U.S. Men Hand Puerto Rico its First Loss at 2025 NORCECA Final Six

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Oct. 10, 2025) – Patrick Rogers scored 24 points as the U.S. Men’s National Team beat previously undefeated Puerto Rico 3-2 (19-25, 25-23, 25-18, 23-25, 15-11) on Friday in Ponce, Puerto Rico.

The U.S. (4-1) will have a rematch with Mexico (4-1) in the semifinals Saturday night at 4 p.m. PT. The match will be streamed on the Puerto Rico Volleyball Federation’s YouTube page.

The U.S. led Puerto Rico in kills (51-49) and blocks (16-8). Both teams had six aces.

Rogers was dominant for the U.S. with 19 kills, two blocks and a team-high three aces. No other U.S. player scored in double figures.

Keoni Thiim had six kills, one block and two aces for nine points. Owen Rose also had nine points, with two kills and a match-high seven blocks. Trent Moser scored seven (five kills, one block, one ace).

Setter Nathan Flayter had three kills and two blocks, and Cam Thorne had four kills and one block. Seba Sani scored five (three kills, two blocks). Kainoa Wade and Justin Todd each had four kills, and Tre Jordan had a kill.

Rogers also led the team in digs with 11, and he had 15 excellent receptions.

All five sets were close between the two teams. Puerto Rico led by a point or two for most of the first set until they broke a 16-16 tie as a result of two U.S. errors.  Puerto Rico stretched the lead to three at 20-17 on a Wade error, and a kill gave them a 21-18 lead. Another kill made it 22-18, and the U.S. never mounted a comeback.

Set two started in similar fashion, with Puerto Rico building a small lead until the U.S. tied it at 13. A Thorne kill, Rogers ace and Puerto Rico attack error gave the U.S. breathing room at 16-13. Puerto Rico kept it close, saving two set points until a Rose kill ended it.

The teams battled again in the third set until a kill by Flayter and two from Moser broke a 15-15 tie. A Rose block gave the U.S. a six-point lead, 22-16, and Rose also shut down the Puerto Rican offense at set point.

Puerto Rico had a 9-6 lead in the fifth, but the U.S. scored six straight to go ahead 12-9. The run included consecutive blocks from Thiim and Rose, an ace from Moser, and then two blocks from Rogers and Rose. Puerto Rico closed it to two at 13-11 but gave the U.S. match point on a service error. Thiim nailed an ace for the win.

Roster

Name (Pos., Height, Hometown, School/Club, USAV Region)
1 Ryan Merk (L, 6-1, Chicago, Ill., Penn State, Great Lakes)
2 Kainoa Wade (OPP, 6-10, Kailua, Hawaii, Univ. of Hawaii, Aloha Region)
3 Justin Todd (MB, 6-8, Honolulu, Hawaii, Univ. of Hawaii, Aloha Region)
4 Nathan Flayter (S, 6-4, Hales Corner, Wisc., McKendree, Badger)
5 Cam Thorne (MB, 6-4, Hollywood, Fla., UCLA, Florida)
6C Sebastiano Sani (OH, 6-8, Aliso Viejo, Calif., UC San Diego, Chesapeake)
8 Jalen Phillips (OPP, 6-5, Anaheim, Calif., CSUN, Southern California)
9 Ryan McElligott (S, 6-6, Mundelein, Ill., Loyola Chicago, Great Lakes)
11 Kellen Larson (L, 5-9, Irvine, Calif., Long Beach State, Southern California/Southern Nevada)
17 Trent Moser (OH, 6-8, Gilbert, Ariz., BYU, Arizona)
18 Patrick Rogers (OH, 6-7, Rutherford, N.J., Ball State, Garden Empire)
20 Keoni Thiim (OH, 6-0, Honolulu, Hawaii, BYU, Aloha Region)
22 Owen Rose (MB, 6-8, Merrick, N.Y., Penn State, Garden Empire)
23 Tre Jordan (MB, 6-10, Mesa, Ariz., Univ. of Hawaii, Arizona)

Coaches
Head Coach: Karch Kiraly
Assistant Coach: Luka Slabe
Assistant Coach: Reid Priddy
Performance Analyst/Team Manager: Nate Ngo
Athletic Trainer: Aaron Ngor

Schedule

All times Pacific
Oct. 6: Mexico def. USA, 3-2, (22-25, 21-25, 25-19, 25-22, 15-11)
Oct. 7: USA def. Canada, 3-1 (25-18, 25-10, 23-25, 25-18)
Oct. 8: USA def. Dominican Republic, 3-1 (22-25, 30-28, 25-17, 25-20)
Oct. 9: USA def. Suriname, 3-0 (25-13, 25-17, 25-11)
Oct. 10: USA def. Puerto Rico, 3-2 (19-25, 25-23, 25-18, 23-25, 15-11)
Oct. 11: Semifinals: USA vs. Mexico, 4 p.m.
Oct. 12: Medal and classification matches