For the first time since 2014, the U.S. Men’s National Team has achieved a remarkable feat by bringing home a medal from the Pan American Cup. The team secured the bronze after a thrilling victory over the host country, the Dominican Republic, with a score of 3-1 (25-23, 19-25, 25-23, 25-15) in the third-place match held in Santo Domingo. This triumph came as a redemption after a previous loss to the Dominican Republic in the round-robin stage.
Head coach Andy Read expressed his immense pride in the players and their outstanding performance during the past three weeks. He hailed the team’s resilience and determination against a formidable Dominican Republic side, stating, “Today we played perhaps our strongest match against a determined Dominican Republic team.”
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In the attack, both teams scored 49 points, but the U.S. managed to gain an edge by outblocking (12-8) and outserving (5-3) the Dominican Republic. Five U.S. players excelled, with Merrick McHenry leading the way with 18 points, including eight blocks. McHenry’s impressive blocking skills earned him the recognition of being the tournament’s second-best middle blocker.
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Cole Gillis contributed 14 points, primarily through kills, while Daniel Wetter added 12 points, also from kills. Grant Sloan and Ethan Champlin each made valuable contributions with 10 points. The setter, Kevin Kauling, rounded out the scoring with a kill and an ace.
Defensively, libero Kyle Dagostino stood out by leading the team with 26 receptions, 69% of which were positive and 42% excellent.
The U.S. team claimed a hard-fought victory in the first set, only to see the Dominican Republic striking back and winning the second set. The third set was fiercely contested, with the U.S. maintaining the lead, but the hosts remained within striking distance. However, Cole Gillis sealed the victory with a match-ending kill, despite the Dominican Republic’s efforts to mount a comeback. In the fourth set, the U.S. dominated from start to finish, never trailing and securing the bronze medal with a decisive 17-8 scoring run.
In the championship match, Mexico emerged triumphant, defeating Canada 3-0 (25-17, 26-24, 25-20) to claim the gold medal.
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With this achievement, the United States now has eight medals from the Pan American Cup, a testament to the team’s consistency and success in the tournament. Only Argentina has won more Pan Am Cup medals than the U.S. This bronze medal marks the first time the U.S. Men’s National Team has reached the podium in the Pan American Cup since its inception.
Schedule
- September 3: USA def. Mexico, 3-0 (25-17, 29-27, 25-20)
- September 4: USA def. Puerto Rico, 3-0 (25-17, 25-23, 26-24)
- September 5: Dominican Republic def. USA, 3-2 (25-23, 25-18, 22-25, 17-25, 15-8)
- September 6: USA def. Suriname, 3-0 (25-14, 25-11, 25-14)
- September 7: USA def. Canada, 3-2 (21-25, 25-18, 31-29, 18-25, 15-13)
- September 8: Semifinal – Mexico def. USA, 3-0 (25-22, 29-27, 25-20)
- September 9: Bronze Medal Match – USA def. Dominican Republic, 3-1 (25-23, 19-25, 25-23, 25-15)
Roster
- No. Name (Position, Height, Hometown, College, USAV Region)
- 2 Shane Holdaway (Middle Blocker, 6-8, Huntington Beach, Calif.; Long Beach State, Southern California)
- 3 Kevin Kauling (Setter, 6-8, Naperville, Ill.; Lewis, Great Lakes)
- 4 Cole Gillis (Outside Hitter, 6-5, San Jose, Calif.; UC Irvine, Northern California)
- 5 Jacob Pasteur (Opposite, 6-4, Westminster, Md.; Ohio State, Chesapeake)
- 8* Tyler Mitchem (Middle Blocker, 6-11, Bolingbrook, Ill.; Lewis, Great Lakes)
- 9 Nathan Lietzke (Setter, 6-6, Austin, Texas; Stanford, Lone Star)
- 11 Francesco Sani (Outside Hitter, 6-6, Bethesda, Md.; UC Irvine, Chesapeake)
- 13 Merrick McHenry (Middle Blocker, 6-7, Bedford, Texas; UCLA, North Texas)
- 14 Ethan Champlin (Outside Hitter, 6-2, Oceanside, Calif.; UCLA, Southern California)
- 15 Daniel Wetter (Middle Blocker, 6-5, Camarillo, Calif.; CSUN, Southern California)
- 18 Grant Sloane (Outside Hitter, 6-7, Irvine, Calif.; UCLA, Southern California)
- 19 Kyle McCauley (Outside Hitter, 6-4, Huntington Beach, Calif.; UC San Diego, Southern California)
- 22 Matthew Palma (Libero, 5-11, Costa Mesa, Calif.; UC San Diego, Southern California)
- 24 Kyle Dagostino (Libero, 5-9, Tampa, Fla.; Stanford ‘19, Florida)
Head Coach: Andy Read
Assistant Coach: Morteza Shiari
Assistant Coach: Patrick Shawaryn
Team Manager/Statistician: Joe Skinner
Athletic Trainer: Jackie Chan
FAQs
Q: How did the U.S. Men’s National Team perform in the Pan American Cup?
A: The U.S. Men’s National Team had an outstanding performance in the Pan American Cup, securing the bronze medal. This achievement marks their first podium finish since 2014.
Q: Who was the standout player for the U.S. team?
A: Merrick McHenry stood out as the star player for the U.S. team. He scored 18 points, including eight blocks, and was recognized as the tournament’s second-best middle blocker.
Q: How many medals does the United States have in the Pan American Cup?
A: The United States has a remarkable record in the Pan American Cup, with a total of eight medals. This places them among the most successful countries in the history of the tournament.
Summary
In the fiercely contested Men’s Pan American Cup, the U.S. Men’s National Team showcased their skills and determination, ultimately capturing the bronze medal. Head coach Andy Read commended his players for their exceptional performance and expressed his pride in their efforts. The team’s victory over the Dominican Republic in the third-place match was a testament to their resilience and teamwork.
With a balanced attack and solid defense, the U.S. team proved to be a formidable competitor throughout the tournament. Merrick McHenry’s outstanding blocking skills earned him recognition as one of the tournament’s top performers. The U.S. team’s achievement adds to their impressive medal tally in the Pan American Cup.
For more information about the U.S. Men’s National Team and upcoming events, visit Alpinetgheep.com.
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Danh mục: Volleyball
