U.S. Men Will Play for Gold at 2024 Pan Am Cup

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (July 20, 2024) – The U.S. Men’s National Team will play for Pan American Cup gold on Sunday after defeating Cuba today in a thrilling five-set match (25-15, 23-25, 25-23, 24-26, 15-11) at the Professor Ricardo Gioriber Arias Volleyball Palace in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

The U.S. (4-1) will face Canada for gold on July 21 at 2 pm. PT.

Both teams hit well in the match, with the U.S. notching a .335 hitting efficiency and Cuba at .301. Cuba held the advantage in kills (59-57), with both teams collecting 11 blocks and five aces. Errors made the difference, as Cuba had 27 service errors to 16 for the U.S. The Americans scored 39 points off of Cuba’s errors.

The U.S. Men came out on fire in set one, winning 25-15 with no indication the match would turn into a five-set battle. They never trailed in the set, leading 21-10 before Cuba scored a couple of points to close the gap. The U.S. hit .533 in a balanced attack led by opposite Gabi Garcia with four points. Outside hitter Ethan Champlin scored three, and middle blocker Daniel Wetter, outside Cooper Robinson and setter Quinn Isaacson scored two.

Sets two, three and four were tight, with neither team gaining a significant advantage throughout. In set five, the U.S. kept a slight edge after a Robinson kill made it 7-6 midway through the match. At 9-8, the U.S. scored four of the next five, with kills by Garcia and middle Michael Marshman, and a block from Isaacson to make it 13-9. Robinson put the match away at 15-11 with a kill.

Garcia led all scorers with 25 points on 22 kills, two aces and a block; he hit .400 for the match. Wetter had 14 points on eight kills and a match-high six blocks. Champlin finished with 13 points on 12 kills and an ace. Robinson and Marshman both had eight points; Robinson on seven kills and a block, and Marshman on eight kills. Isaacson finished with three blocks and two aces along with leading the strong U.S. offense.

Libero Mason Briggs had a match-high 21 digs and was credited with 18 excellent receptions.

USA Volleyball U.S. Men’s Roster for the 2024 Pan American Cup

No. Name (Pos., Height, Hometown, School, USAV Region)
2 Cooper Robinson (OH, 6-7, Pacific Palisades, Calif., UCLA, Southern California)
3 Gabi Garcia (OPP, 6-7, San Juan, Puerto Rico, BYU)
4 Merrick McHenry (MB, 6-7, Bedford, Texas, UCLA, North Texas)
6 Quinn Isaacson (S, 6-2, Plainfield, Ill., Ball State, Great Lakes)
7 Jacob Pasteur (OH, 6-4, Westminster, Md., Ohio State Univ., Chesapeake)
8 Nolan Flexen (OH, 6-9, Rio Rancho, New Mexico, UC-Irvine, Southern)
13 Patrick Gasman (MB, 6-10, Clovis, Calif., Univ. of Hawaii, Northern California)
15 Mason Briggs (L, 6-0, Long Beach, Calif., Long Beach State, Southern California)
22 Timothy McIntosh (L, 6-0, Miami, Fla., Sacred Heart, Florida)
24 Brett Wildman (OH, 6-5, Virginia Beach, Va., Penn State, Old Dominion)
25 Ethan Champlin (OH, 6-3, Oceanside, Calif., UCLA, Southern California)
27 Michael Marshman (MB, 6-7, Glenmont, N.Y., St. Francis Univ., Excelsior Empire)
28 Nicholas Slight (S, 6-3, Storm Lake, Iowa, Grand Canyon Univ., Iowa)
30 Daniel Wetter (MB, 6-5, Camarillo, Calif., CSU-Northridge, Paris Volley)

Head Coach: Andy Read
Assistant Coach: Morteza Shiari
Assistant Coach: Jay Hosack
Physiotherapist: Rachel Kirkpatrick
Manager: Jimmy Kim

U.S. Men’s Schedule for the Pan American Cup
All Times Pacific Daylight
Follow Live Stats for each match.
Watch Gold Medal Match Live

July 14 USA def. Puerto Rico, 3-1 (25-21, 25-18, 29-31, 25-18)
July 15 USA def. Mexico, 3-1 (25-19, 23-25, 25-20, 25-18)
July 16 Canada def USA, 3-2 (19-25, 25-20, 25-27, 25-23, 15-9)
July 17 USA def. Chile, 3-0 (25-23, 25-14, 25-15)
July 19 Quarterfinals, USA def. Dominican Republic, 3-0 (25-19, 25-21, 25-20)
July 20 2 p.m. Semifinals, USA def. Cuba, 3-2 (25-15, 23-25, 25-23, 24-26, 15-11)
July 21 2 p.m. Gold Medal Match vs. Canada