So Cal-Loaded USA Volleyball Team Beats Serbia

The defending gold medalists swept the number seven ranked team in the world

By Steven Covelman

| Sunday, Jul 29, 2012 | Updated 12:09 PM PDT

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Reid Priddy United States returns a shot to Serbia during Men's Volleyball on Day 2 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at Earls Court on July 29, 2012 in London, England.

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With a roster featuring 11 players with Southern California connections, the U.S. men’s volleyball team began its quest for another gold medal Sunday by sweeping Serbia.

The fifth-ranked U.S. team dominated the seventh ranked Serbian squad, 25-17, 25-22, 25-21.

Fountain Valley native Russell Holmes had 13 of Team USA’s 52 blocks, while Loyola Marymount University graduate Reid Priddy contributed 10 spikes to the winning effort.

David Lee, a graduate of Long Beach State, contributed 14 blocks of his own.

Since volleyball became an Olympic sport in 1964, the U.S. has been successful, capturing gold medals in 1984, 1988 and 2008.

For the London Games the U.S. men have been placed in a difficult pool that includes top ranked Brazil and powerhouse Russia.

The U.S. will take on Germany Tuesday.