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The winning streak and hopes of a top-10 finish are done for the United States at the FIVB U-21 World Championship.
The United States had its three-match winning streak snapped as it lost to France 25-22, 25-20, 16-25, 25-21 in the World Championship ninth-place semifinals on Saturday in Mexico.
UCLA Freshmen All-American outside attacker J.T. Hatch in the loss had a team-high 11 kills and was the only U.S. player to finish with double-digit kills. In addition, Loyola Freshman All-American middle attacker Jeff Jendryk and Hawai’i outside attacker Kupono Fey each added nine kills against France (4-3).
Jendryk also led the United States (3-4) with four blocks. However, France out-blocked the United States 11 to 7, including middle attacker Henry Mederic having a match-high six blocks.
France outside attacker Jean Patry finished with a match-high 22 kills to help his team advance to the ninth-place match against Poland on Sunday.
Despite the U.S. loss, UC Santa Barbara Freshmen All-American libero Hayden Boehle had 10 digs. This was the fourth consecutive match that Boehle had with double-digit dig.
Fey also had a team-high 11 digs against France.
The United States following this loss will now play Iran (3-4) in the 11th-place match on Sunday.
This will be the second meeting this tournament between the United States and Iran, which lost in four games to Poland in its ninth-place semifinal match. The United States beat Iran in five games in a second-round pool-play match earlier this week.