The United States delivered in the biggest moment to keep its medal hopes alive at the FIVB U21 World Championship.
Hawai’i setter Tread Rosenthal guided the offense to a .583 attack percentage and zero errors in the decisive fifth game as the United States defeated France 21-25, 25-17, 22-25, 25-23, 15-12 in the quarterfinals on Friday in China.
UCLA outside attacker Sean Kelly led the United States with two kills in the final game, including back-to-back kills to cap off a 5-2 run at the start of the game.
Kelly finished with a match-high 20 kills on a .325 attack percentage to help the United States remain undefeated at the tournament. The outside attacker also opened the match with 11 kills and one attack error through the first two games.
The United States had more than .500 attack percentage in two of the games and for the match out-hit France .355 to .273.
Along with Kelly, Pepperdine opposite Cole Hartke contributed 15 kills and hit .305. Hartke with the United States facing a one-game deficit did not commit an attack error in the final two games and had two kills in the fifth game.
Hawai’i incoming transfer Trevell Jordan added eight kills and zero errors on a .667 attack percentage highlighted with the match-winning kill.
The United States finished with 14 blocks – five more blocks than France.
Long Beach State pin-hitter Jackson Cryst had a match-high four blocks, while Jordan and USC pin-hitter Sterling Foley each had three blocks.
Hawai’i outside attacker Adrien Roure in the loss led France with 14 kills. Roure was one of three French players to have double-digit kills against the United States.
The United States with this victory will advance to Iran in the semifinals on Saturday.
Iran swept China in its quarterfinal on Friday and is undefeated in tournament play.
This is the second time the United States has reached the U21 World Championship semifinals. The United States reached the semifinals in 2011 and finished in fourth place – its best all-time finish at the bi-annual event.