-13


Aug. 1
USA def. Tunisia, 21-25, 25-19, 25-15, 25-21

Belarus def. India, 25-21, 22-25, 25-23, 20-25, 15-11


Aug. 2

Belarus def. Tunisia, 24-26, 26-24, 25-17, 25-17

India def. USA, 25-23, 25-21, 25-18

Pool F Results
Aug. 4
Brazil def. USA, 25-21, 25-23, 22-25, 25-17

Cuba def. Iran, 25-18, 25-23, 25-22


Aug. 5
Cuba def. USA, 25-23, 25-23, 25-23
Brazil def. Iran, 25-20, 25-22, 25-18


Aug. 6
Iran def. USA, 23-25 25-21 25-18 20-25 15-10

Brazil def. Cuba, 25-22, 25-14, 25-22

Final Round - Places 5-8
Aug. 8

Russia def. USA, 25-19, 25-18, 25-18

Belarus def. Iran, 25-19, 26-24, 25-18

Aug. 9
Iran def. USA, 25-22, 17-25, 12-28, 18-25