USA men play Bulgaria after loss to France in Volleyball Nations League

The USA men play Bulgaria at 1 p.m. Eastern Saturday, trying to get their first Volleyball Nations League victory.

It’s one of six matches Saturday, starting with Slovenia (2-0) vs. Canada (2-1) and Türkiye (0-2) vs. France (2-1) in Antalya, Türkiye, before the Americans (0-2) take the floor against Bulgaria (0-2).

In Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Japan (3-0) plays Italy (2-0), Argentina (0-2) plays Germany (0-2) and Cuba (2-1) plays Iran (0-2).

The USA, swept by Poland on Wednesday, on Friday got swept by France. 

Jordan Ewert had 13 kills and three digs and Matt Knigge (featured here Thursday) had eight kills, three digs and two aces in the 25-22, 25-21, 25-21 defeat. Cody Kessel had seven kills, four digs and a block and Gabi Garcia had six kills, four digs and a block.

The USA, which had 16 serving errors and two aces, hit .272. None of the 14 players in Türkiye are on the USA’s Paris Olympics roster.

France’s Louati had 10 kills, two blocks and an ace, Theo Faure had 12 kills, and Kevin Tillie, who played at UC Irvine, Daryl Bultor both had seven kills and a block. and Benjamin Diez had 14 digs. 

France hit .486 and had two aces and 17 serving errors.