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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado (July 31, 2025) – The U.S. Men’s U23 National Team played another close first set before dominating the final two sets in a 3-0 (26-24, 25-16, 25-13) win over Belize to close out pool play at the 2025 NORCECA Men’s U23 Pan American Cup on Thursday in Guatemala City, Guatemala.
The U.S. finished second in its pool with a 2-1 record and moves on to the quarterfinals tomorrow, Friday, July 31, where they will play Costa Rica at 4 p.m. PT.
The U.S. finished with more kills (37-22), blocks (8-5) and aces (6-4) while making three fewer errors (25-22).
Setter Nathan Flayter ran the U.S. offense that clicked all match, hitting at a .469 efficiency percentage as a team with its 37 kills and only seven errors in 64 attacks. Flayter also contributed five points on two kills, two blocks and an ace.
Outside hitter Ryan Barnett was the only player in the match to score in double figures with 13 points on 10 kills, a block and two aces. Middle blockers Cam Thorne (six kills and a match-best three blocks) and Wesley Smith (seven kills, one block and one ace) each totaled nine points.
Opposite George Breuning scored seven points on six kills and a block and Jalen Phillips added five points on four kills and an ace.
Belize led 8-5 in the first set but neither team led by more than two the rest of the set after the U.S. scored the next two points. Belize led 21-19 before committing two consecutive hitting errors. Trailing 22-21, the U.S. scored three points in a row to bring set point on a Barnett kill, Flayter block and Phillips kill.
Belize fought off two set points before a service error gave the U.S. its third set point. A strong serve by Flayter caused an overpass that Thorne scored on to end the set. Barnett scored five points on four kills and a block, and Thorne (two kills, two blocks) and Smith (three kills and one block) each contributed four points.
Leading 8-7 in the second set, a Phillips kill and Smith ace started the U.S. on an 8-3 run capped on a Phillips kill off an overpass after a Thorne serve to take a 16-10 lead. A Barnett kill extended the lead to seven, 19-12. Belize scored the next point, which was followed by a 14-minute delay that eventually led the teams to warm up again. The U.S. scored four of the first five points when play finally resumed to take control.
The U.S. ran out to a 7-2 lead in the third set. A Thorne swipe kill pushed the lead to seven points, 14-7. Thorne’s block increased the lead to eight points, 17-9, and a Barnett ace put the U.S. ahead by double digits, 19-9. Outside hitter Patrick Rogers scored the final two U.S. points on back row attacks.
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)
All times Pacific
July 29: Dominican Republic def. USA, 3-1 (23-25, 26-24, 31-29, 25-16)
July 30: USA def. Mexico, 3-1 (25-23, 25-18, 25-27, 25-23)
July 31: USA def. Belize, 3-0 (26-24, 25-16, 25-13)
Aug. 1: Quarterfinals: USA vs. Costa Rica, 4 p.m.
Aug. 2: Semifinals/Classification Matches
Aug. 3: Medal Matches/Classification Matches
The U.S. Men's U23 National Team played another thrilling match at the 2025 NORCECA Men’s U23 Pan American Cup, earning its first win with a 3-1 (25-23, 25-18, 25-27, 25-23) victory over Mexico on Wednesday in Guatemala City, Guatemala.
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.
SA Volleyball announces the 12 athletes representing the United States at the 2025 NORCECA Men’s U23 Pan American Cup, July 29–Aug. 3 in Guatemala City, Guatemala.
