If revenge is a dish best served cold, then the U.S. Men’s Volleyball team was stone cold on Saturday as it dished out eight aces and defeated Italy, 3-1 (25-19, 18-25, 25-22, 25-21) in an FIVB World League match before 4,183 at the Sears Centre Arena.

After falling to Italy on Friday, Team USA had to win Saturday’s match in order to maintain its lead in Pool A. The winners of the four World League pools will advance to the final round in Belgrade, Serbia (July 22-26) along with host Serbia and an FIVB wild card pick. Saturday’s win improved the United States’ record to 7-3. Italy falls to 6-4.

The U.S. Men’s National Team will travel to Wichita, Kan., on July 17-18 to play Netherlands in their final World League pool play matches.

Hometown hero Sean Rooney, from nearby Wheaton, Ill., led all scorers on Saturday with 22 points on 19 kills, one block and two aces.  Long Beach State grad Scott Touzinsky scored 11 points on 10 kills and one ace.

The U.S. scored on eight aces as opposed to two for Italy.  “The difference tonight was our serving,” said U.S. Head Coach Alan Knipe (currently on leave from LBSU).  “It wasn’t just the aces. It was the opportunity to get their setter off the net and get them out of system.”

LBSU alum David Lee scored 10 points on seven kills and three blocks, and fellow 49er Paul Lotman also saw time as an alternate.