CAGUAS, Puerto Rico - - Phil Eatherton (Glencoe, Mo.), a four-year letter winner for the Ball State Men's Volleyball Team from 1994-97, helped guide the USA Men's National Volleyball Team to a 3-0 win over Puerto Rico in the gold medal match of the FIVB World Championship Qualifying Tournament last Sunday night. In the three-game - - 25-22, 25-12, 25-21 - - victory over Puerto Rico, Eatherton tallied seven kills and one block for a total of eight points.
By winning the gold medal, Team USA earned a trip to the 2006 World Championships in Japan as members of the NORCECA zone.
In all, 24 teams will compete at the 2006 World Championships from Nov. 16-Dec. 3 – nine from Europe, five from Asia, four from NORCECA, two from Africa, two from South America, the host team (Japan) and the 2002 champion (Brazil).
Including the gold-medal match, the Team USA posted a perfect 6-0 record in the qualifying tournament after going 4-0 in pool play. In fact, the team did not drop a game (18-0) the entire tournament.
USA opened pool play Aug. 22 with a 3-0 (25-20, 26-24, 25-22) victory over Puerto Rico. Eatherton was one of five players in the match with at least eight points, scoring six kills and two blocks.
USA's second match was a 3-0 (25-10, 25-13, 25-10) win over Guatemala (Aug. 23).
On Aug. 25, Team USA improved to 3-0 in pool play with a three-game (25-18, 25-10, 25-13) sweep over Barbados, in which Eatherton smashed five kills.
USA completed pool play Aug. 26 with a 3-0 (25-19, 25-20, 25-21) triumph over Mexico, with Eatherton tagging seven kills.
In its semifinal match, Team USA blasted Guatemala 3-0 (25-14, 25-16, 25-9). In the contest, Eatherton posted a match-high five blocks with two kills and one service ace.
