Irvine, Calif. - UC Irvine All-American Brian Thornton will be competing with the U.S. Men's National Volleyball Team Friday and Saturday (June 1-2) against Puerto Rico at the Walter Pyramid on the Long Beach State University campus.  Both matches begin at 7:00 p.m.

Tickets for the matches can be purchased by visiting the Long Beach State athletics web site, by calling the ticket office at (562) 985-4949 or by visiting the box office (open 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Monday-Friday; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. starting June 6; the address is 1250 Bellflower Blvd.).

Last weekend, for the second time in less than two weeks, Thornton guided the U.S. to an upset of top-ranked Brazil, 25-20, 25-23, 22-25, 25-23, in an FIVB World League match at the Reynolds Center in Tulsa. Thornton, a member of UCI's 2007 National Championship team, has started the last five matches at setter.  

The U.S. Men, ranked fifth in the world by the FIVB, are 6-4 with 18 points in the World League Pool A of the Intercontinental Round. The U.S., tied for second with Poland in Pool A. Brazil leads Pool A with an 8-2 record with two matches remaining in Poland.

 UCI head coach John Speraw is also a member of the U.S. Men's staff.