Team USA, locals, swept in FIVB World League play

Several players with local ties competed for the United States men’s national volleyball team that went 0-3 in Federation Internationale de Volleyball World League competition that concluded Saturday in Novi Sad, Serbia.

Former UC Irvine All-Americans David Smith, Dan McDonnell and Carson Clark all played for Team USA, as did Huntington Beach High product TJ DeFalco and Huntington Beach resident Taylor Sander.

Sander, who played collegiately at BYU, had 20 points on 17 kills, two blocks and one ace in the Americans’ 25-23, 25-16, 22-25, 28-26 loss to Belgium on Sunday.

Smith, a middle blocker, had 10 points on six kills, one block and a team-high three aces.

DeFalco, a Long Beach State All-American as a sophomore in 2017, chipped in eight points on six kills, one block and one ace.

Team USA, ranked No. 2 in the world, lost to Canada 23-25, 25-19, 18-25, 25-23, 15-11 on Saturday. In that match, Smith had 14 points on 10 kills, three blocks and one ace, while McDonnell started at middle blocker and recorded two kills and one block.

Sander had five kills, two aces and one dig, while DeFalco added one dig.

On Friday, host Serbia earned a 25-18, 23-25, 25-20, 25-21 victory over the Americans, coached by former UCI head man John Speraw and assistant Matt Fuerbringer, an Estancia High product.

Against Serbia, DeFalco started to make his World League debut and recorded eight points on seven kills and one block, while adding four digs.

Sander led Team USA with 12 points on 11 kills and two aces, while chipping in five digs against Serbia.

Smith had nine points on six kills and three blocks, with four digs, and McConnell had seven kills.

Clark started at opposite and contributed 11 kills.

Team USA continues World League play on Friday through Sunday in France. The Americans will play matches against Italy Russia and France. Former UCI All-American Kevin Tillie plays for France.

barry.faulkner@latimes.com

Twitter: @BarryFaulkner5