U.S. Men's National Team Drops Match to Venezuela to Open 2025 Pan Am Cup

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (August 26, 2025) – In a match in which two of the three sets went to extra points, the U.S. Men’s National Team dropped its 2025 NORCECA Pan American Cup opener to Venezuela, 3-0 (25-21, 28-26, 31-29) on Tuesday in León, Guanajuato, Mexico.

The U.S. has a quick turnaround time before facing Antigua tomorrow, Wednesday, Aug. 27 at 9 a.m. PT.

Venezuela led in blocks (43-40) and aces (5-2) with the U.S. finishing with one more block (8-7). Venezuela committed three fewer errors (29-26).

Three U.S. players reached double digits with outside hitter Nolan Flexen leading all players with 14 kills while hitting at an impressive .440 efficiency percentage. He added an ace to lead the U.S. with 15 points. Opposite Kyle Hobus totaled 13 points on 12 kills and a block.

Middle blocker Daniel Wetter posted a match-high four blocks to go with five kills and an ace for 10 points. Libero Troy Gooch led the U.S. with 11 successful receptions and a match-best eight digs. Outside Ryan Barnett contributed seven points with six kills and a block. He added eight successful receptions.

Setter Andrew Rowan recorded 20 assists. Middle Cam Thorne added three points on two kills and a block.

An ace gave Venezuela a 7-3 lead to start the match and the lead stretched to six points, 16-10. A Flexen ace cut the deficit to four points, 18-14, but Venezuela scored the next two points to regain its six-point advantage. A Hobus kill cut the margin back to four points, at 21-17 and 22-18. After the teams traded service errors, a Wetter ace brought the U.S. within three, 23-20, for the first time since 9-6. The final three points of the set were service errors. Hobus led all players with seven points on six kills and a block.

The second set started out 11-11 with four U.S. service errors. A Hobus kill and Wetter block gave the U.S. its first two-point lead of the match, 14-12. A Wetter kill made it 15-13 before Venezuela regained the lead by scoring the next three points, prompting the U.S. to take a timeout.

A Flexen kill and a Venezuela hitting error put the U.S. back out in front, 18-17, and a Thorne kill made it 19-18. An ace put Venezuela ahead 20-19. Wetter kills evened the set at 20-20 and 21-21 but Venezuela took a two-point lead again, 23-21, forcing a second U.S. timeout. Two errors squared the set at 23. The U.S. fought off set point on three occasions before Venezuela took the set and a 2-0 match lead. Flexen recorded five kills in the set.

Three Flexen kills and a Wetter ace sparked the U.S. to a 5-2 start in the third set. Venezuela scored the next three points and neither team was able to take a two-point lead until Flexen and Hobus kills put the U.S. ahead 13-11. A service error started a three-point run that gave Venezuela the lead.

Two errors and a Wetter kill allowed the U.S. to re-establish a two-point lead, 16-14. After ceding a point, the U.S. went up by three for the second time in the match, 18-15, on a Barnett kill and Wetter block. A Flexen kill and a Venezuela error raised the margin to four points, 21-17. Venezuela scored four of the next five points to pull within a point, 22-21. The teams traded service errors and a hitting error tied the set at 23 apiece.

Barnett kills gave the U.S. its first set points of the match at 24-23 and 25-24. A Hobus kill put the U.S. on the brink of taking the set again but Venezuela saved a third set point. The U.S. also led 27-26, 28-27, and 29-28 before Venezuela scored the final three points to take the match after surviving six set points. Flexen registered six kills in the set, while Wetter totaled five points on three blocks and a pair of kills.

U.S. Men’s Roster for 2025 Pan Am Cup

No. Name (Pos., Ht., Hometown, College, USAV Region)
1 Matthew Gentry (MB, 6-7, Hudson, Ohio, Lincoln Memorial, Ohio Valley)
2 Kaleb Jenness (OH, 6-6, Mount Pleasant, S.C., Ball State, Palmetto)
3 Troy Gooch (L, 6-0, Buffalo, N.Y., UCLA, Western Empire)
4 Ryan Barnett (OH, 6-5, Vero Beach, Fla., Pepperdine, Florida)
10 Isaiah Preuitt (MB, 6-8, Portland, Ore., Long Beach State, Columbia Empire)
13 Andrew Deardorff (OH, 6-5, Itasca, Ill., Saint Francis, Great Lakes)
14 Parker Van Buren (OPP, 6-9, Cross Plains, Wis., Loyola Chicago, Badger)
15 Kyle Hobus (OPP, 6-7, San Pedro, Calif., CSUN, Southern California Southern Nevada)
16 Jacob Reilly (L, 6-2. Cypress, Texas, Pepperdine, Lone Star)
17 Andrew Rowan (S, 6-7, Trabuco Canyon, Calif., UCLA, Southern California Southern Nevada)
18 Michael Wright (S, 6-4, Richmond, Va., Ohio State, Old Dominion)
20 Cameron Thorne (MB, 6-4, Hollywood, Calif., UCLA, Florida Region)
23 Nolan Flexen (OH, 6-9, Rio Rancho, N.M., UC Irvine, Southern)
30 Daniel Wetter (MB, 6-5, Camarillo, Calif., CSUN, Southern California Southern Nevada)

Coaches for Pan Am Cup
Head Coach: Andy Read
Assistant Coach: Luke Reynolds
Assistant Coach: Lawrence Wrather
Physiotherapist: Beth Drayer
Performance Analyst: Muhammad Mbaye
Team Leader: John Xie

Schedule
All times PT
Tuesday, Aug. 26: Venezuela def. USA, 3-0 (25-21, 28-26, 31-29)
Wednesday, Aug. 27: USA vs. Antigua, 9 a.m.
Thursday, Aug. 28: USA vs. Cuba, 5 p.m.
Friday, Aug. 29: Quarterfinals and Classifications 7/10
Saturday, Aug. 30: Semifinals
Sunday, Aug. 31: Medal matches and classifications