Havana Gold! U.S. Men's U21 Wins Pan Am Cup

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Oct. 9, 2022) – One day after qualifying for the 2023 FIVB World Championship, the Men’s U21 Team put the icing on the cake by winning the gold medal at the Pan American Cup in Havana, Cuba.

The U.S. Men’s U21 Team beat Mexico, 3-0 (25-19, 30-28, 25-14) in the final on Saturday. The victory meant USA Volleyball has swept all four gold medals in the 2022 age group Pan American Cups (Men’s U21, Women’s U21, Girls U19 and Boys U19).

U.S. Men’s setter and Team Captain Andrew Rowan was named Best Setter, Best Server and MVP. Middle blocker Wesley Smith was named Best Blocker and outside hitter Zach Rama was named Best Attacker.

OFFICIAL STATISTICS

“For us, to qualify for Worlds, to win the gold medal, to represent our country was an unbelievable experience for our guys and I am so proud of them,” U.S. Head Coach Andy Read said. “Throughout the tournament, we played better and better.”

The U.S. Men gave a steady performance and led Mexico in attacks (37-24), blocks (11-5) and aces (8-4). They gave up 27 points on errors while Mexico gave up 22. Both teams qualified for the 2023 World Championship as the top-finishing NORCECA teams.

Opposite Shane Wetzel led the U.S. scoring with 13 points on a match-high 10 kills, two aces and one block. Rama added 12, including two blocks and one ace and Nyherowo Omene finished with 11 points on six kills, three blocks and two aces.

Rowan set the team to a .324 hitting efficiency. Libero Chris Connelly was credited with team-leading eight digs and four excellent receptions. Rama led the team in receptions with 16.

U.S. Roster for the 2022 Men’s U21 Pan American Cup

No. Name (Pos., Ht., Hometown, School, USAV Region)
2 Christopher Connelly (L, 5-10, Naples, Fla., Long Beach State, Florida Region)
4 Dane Hillis (OH, 6-3, San Clemente, Calif., Long Beach State, Southern California Volleyball Association)
8 Kyle Teune (OH, 6-6, Downers Grove, Ill., Ohio State, Great Lakes Region)
10 Tyler Morgan (S, 6-7, Dike, Iowa, Lewis University, Iowa Region)
11 Noah Roberts (OH, 6-7, Seal Beach, Calif., University of Southern California, Southern California Volleyball Association)
12 Andrew Rowan (S, 6-7, Trabuco Canyon, Calif., UCLA, Southern California Volleyball Association)
13 Shane Wetzel (Opp, 6-7, Longwood, Fla., Ohio State, Florida Region)
14 Max McCullough (MB, 6-8, San Marcos, Calif., Concordia University Irvine, Southern California Volleyball Association)
16 Nyherowo Omene (MB, 6-8, South Holland, Ill., Princeton, Great Lakes Region)
17 Trent Moser (Opp, 6-8, Gilbert, Ariz., BYU, Arizona Region)
20 Zach Rama (OH, 6-9, Phoenix, Ariz., UCLA, Arizona Region)
21 Wesley Smith (MB, 6-10, Encinitas, Calif., La Costa Canyon HS, Southern California Volleyball Association)

Head Coach Andy Read
Assistant Coach Hudson Bates
Second Assistant Chris Seiffert
Performance Analyst Alex Hurlburt
Athletic Trainer Chris Cornell
Team Leader Donovan Martinez

U.S. Men’s Schedule for the 2022 Men’s U21 Pan American Cup
All times PT
USA def Mexico, 3-2 (25-13, 24-26, 25-21, 22-25, 15-12)
USA def Dominican Republic, 3-0 (25-21, 25-15, 25-21)
USA def Chile, 3-0 (25-18, 25-23, 25-17)

Oct. 7
Semifinals
Mexico def Canada, 3-2 (25-23, 25-18, 23-25, 20-25, 15-13)
USA def Cuba, 3-2 (25-21, 25-14, 20-25, 24-26, 16-14)

Oct. 8
Bronze medal: Canada def Cuba, 3-2 (13-25, 25-19, 25-15, 22-25, 15-12)
Gold medal: USA def Mexico, 3-0 (25-19, 30-28, 25-14)