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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Sept. 23, 2026) – The U.S. Men’s U23 National Team opened the 2026 Pan Am Cup with a sweep of the Dominican Republic, 25-19, 25-18, 25-22, in San Salvador, El Salvador.
The U.S. (1-0) faces Trinidad & Tobago on Sept. 24 at 4 p.m. PT.
The American squad led in all categories: kills (46-32), blocks (5-1) and aces (7-2). With only five attack errors, setter Cameron Hoying helped the U.S. to a .561 hitting efficiency.
David Decker led all scorers with 20 points on 14 kills and a match-high six aces. Trevor Herget scored 10 points on 10 kills, and Aiden Klein had 10 points on eight kills and two blocks. Ayden DesLauriers had six kills and three blocks; Will Patterson had six kills, and Hoying had two kills and an ace. Libero Kellen Larson had eight digs.
Decker scored six points in a tight first set with eight ties until Herget and Decker (2) scored three consecutive kills for a 15-12 U.S. lead. The Dominican Republic moved within one at 16-15, but another Decker kill and a Domincan error increased the lead to three again. From there, the U.S. stayed ahead, and DesLauriers closed it out with a kill, 25-19.
Set two was a near-copy of set one, with a 13-13 tie broken by three consecutive U.S. points. A Hoying attack and Dominican error increased the lead to five, 19-14. At 22-17, a Dominican service error and Hoying service ace gave the U.S. set point, and two points later, DesLauriers finished the set again with a kill.
The Dominican Republic led by as many as four early in set three. Down 18-15, the U.S. reeled off seven straight points to take a 22-18 lead. Decker had three of his aces during the run. The Dominican Republic closed the gap to two at 22-20, 23-21 and 24-22, but Patterson sealed the win with a kill
2026 Men’s U23 National Team Pan American Cup Roster
Name (Pos., Ht., Hometown, School, USAV Region)
1 Kellen Larson (L, 5-9, Irvine, Calif., Long Beach State, Southern California/Southern Nevada)
2 Zach Chapin (L, 5-11, Manhattan Beach, Calif., Pepperdine, Southern California Southern Nevada)
3 Ayden DesLauriers (OH, Eastport, N.Y., Loyola University Chicago, Garden Empire)
4 Trevor Herget (OH, 6-3, Darien, Conn., BYU, Intermountain)
5 Owen Douphner (S, 6-6, Stevenson Ranch, Calif., CSUN, Southern California Southern Nevada)
6 Connor Oldani (OPP, 6-5, Phoenix, Ariz., BYU, Arizona)
9 AJ Cottle (MB, 6-8, Provo, Utah, BYU, Intermountain)
10 Braydon Savitski-Lynde (Opp, 6-7, Roscoe, Ill., Ball State, Great Lakes)
12 David Decker (OPP, 6-9, Winston-Salem, N.C., UCLA, Southern California Southern Nevada)
13 Cameron Hoying (S, 6-9, Columbus, Ohio, Lewis, Ohio Valley)
14 Aleksey Mikhailenko (OH, 6-8, Mequon, Wis., Homestead HS, Badger)
15 Ryan Louis (OPP, 6-9, Waddell, Ariz., Ball State, Arizona)
16 Aidan Klein (MB, 6-10, Evanston, Ill., Loyola University Chicago, Great Lakes)
17 Will Patterson (MB, 6-10, Loveland, Ohio, Ball State, Ohio Valley)
Coaches
Head Coach: Nickie Sanlin (McKendree University)
Assistant Coach: Ali’i Keohohou (Menlo College)
Assistant Coach: Ryan Mason (California State University, Northridge)
Performance Analyst: Mackenna Basore (LOVB Minnesota/Utah State)
Athletic Trainer: Hazel Reyes (USOPC)
Team Lead: Will Berdecia (OTVA – Jacksonville)
Schedule
All times Pacific
Sept. 23: USA def. Dominican Republic, 3-0 (25-19, 25-18, 25-22)
Sept. 24: USA vs. Trinidad & Tobago, 4 p.m.
Sept. 25: Quarterfinals and Classification
Sept. 26: Semifinals and Classification
Sept. 27: Finals