Check out all FIVB U21 World Championship second-round pool-play matches to follow on Tuesday and how to follow the matches live.
United States (0-3, 0-0 Pool G) vs. Italy (1-2, 0-0 Pool G)
Match vitals: 12:30 p.m. (5:30 a.m. CST) in Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
Follow live: Live stats
World Rankings: United States (No. 9); Italy (No. 5)
NCAA players on U.S. roster: Kyle Ensing (Long Beach State); Jordan Ewert (Stanford); Patrick Gasman (Hawai’i); George Huhmann (Princeton); Micah Ma’a (UCLA); Austin Matautia (Hawai’i); Dylan Missry (UCLA); Brett Rosenmeier (Hawai’i); Scott Stadick (UC Irvine); Matt Szews (Ball State); Josh Tuaniga (Long Beach State); Gage Worsley (Hawai’i)
NCAA players on Italy roster: None
World Championship appearances: United States (9); Italy (13)
Best World Championship finish: United States (fourth place in 2011); Italy (silver medal in 1985, 1991 and 1993)
What to know: Coach Jay Hosack was adamant following his team’s most recent loss that the United States would still have a top-10 finish at the FIVB U21 World Championship. The United States will begin that new goal of a top-10 finish as it plays Italy in its opening-match of the second round. Both the United States and Italy are competing in a four-team consolation pool after finishing in the bottom-half of their opening-round pools during the weekend. The United States enters the second round attempting to end a three-match losing streaking with opening-round losses to Turkey, Cuba and Russia — which all had rosters comprised of professional players. It also was one of two teams at the World Championship to not win a single game in the opening round. Long Beach State opposite Kyle Ensing leads the United States with 31 kills through the opening round. The All-American also remains among the tournament leaders for kills, despite did not playing in the U.S. loss to the defending World Championship gold medalists Russia on Sunday. Along with Ensing, Italy outside attacker Paolo Zonca in the tournament’s top five with 41 kills. Zonca finished with a tournament-high 18 kills on a 51.43 percent offensive efficiency in Italy’s five-game victory against Ukraine on Sunday. This second-round match will also feature two of the setters at the tournament. Italy setter Francesco Zoppellari is sixth at the World Championship with a 4.83 excellent sets per game average, while UCLA setter Ma’a Micah is eighth in tournament averaging 4.11 excellent sets per game. Italy finished Pool C in third place and was eliminated from medal contention following losses to Iran and Argentina to begin the tournament. Italy ended the opening round second in the tournament with a 12.08 digs per game average. Libero Alessandro Piccinelli is sixth at the World Championship with a 2.92 digs per game average. In addition, Hawai’i libero Gage Worsley leads the United States averaging 2.56 digs per game. The top-two teams from Pool G following three-match second round will advance to the ninth-place semifinals. The United States has not had a top-10 finish at the World Championship since finishing in fourth place in 2011.
Poland (3-0, 0-0 Pool E) vs. China (2-1, 0-0 Pool E)
Match vitals: 12:30 p.m. (5:30 a.m. CST) in Brno, Czech Republic
Follow live: Live stats
World Rankings: Poland (No. 7); China (No. 3)
NCAA players on Poland roster: None
NCAA players on China roster: None
World Championship appearances: Poland (9); China (15)
Best World Championship finish: Poland (gold medal in 1997 and 2003); China (silver medal in 1977)
Russia (3-0, 0-0 Pool E) vs. Argentina (2-1, 0-0 Pool E)
Match vitals: 3 p.m. (8 a.m. CST) in Brno, Czech Republic
Follow live: Live stats
World Rankings: Russia (No. 1); Argentina (No. 2)
NCAA players on Russia roster: None
NCAA players on Argentina roster: None
World Championship appearances: Russia (19); Argentina (14)
Best World Championship finish: Russia (gold medal in 1977, 1981, 1985, 1989, 1995, 1999, 2005, 2011, 2013 and 2015); Argentina (silver medal in 2013 and 2015)
Turkey (1-2, 0-0 Pool H) vs. Ukraine (0-3, 0-0 Pool H)
Match vitals: 3 p.m. (8 a.m. CST) in Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
Follow live: Live stats
World Rankings: Turkey (No. 6); Ukraine (No. 15)
NCAA players on Turkey roster: None
NCAA players on Ukraine roster: None
World Championship appearances: Turkey (3); Ukraine (3)
Best World Championship finish: Turkey (sixth place in 2013 and 2015); Ukraine (ninth place in 1999)
Cuba (2-1, 0-0 Pool E) vs. Iran (3-0, 0-0 Pool E)
Match vitals: 5:30 p.m. (10:30 a.m. CST) in Brno, Czech Republic
Follow live: Live stats
World Rankings: Cuba (No. 13); Iran (No. 11)
NCAA players on Cuba roster: None
NCAA players on Iran roster: None
World Championship appearances: Cuba (12); Iran (11)
Best World Championship finish: Cuba (silver medal in 1987 and 2009); Iran (bronze medal in 2007)
Czech Republic (1-2, 0-0 Pool G) vs. Egypt (0-3, 0-0 Pool G)
Match vitals: 5:30 p.m. (10:30 a.m. CST) in Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
Follow live: Live stats
World Rankings: Czech Republic (No. 35); Egypt (No. 11)
NCAA players on Czech Republic roster: None
World Championship appearances: Czech Republic (1); Egypt (11)
Best World Championship finish: Czech Republic (First appearance); Egypt (ninth place in 2003)
Canada (2-1, 0-0 Pool F) vs. Brazil (3-0, 0-0 Pool F)
Match vitals: 8 p.m. (1 p.m. CST) in Brno, Czech Republic
Follow live: Live stats
World Rankings: Canada (No. 8); Brazil (No. 4)
NCAA players on Canada roster: Daenan Gyimah (UCLA)
NCAA players on Brazil roster: None
World Championship appearances: Canada (10); Brazil (19)
Best World Championship finish: Canada (fifth place in 1999); Brazil (gold medal in 1993, 2001, 2007 and 2009)
Morocco (0-3, 0-0 Pool H) vs. Japan (1-2, 0-0 Pool H)
Match vitals: 8 p.m. (1 p.m. CST) in Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
Follow live: Live stats
World Rankings: Morocco (No. 15); Japan (No. 14)
NCAA players on Morocco roster: None
NCAA players on Japan roster: None
World Championship appearances: Morocco (5); Japan (13)
Best World Championship finish: Morocco (ninth place in 2005); Japan (silver medal in 1989)