Men's U23 Drops 2025 Pan Am Cup Opener to Dominican Republic

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado (July 29, 2025) – The U.S. Men’s U23 National Team dropped an exciting opening match at the 2025 NORCECA Men’s U23 Pan American Cup, 3-1 (23-25, 26-24, 31-29, 25-16) to the Dominican Republic on Tuesday in Guatemala City, Guatemala.

The U.S. returns to action July 30 at 3 p.m. PDT against Mexico.

The U.S. recorded 12 of the 16 blocks in the match and four of six aces but could not overcome 37 errors and a 62-51 deficit in kills.

Opposite George Bruening led the U.S. with 20 points on 16 kills, a block and a match-high three aces. Middle blocker Cam Thorne posted a match-high five blocks, one more than the Dominican Republic, and added 10 kills for 15 points. Ryan Barnett also totaled 15 points with 14 kills and a block.

Outside hitter Patrick Rogers contributed seven points on six kills and a block. Libero Ryan Merk led the U.S. with 10 kills and five successful receptions.

Barnett scored on an overpass to put the U.S. up 10-8 in the first set. A Rogers block made it 14-11, and Bruening made a mid-air adjustment to score on a tip and give the U.S. its biggest lead of the set at four points, 17-13.

The Dominican Republic responded with a 5-1 run to even the set at 18. Bruening recorded a kill and an ace as the U.S. scored three points in a row for a 22-19 lead. Rogers tallied the last two U.S. points, giving him five points on four kills and a block in the set.

The Dominican Republic jumped out to a 7-3 lead in the second set and still led 13-9 when the U.S. went on a 5-2 run to pull within a point, 15-14.

Trailing 21-18, the U.S. tied the set on a Bruening kill, a Thorne block and a Dominican Republic hitting error. A Flayter block gave the U.S. set point at 24-23, but a service error and back-to-back blocks evened the match at one set each. Bruening led all players with eight kills.

Trailing 9-7 in the third set, the Dominican Republic took the lead with a 4-0 run. The lead grew to five points, 20-15. The U.S. used a Thorne kill and consecutive aces by Bruening to pull within a point, 23-22. A Barnett kill tied the set at 24.

The U.S. then saved four set points before earning its first set point, 29-28, on an error. The Dominican Republic scored the last three points to take the set. Bruening led the U.S. with eight points on six kills and two aces. Adrian Figueroa of the Dominican Republic registered 14 kills in the set.

Continuing its momentum from the end of the third set, the Dominican Republic scored four of the first five points in the fourth set and never trailed in clinching the match. The U.S. cut the lead to two points, 9-7, only to see the Dominican Republic stretch the lead to seven with a 6-1 run and a 15-8 lead on its way to clinching the match. Barnett led all players with six kills.

USA Volleyball Men’s U23 Roster for Pan Am Cup

Name (Pos., Height, Hometown, College/Pro, Region)

1 Ryan Merk (L, 6-1, 2003, Chicago, Ill., Penn State, Great Lakes)
4 Nathan Flayter (S, 6-4, 2005, Hales Corner, Wisc., McKendree, Badger)
5 Cam Thorne (MB, 6-4, 2004, Hollywood, Fla., UCLA, Florida)
6 Ryan Barnett (OH, 6-5, 2003, Vero Beach, Fla., Pepperdine, Florida)
8 Jalen Phillips (OPP, 6-5, 2004, Anaheim, Calif., CSUN, Southern California)
9 Ryan McElligott (S, 6-6, 2004, Mundelein, Ill., Loyola Chicago, Great Lakes)
14 Nicodemus Meyer (MB, 6-4, 2003, Franklin, Wisc., Loyola Chicago, Badger)
18 Patrick Rogers (OH, 6-7, 2004, Rutherford, N.J., Ball State, Garden Empire)
19 George Bruening (OPP, 6-10, 2004, Newport Beach, Calif., UCSB, Southern California)
21 Wesley Smith (MB, 6-11, 2004, Encinitas, Calif., USC, Southern California)
22 Owen Rose (MB, 6-8, 2003, Merrick, N.Y., Penn State, Garden Empire)
25 Theo Snoey (OH/OPP, 6-8, 2004, Berkeley, Calif., Stanford, Northern California)

Alternates
2 Donovan Constable (S, 6-2, 2003, Clovis, Calif., CSUN, Northern California)
7 Andrew Deardorff (OH, 6-5, 2003, Itasca, Ill., St. Francis, Great Lakes)
10 Paul Wyszynski (L, 6-0, 2003, Northbrook, Ill.,  Miedzyrzeckie Towarzystwo Siatkarskie, Great Lakes)
13 D’Aaron McCraney (MB, 6-9, 2003, Las Vegas, Nev., McKendree, Southern California)
16 Nyherowo Omene (OPP, 6-7, 2003, Chicago, Ill., Princeton, Great Lakes)
17 Trent Moser (OH, 6-8, 2003, Gilbert, Ariz., BYU, Arizona)
23 Alex Rottman (OH, 6-7, 2004, Santa Barbara, Calif., Stanford, Southern California)

Coaches
Head Coach: Nickie Sanlin (McKendree)
Assistant Coach: Reid Priddy (Indoor VC, Olympian)
Assistant Coach: Luke Reynolds (Pepperdine)
Performance Analyst: Mackenna Basore (Auburn)
ATC: Claire Pointer (LOVB Madison)
Team Lead: Will Berdecia (OTVA)

Schedule

All times Pacific

July 29: Dominican Republic def. USA, 3-1 (23-25, 26-24, 31-29, 25-16)
July 30: USA vs. Mexico, 3 p.m.
July 31: USA vs. Belize, 3 p.m.
Aug. 1: Quarterfinals
Aug. 2: Semifinals/Classification Matches
Aug. 3: Medal Matches/Classification Matches