U.S. Men to Play for Bronze after 5-Set Battle with Canada

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (July 16, 2022) – The U.S. Men’s Team competing at the Pan American Cup Final Six proved just how far it has come during the tournament during a 3-2 (25-21, 23-25, 25-21, 18-25, 15-9) semifinal loss to Canada on Saturday in Tepic, Nayarit, Mexico.

The U.S. Men (3-3) will face Puerto Rico (2-4) in the bronze-medal match at 5 p.m. PT on Sunday. Canada (5-1) will play Cuba (6-0) for the gold medal at 7 p.m.

OFFICIAL STATISTICS

Saturday’s contest was a rematch of the U.S. Men’s first match of the tournament, which they lost 3-0.

“It hurts, I feel for my guys,” U.S. Head Coach Andy Read said. “We lost to a very good Canada team. We both played what we are capable of, and we came off a little short. Tomorrow, we want to get the bronze, we want to go back home to show that we are a very good team and that would define it.”

Canada led in kills 59-45 and 5-2 in aces. The U.S. led in blocks 10-6 margin and scored 44 points on Canada errors while committing 36.

Opposite hitter Francesco Sani led all scorers with 20 points on a match-high 19 kills and one ace, followed by outside hitter Brett Wildman with 11 points on seven kills and a match-high four blocks.

“It was a great match from both teams,” Sani said. “I think they got a little more serving pressure than us and that’s why they won the game. Down the stretch, we had a couple of receiving errors and missed serves, but I feel really good about our team and we’re ready to play tomorrow.”

Libero Mason Briggs was credited with 18 excellent receptions and 11 digs.

Middle blocker Merrick McHenry scored eight points on six kills and two blocks. Outside hitter Spencer Olivier came off the bench to start the second through fifth sets and scored seven points on six kills and one block.

Middle Nyherowo Omene totaled six points on five kills and one ace. Setter Quinn Isaacson finished with four points on a kill and three blocks and starting outside Kyle McCauley scored with a kill.

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

No. Name (Pos., Ht., Hometown, College, Region)
5C Matt West (S, 6-6, Seattle, Wash., Pepperdine, Puget Sound)
9 J.R. Norris IV (MB, 6-6, Lancaster, Calif., UCLA, Southern California)
11 Francesco Sani (Opp, 6-8, Bethesda, Md., UC Irvine, Chesapeake)
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)
16 Nyherowo Omene (MB, 6-7, South Holland, Ill., Princeton, Great Lakes)
17 Austin Wilmot (MB, 6-10, Valley Village, Calif., Pepperdine, Southern California)
20 Ethan Champlin (OH, 6-3, Oceanside, Calif., UCLA, Southern California)
21 Mason Briggs (L, 6-0, Valencia, Calif., Long Beach State, Southern California)
22 Kyle McCauley (OH, 6-4, Huntington Beach, Calif., UC San Diego, Southern California)
24 Brett Wildman (OH, 6-5, Virginia Beach, Va., Penn State, Old Dominion)
26 Merrick McHenry (MB, 6-7, Bedford, Texas, UCLA, North Texas)
29 Cole Power (L, 5-11, Huntington Beach, Calif., UC Irvine, Southern California)
31 Spencer Olivier (OH, 6-6, Tustin, Calif., Long Beach State Univ., Southern California)

Head Coach: Andy Read
Assistant Coach: Ron Larsen
Assistant Coach: Rory Prager
Team Leader/Performance Analyst: AJ Ruttenberg
Athletic Trainer: Jackie Chan

Schedule for the NORCECA Pan American Cup Final Six
(All Times PDT)

Monday July 11
Cuba def Dominican Republic, 3-0 (25-15, 25-12, 25-22)
Canada def United States, 3-0 (25-17, 25-21, 25-21)
Puerto Rico def Mexico, 3-2 (21-25, 25-23, 22-25, 25-23, 15-13)

Tuesday July 12
Puerto Rico def Dominican Republic, 3-2 (25-20, 25-22, 32-34, 22-25, 15-12)
Cuba def United States, 3-2 (25-20, 28-26, 20-25, 23-25, 15-11)
Canada def Mexico, 3-1 (33-31, 22-25, 25-19, 25-21)

Wednesday July 13
United States def Puerto Rico, 3-0 (25-23, 25-16, 27-25)
Cuba def Canada, 3-0 (25-17, 25-18, 25-21)
Mexico def Dominican Republic, 3-1 (21-25, 25-12, 25-23, 25-21)

Thursday July 14
Canada def Dominican Republic, 3-0 (25-22, 25-18, 25-20)
Cuba def Puerto Rico, 3-1 (25-17, 23-25, 25-20, 25-20)
United States def Mexico, 3-0 (25-18, 25-23, 25-19)

Friday July 15
Canada def Puerto Rico, 3-0 (25-18, 25-22, 25-23)
United States def Dominican Republic, 3-0 (25-13, 25-16, 25-20)
Cuba def Mexico, 3-0 (25-20, 25-18, 25-22)

Saturday July 16
Fifth place: Mexico def Dominican Republic, 3-1 (25-20, 21-25, 25-18, 26-24)
Semifinal: Canada def United States, 3-2 (25-21, 23-25, 25-21, 18-25, 15-9)
Semifinal: Cuba def Puerto Rico, 3-0 (25-20, 25-18, 25-22)

Sunday July 17
5 p.m. Bronze: USA vs Puerto Rico
7 p.m. Gold: Canada vs Cuba