U.S. Men's National Team Ends 2025 Pan Am Cup Pool Play with Win over Cuba

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (August 28, 2025) – The U.S. Men’s National Team finished 2-1 in pool play at the 2025 NORCECA Pan American Cup with a 3-1 (25-20, 23-25, 26-24, 25-17) victory over Cuba on Thursday in León, Guanajuato, Mexico.

The U.S. (2-1) will play in the next tomorrow, Friday, Aug. 29,.

The U.S. finished with advantages in kills (43-39), blocks (11-6) and ace (9-4). Cuba made one fewer error (37-36) in a match that was nearly even statistically until the fourth set.

Outside hitter Nolan Flexen led all players with 16 kills and 18 points, adding a pair of aces. He also contributed nine successful receptions. Outside Ryan Barnett also reached double digits with 11 points on six kills, two blocks and a match-high three aces, and also finished with nine successful receptions.

Middle blockers Daniel Wetter and Isaiah Preuitt shared match-best honors with three blocks each and combined for 15 points. Wetter produced five kills for eight points, while Preuitt totaled seven points with four kills. Opposite Parker Van Buren scored seven points on five kills and two aces. Setter Andrew Rowan added six points on four kills, a block and an ace as well as running the efficient U.S. offense.

Opposite Kyle Hobus scored four points on three kills and an ace. Libero Troy Gooch led the team with 10 digs, and libero Jacob Reilly equaled the match-high with 12 successful receptions.

The U.S. was in control for the entire first set after jumping out to a 5-0 lead. The lead grew to seven at 15-8 and was six at 19-13 before Cuba scored three points in a row to pull within three points, 19-16. The U.S. maintained at least a three-point lead the rest of the set. Back-to-back kills by Barnett gave the U.S. a 23-18 advantage. Flexen ended the set with his fifth kill and sixth point. Hobus scored four points on three kills and an ace.

Cuba took an early lead in the second set, going up 10-7 and forcing the U.S. to use a timeout. A Rowan ace concluded a 4-1 U.S. run that evened the score at 11. A Barnett block tied the score again at 13 apiece. After 14 consecutive sideouts by the two teams, Cuba scored three consecutive points to take a 23-20 lead. The teams exchanged the next two points to give Cuba three set points. The U.S. scored the next two points on a Rowan kill and a Cuba error before a service error ended the set. Three U.S. players scored three points in the set.

Cuba took the first two-point lead of the third set since a 3-1 U.S. lead at 16-14 on back-to-back kills. A service error and Preuitt block tied the set back up at 16. The U.S. regained the lead, 20-19, on a Barnett kill and a Cuba error. After a Cuba timeout, Wright recorded blocks on consecutive rallies to extend the lead to three points. Two Wetter kills gave the U.S. three set points at 24-21 before Cuba responded with three consecutive points. The U.S. took the set and a 2-1 match lead on two Cuba errors. Flexen delivered three kills in the set, while Preuitt scored three points on two kills and a block.

Capitalizing on a series of Cuba errors, the U.S. took an 8-5 lead in the fourth set, prompting an early timeout. A Barnett ace and Wetter block pushed the margin to five points. Back-to-back Preuitt blocks gave the U.S. a six-point lead, 14-8. A Wetter kill followed by two Van Buren aces pushed the lead to seven, 19-12. Two aces and a kill by Barnett put the U.S. ahead 23-14. The match ended on a service error. Flexen scored six points on kills and Barnett added four points on three aces and a kill.

U.S. Men’s Roster for 2025 Pan Am Cup

No. Name (Pos., Ht., Hometown, College, USAV Region)
1 Matthew Gentry (MB, 6-7, Hudson, Ohio, Lincoln Memorial, Ohio Valley)
2 Kaleb Jenness (OH, 6-6, Mount Pleasant, S.C., Ball State, Palmetto)
3 Troy Gooch (L, 6-0, Buffalo, N.Y., UCLA, Western Empire)
4 Ryan Barnett (OH, 6-5, Vero Beach, Fla., Pepperdine, Florida)
10 Isaiah Preuitt (MB, 6-8, Portland, Ore., Long Beach State, Columbia Empire)
13 Andrew Deardorff (OH, 6-5, Itasca, Ill., Saint Francis, Great Lakes)
14 Parker Van Buren (OPP, 6-9, Cross Plains, Wis., Loyola Chicago, Badger)
15 Kyle Hobus (OPP, 6-7, San Pedro, Calif., CSUN, Southern California Southern Nevada)
16 Jacob Reilly (L, 6-2. Cypress, Texas, Pepperdine, Lone Star)
17 Andrew Rowan (S, 6-7, Trabuco Canyon, Calif., UCLA, Southern California Southern Nevada)
18 Michael Wright (S, 6-4, Richmond, Va., Ohio State, Old Dominion)
20 Cameron Thorne (MB, 6-4, Hollywood, Calif., UCLA, Florida Region)
23 Nolan Flexen (OH, 6-9, Rio Rancho, N.M., UC Irvine, Southern)
30 Daniel Wetter (MB, 6-5, Camarillo, Calif., CSUN, Southern California Southern Nevada)

Coaches for Pan Am Cup
Head Coach: Andy Read
Assistant Coach: Luke Reynolds
Assistant Coach: Lawrence Wrather
Physiotherapist: Beth Drayer
Performance Analyst: Muhammad Mbaye
Team Leader: John Xie

Schedule
All times PT
Tuesday, Aug. 26: Venezuela def. USA, 3-0 (25-21, 28-26, 31-29)
Wednesday, Aug. 27: USA def. Antigua, 3-0 (25-12, 25-11, 25-17)
Thursday, Aug. 28: USA def. Cuba, 3-1 (25-20, 23-25, 26-24, 25-17)
Friday, Aug. 29: TBA
Saturday, Aug. 30: Semifinals
Sunday, Aug. 31: Medal matches and classifications