LONG BEACH, Calif. » Honolulu native Clay Stanley used the championship match of the NORCECA Olympic men’s volleyball qualifying tournament Saturday night to punctuate his return from surgery.

Stanley was named the tournament’s most valuable player as the United States qualified for the Olympics with a 28-26, 25-18, 25-20 victory over Canada in front of a standing-room-only crowd of 4,700 at Long Beach State. The former University of Hawaii standout, who will compete in his third Olympics, had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee in late December after the World Cup in Japan.

"For me, it’s pretty huge," Stanley said of reaching the Olympics. "Leading up to this tournament, I basically only had a week of training with the team. Just to be healthy enough to play and to get the honor as most valuable player is great."

Adding to Stanley’s joy is the fact that the regional qualifying tournament took place in May. In 2008, it occurred in January.

"If the tournament was in January, I wouldn’t be playing," Stanley said. "I was really lucky in that aspect, and I was able to get healthy enough and help our team win."

The United States needed Stanley’s 12 kills and two service aces to repel Canada, which swept all its opponents in group play — including Cuba, ranked fifth in the world — in trying to earn its first Olympic spot since 1992.

"I don’t think Canada’s world ranking truly reflects how good they are," the United States’ David Lee said of the world’s 18th-ranked team.

Canada demonstrated its potential in the first set. Both teams tied the score 14 times and exchanged the lead five times, with Canada delaying set point on four occasions.

"We knew we were going to have a match tonight," United States coach Alan Knipe said. "They pose some height problems at opposite hitter."

But with the score tied at 26, the Americans’ Reid Priddy pounded two kills to secure the victory, which Knipe considered a turning point.

Canada remained pesky. In the second set, the Canadians narrowed a 20-12 deficit to 21-16. Then Canada committed two service errors to help the hosts extend their lead to 23-17.

Stanley, who amassed five kills in the set, ended it with a spike off a block near the right antenna. In the third set, Canada maintained a two-point lead from 5-3 to 9-7. But a 7-2 surge enabled the United States to move ahead, 14-11, before extending the advantage to 19-13.

Canada drew within 22-20 before committing another service error. Then Matt Anderson slammed two kills to ensure the trip to London.

For Stanley, the combination of youth and experience makes this year’s Olympic team unique.

"We have that young side that brings in stamina and the old guys who bring in what we’ve done before," Stanley said.

"We’ve got a bench that can come in and put together some points. That’s the strongest suit for our team, right now."