Argentina knocked the U.S. Junior National volleyball team out of contention for the semifinal round of the Men's Junior World Championship yesterday at Rabat, Morroco.

Argentina defeated the United States, 25-20, 25-20, 25-20. Team USA, captained by Honolulu's Kawika Shoji and Spencer McLachlin, finished with a 3-2 record in Pool B and will compete for fifth- through eighth-place in the final round. Brazil (4-1) and Russia (4-1) advanced to the finals out of Pool B, along with Italy and Iran.

Team USA played the final match Tuesday night, beating Slovenia in five games in a match that ended at 8:43 p.m. local time. The Americans appeared fatigued yesterday when play began at 10 a.m.

Team USA, which struggled with blocking throughout the tournament, had only five scoring blocks and 26 blocking errors yesterday. Argentina's team captain Rodrigo Quiroga took advantage of this and led all scorers with 16 points on 14 kills and two aces.

Will Price led the U.S. in scoring with 12 points on 12 kills. Matt Anderson (seven kills, one block) and Max Lipsitz (six kills, one block, one ace) each added eight points.

Shoji, who played all three games at libero, had seven digs and McLachlin, who started Game 2 at outside hitter, had two points on two kills.

Team USA will play Bulgaria on Saturday. The winner will play the Cuba-Argentina winner.