ANAHEIM, Calif. (May 24, 2016) – The U.S. Men’s Team competing at the Pan American Cup lost an intense match to Canada, 26-24, 26-28, 25-19, 31-29 in the quarterfinals on Monday at Olympic Gymnasium Juan de la Barrera in Mexico City.
With the loss, the United States (2-1) will play a rematch against the Dominican Republic for fifth place on Thursday. Canada (2-1) will play Argentina (3-0) in the semifinals on Wednesday.
“They played better than us,” U.S. Head Coach Ron Larsen said. “We had a lot of errors and Canada played with good rhythm. They were more determined and did a better job.”
Outside hitter T.J. DeFalco led the U.S. with 23 points on a team-high 20 kills and a team-high three blocks. DeFalco also had 11 of the United States’ 22 digs. Josh Taylor (Honolulu, Hawaii), who started the first three sets at opposite, was the only other U.S. player in double figures with 11 points on eight kills, one block and two aces.
“Our serves were off. We didn’t play well at all,” said Team Captain Carson Clark, who started the fourth set at opposite for Taylor. “There’s no excuse for our performance.”
Canada led in kills (53-50), blocks (12-9) and aces (8-5). The U.S. had a .313 hitting efficiency behind setter Joshua Tuaniga while Canada hit .333. Canada’s Stephen Maar led all scorers with 29 points.
In the first set, Canada took set point at 24-22, but DeFalco came back with a kill and a block to tie the score. Canada scored on a U.S. serving error and a kill to take the set.
Canada led the second set 23-19 when the U.S. scored three straight points on kills from Tuaniga and DeFalco and an ace by outside hitter Jake Langlois . Canada reached set point at 24-22 on a Maar kill, but a kill from DeFalco and two straight Canada hitting errors gave the U.S. its first set point at 25-24. Canada used a kill and an ace to take its second set point 26-25, but a kill from DeFalco, a block by Taylor and a Canada hitting error gave the U.S. the second set.
In the fourth set, the U.S. fought off six Canada match points before finally succumbing.
U.S. Starters on Monday
Outside hitters: T.J. DeFalco and Greg Petty
Middle blockers: Jeff Jendryk and Kris Johnson
Opposite: Josh Taylor
Setter: Josh Tuaniga
Libero: Michael Brinkley
U.S. Statistics for Monday
Kills: DeFalco 20, Taylor 8, Jendryk 7, Taylor Averill 3, Petty 2, Carson Clark 2, Johnson 1, Tuaniga 1
Blocks: DeFalco 3, Jendryk 2, Clark 1, Johnson 1, Taylor 1, Averill 1
Aces: Taylor 2, Petty 1, Langlois 1, Averill 1