USC setter Christenson leads U.S. to NORCECA championship

USC setter Micah Christenson made the most of his debut with the U.S. Men’s National Team and is returning home with a championship.

Christenson guided the offense to a .460 attack percentage as the United States sweep Canada 25-23, 25-20, 25-14 to win the NORCECA Continental Championship on Saturday in Langley, Canada.

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In the championship match, Christenson led all players with 18 excellent sets and added two blocks against Canada. The USC junior following the match was also won the tournament’s Best Setter award.

Christenson, a two-time All-American for the Trojans, was the only current college player selected to the U.S. roster for this international tournament. In addition, Christenson during the tournament started all four matches for the United States (4-0).

Former Olympian and Penn State All-American outside attacker Matt Anderson in the championship victory finished with a match-high 14 kills and three aces against Canada (3-1). Middle attacker Max Holt also had nine kills, while outside attacker Reid Priddy added eight kills in the sweep.

U.S. coach John Speraw said in a statement following the match that it’s an amazing feeling for his team to win this international tournament championship.

“At the end of the day, the most important tournament we play in, besides the Olympics themselves, is the NORCECA tournament,” Speraw said. “For us to come in here and win like we did is a wonderful achievement for our program.”

With this victory, the United States captured its first NORCECA title since 2007 and qualified for the FIVB Grand Champions Cup in November.