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LONDON – UC Irvine alums David Smith and Brian Thornton contributed to the U.S. Olympic Men's Volleyball Team victory over Tunisia, 3-0 ( 25-15, 25-19, 25-19) on Monday evening at Earls Court in London to finish atop the Olympic Games Pool B.

Team USA, who finished the preliminary round with 13 points and a 4-1 record, is the top seed out of Pool B and will face the opposite pool's fourth-place team, which is Italy with a 3-2 record and eight points. The quarterfinal match times for Wednesday will be announced later tonight during the drawing of lots for the second- and third-place crossover match opponents.

Smith, a former UCI All-American, made his first Olympic start and totaled five kills on six swings with two aces and a block for eight points, while Anteater All-American Brian Thornton played in all three sets and added 15 running sets and two blocks. Thornton and David Suxho combine to guide the U.S. offense to a 56.8 kill percent and .432 hitting efficiency (42-10-74).

The Anteater duo clinched the match for the U.S. on a kill by Smith from Thornton. Smith and Thornton were key contributors on UCI's 2007 National Championship team.

In other Pool B matches, Russia (11 points, 4-1) defeated Serbia (5 points, 1-4) 25-15, 25-20, 25-17 to finish in second place. Brazil (8 points, 3-1) will challenge Germany (5 points, 2-2) tonight at 10 p.m. local time, and a 3-0 win by the South Americans will put them in second place ahead of Russia based on set ratio. Russia will finish second if Brazil is extended past three sets.

In Pool A, Australia (7 points, 2-3) pulled an upset to defeat Poland (9 points, 3-2) 25-21, 25-22, 18-25, 25-22. With Poland's loss, Bulgaria (12 points, 4-1) was able to clinch the pool with a 32-30, 25-20, 25-19 victory over Italy (8 points, 3-2). Bulgaria, Italy and Poland all entered the day with 3-1 records and within reach of the top spot out of the group going into the quarterfinals. Argentina (9 points, 3-2) defeated host Great Britain (0 points, 0-5) 25-18, 25-18, 25-15 to advance to the quarterfinals as Pool A's third seed.

Complete USA Volleyball Recap

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