U.S. Men Finish Pan Am Cup Pool Play 2-0; Defeat Chile

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Aug. 16, 2023) – The U.S. Men’s National Team defeated Chile, 3-1 (25-14, 21-25, 25-12, 25-21) on Wednesday at the Astros Arena in Guadalajara, Mexico. The U.S. finished NORCECA Pan American Cup pool play 2-0.

The U.S. Men (2-0) return to the court Friday against in the quarterfinals against Canada at 7 p.m. PT.

Match Statistics (PDF)

The U.S. recorded a phenomenal .495 hitting efficiency percentage in the match with 52 kills and just six errors in 93 total attacks, finishing the match with a 14-point edge in kills. Five players combined for six blocks for the U.S., who doubled Chile’s block total.

“We have good players who do their job in every game, ” U.S. head coach Andy Read said. “They came in with a very positive vibe – Van Buren, McCauley, Marshman – they all brought something to today’s match and that’s something very important. McCauley started very well, he was very energetic and that helped us even more.”

Opposite Parker Van Buren posted match highs of 21 points and 19 kills, adding two blocks. Outside hitter Kyle McCauley scored 13 points on 11 kills, one block and one ace, while middle blocker Michael Marshman contributed 10 points on eight kills, one block and one ace.

Setter Quinn Isaacson, who led the U.S. to its nearly flawless attack and finished with 21 assists, added two kills and a block. Libero Timothy McIntosh led all players with 14 digs. Outside hitter Brett Wildman totaled six points on five kills and one ace.

The U.S. started fast by scoring the first five points of the match, stretching the lead to 12 points on four occasions in the set.

The second set was tightly contested until Chile recorded the first two aces of the match to take a 21-17 lead. The teams combined for 23 service errors before those aces. The U.S. committed eight service errors in the set.

Another quick start for the U.S. Men led to a 2-1 match lead. They scored five of the first six points and eventually went up seven points, 14-7, on a block by Marshman. The lead reached double digits at 21-11.

The U.S. took a 15-12 lead in the fourth set and though Chile hung tough the rest of the way, the lead was at least two points from that point on. The match-clinching point came on a Chile hitting error after a kick by Isaacson kept the play going.

“There was a great atmosphere in Guadalajara, and that makes me and all the guys on the team feel very good for the game as we came out with great energy,” McCauley said. “We all contributed a lot to the win today and we feel satisfied about that.”

The U.S. Men have won the Pan American Cup five times, most recently in 2012. They finished third in 2022. Cuba won the last two editions in 2022 and 2019.

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

No. Name (Pos., Height, Hometown, School, USAV Region)
2 Troy Gooch (L, 6-0, Buffalo, N.Y., UCLA, Western Empire)
3 Cole Bogner (S, 6-3, Chesapeake, Va., Penn State, Old Dominion)
6 Timothy McIntosh (L, 6-0, Miami, Fla., Sacred Heart, Florida)
7 Jacob Pasteur (OH, 6-4, Westminster, Md., Ohio State Univ., Chesapeake)
9 Matthew Knigge (MB, 6-7, New Egypt, N.J., Vassar, Garden Empire)
10 Camden Gianni (Opp, 6-5, Carlsbad, Calif., Grand Canyon, Southern California)
13 Patrick Gasman (MB, 6-10, Clovis, Calif., Univ. of Hawaii, Northern California)
14 Quinn Isaacson (S, 6-2, Plainfield, Ill., Ball State, Great Lakes)
15 Parker Van Buren (Opp, 6-9, Cross Plains, Wis., Loyola Chicago, Badger)
22 Kyle McCauley (OH, 6-4, Huntington Beach, Calif., UC San Diego, Southern California)
23 Michael Marshman (MB, 6-7, Glenmont, N.Y., St. Francis Univ., Excelsior Empire)
24 Brett Wildman (OH, 6-5, Virginia Beach, Va., Penn State, Old Dominion)
25 Ethan Champlin (OH, 6-3, Oceanside, Calif., UCLA, Southern California)
26 Merrick McHenry (MB, 6-7, Bedford, Texas, UCLA, North Texas)

Head Coach: Andy Read
Assistant Coach: Angel Nikolov
Assistant Coach: Samuel Stafford
Team Leader/Performance Analyst: Nathaniel Wilson
Athletic Trainer: Benjamin Colletti

U.S. Men’s Schedule for the Pan American Cup
All Times Pacific Daylight

Aug. 15 USA def. Puerto Rico, 3-0 (26-24, 25-13, 25-23)
Aug. 16 USA def. Chile, 3-1 ((25-14, 21-25, 25-12, 25-21)
Aug. 18 Quarterfinals USA vs. CAN, 7 p.m.
Aug. 19 Classification matches and semifinals
Aug. 20 Classification matches and finals