U.S. Men Win Gold at 2025 NORCECA Final Six

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Oct. 12, 2025) – The U.S. Men’s National Team swept Puerto Rico Sunday night 3-0 (27-25, 25-20, 25-21) to win its third consecutive gold medal at the NORCECA Final Six in Ponce, Puerto Rico.

The U.S. finished the tournament 6-1 after losing its first match against Mexico. It was also the team’s second win over Puerto Rico in the tournament, although the first meeting went five sets.

For the second straight match, Kainoa Wade led the U.S. in scoring, this time collecting 13 points on eight kills, one block and a team-high four aces. Patrick Rogers also scored in double figures with 11 kills and one ace.

Seba Sani scored eight (five kills, one block, two aces), and Cam Thorne had three kills and a team-high three blocks. Owen Rose also scored six (five kills, one block), and setter Nathan Flayter had two kills and two blocks. Keoni Thiim had a kill and an ace.

Kellen Larson led the U.S. with six digs, and Rogers had nine excellent receptions.

The first set was tight with neither team gaining an edge until the U.S. scored four straight to break a 15-15 tie. Puerto Rico inched back to tie the score at 20. The U.S. had a 24-20 lead, but a service error by Flayter, an attack error from Sani, and two Puerto Rico kills tied it again at 24. Mexico had one set point, but a Wade kill and Sani ace gave the U.S. set point. Rose notched a kill for the win.

Mexico held a very early set two lead, but at 7-7, Rogers had a kill and ace, and then three straight Puerto Rico errors broke it open, 12-7. The U.S. did not relinquish the lead and won 25-20.

The U.S. fell behind early in the third set, 11-7, and trailed by five at 15-10. But four straight points, three on Puerto Rico errors, cut the lead to 15-14. The U.S. tied it with a Thiim ace, 16-16, and later used three Wade aces and a Flayter kill to move ahead 20-17. Rogers scored match points on a kill.

Roster

Name (Pos., Height, Hometown, School/Club, USAV Region)
1 Ryan Merk (L, 6-1, Chicago, Ill., Penn State, Great Lakes)
2 Kainoa Wade (OPP, 6-10, Kailua, Hawaii, Univ. of Hawaii, Aloha Region)
3 Justin Todd (MB, 6-8, Honolulu, Hawaii, Univ. of Hawaii, Aloha Region)
4 Nathan Flayter (S, 6-4, Hales Corner, Wisc., McKendree, Badger)
5 Cam Thorne (MB, 6-4, Hollywood, Fla., UCLA, Florida)
6C Sebastiano Sani (OH, 6-8, Aliso Viejo, Calif., UC San Diego, Chesapeake)
8 Jalen Phillips (OPP, 6-5, Anaheim, Calif., CSUN, Southern California)
9 Ryan McElligott (S, 6-6, Mundelein, Ill., Loyola Chicago, Great Lakes)
11 Kellen Larson (L, 5-9, Irvine, Calif., Long Beach State, Southern California/Southern Nevada)
17 Trent Moser (OH, 6-8, Gilbert, Ariz., BYU, Arizona)
18 Patrick Rogers (OH, 6-7, Rutherford, N.J., Ball State, Garden Empire)
20 Keoni Thiim (OH, 6-0, Honolulu, Hawaii, BYU, Aloha Region)
22 Owen Rose (MB, 6-8, Merrick, N.Y., Penn State, Garden Empire)
23 Tre Jordan (MB, 6-10, Mesa, Ariz., Univ. of Hawaii, Arizona)

Coaches
Head Coach: Karch Kiraly
Assistant Coach: Luka Slabe
Assistant Coach: Reid Priddy
Performance Analyst/Team Manager: Nate Ngo
Athletic Trainer: Aaron Ngor

Schedule

All times Pacific
Oct. 6: Mexico def. USA, 3-2, (22-25, 21-25, 25-19, 25-22, 15-11)
Oct. 7: USA def. Canada, 3-1 (25-18, 25-10, 23-25, 25-18)
Oct. 8: USA def. Dominican Republic, 3-1 (22-25, 30-28, 25-17, 25-20)
Oct. 9: USA def. Suriname, 3-0 (25-13, 25-17, 25-11)
Oct. 10: USA def. Puerto Rico, 3-2 (19-25, 25-23, 25-18, 23-25, 15-11)
Oct. 11: Semifinals: USA def. Mexico, 3-2 (22-25, 25-22, 19-25, 25-23, 15-13)
Oct. 12: Gold Medal Match: USA def. Puerto Rico, 3-0 (27-25, 25-20, 25-21)