Holt lifts USA to victory over France

CHICAGO, USA, July 10, 2019 - Hosts and 2018 bronze medalists USA defeated 2018 runners-up France in four sets 3-1 (25-16, 25-22, 23-25, 25-21) in their first match in the 2019 FIVB Volleyball Nations League Finals in Chicago on Wednesday.

Maxwell Holt led the USA team with 17 points, alongside Aaron Russell on 16, while Jean Patry was the leading scorer for France on 17.

Coach John Speraw's USA team claimed nine wins in 15 matches during the Preliminary Round to finish in the top six and earn a place in the Finals despite being automatically qualified as the tournament hosts.

Benjamin Patch was the top scorer for his team during the Preliminary Round with 146 points, ahead of Garrett Muagututia on 130 and Torey 'TJ' Defalco on 93.

France reached the Finals in Chicago on a total of 11 wins from 15 matches. They also lost to their opponents on Wednesday in four sets when the two teams met in Cannes, France in week 3 of the competition.

A strong run took France all the way to the final of the inaugural edition of the Volleyball Nations League in 2018, which they played in front of their fans at the Stade Pierre Mauroy in Lille, with Russia claiming a three-set victory.