U.S. Men Finish Final 6 Round Robin Undefeated

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Sept. 23, 2023) – The U.S. Men’s National Team competing at the NORCECA Pan American Cup Final 6 finished undefeated in the round robin, sweeping Cuba (25-21, 25-20, 25-13) on Saturday in Edmonton, Alberta.

The U.S. Men (5-0) will play for the gold medal at 3:30 p.m. PT on Sunday against either Canada or Mexico.

MATCH STATISTICS

The U.S. Men led Cuba in kills (30-22), blocks (12-6) and aces (6-3). The U.S. scored 26 points on Cuba’s errors and gave up 22.

Opposite Jalen Penrose made his first start and led U.S. scoring with 11 points on a match-high nine kills, one block and one ace.

“Cuba is a team that always puts up a fight,” Penrose said. “They’ve got young, athletic guys. They bring some intensity to the match. We just had to match that, and we did.”

Outside hitters Zach Rama and Kyle McCauley each scored 10 points. Rama, who made his first start, scored on seven kills, two blocks and one ace. He led the team in excellent receptions with six and in digs with five. McCauley had six kills, two blocks and two aces.

Middle blocker Michael Marshman scored eight points on a match-high five blocks and three aces. Middle Merrick McHenry totaled eight points on four kills, two blocks and two aces.

Setter Bryce Dvorak made his first start and scored one point on a kill. He set the U.S. to a .327 hitting efficiency.

Starting libero Mason Briggs was credited with five excellent receptions and two digs. Troy Gooch took over in the third set and had one excellent reception.

Matches will be livestreamed on: youtube.com/@TheVolleyballCanada

U.S. Men’s Roster for the Pan American Cup
No. Name (Pos., Height, Hometown, School, USAV Region)
2 Troy Gooch (L, 6-0, Buffalo, N.Y., UCLA, Western Empire)
4 Jordan Ewert (OH, 6-5, Antioch, Calif., Stanford, Northern California)
6 Bryce Dvorak (S, 6-4, Newport Beach, Calif., Pepperdine, Southern California)
9 Matthew Knigge (MB, 6-7, New Egypt, N.J., Vassar, Garden Empire)
10 Camden Gianni (Opp, 6-5, Carlsbad, Calif., Grand Canyon, Southern California)
12 Andrew Rowan (S, 6-7, 2003, Trabuco Canyon, Calif., UCLA, Southern California)
13C Patrick Gasman (MB, 6-10, Clovis, Calif., Univ. of Hawaii, Northern California)
20 Zach Rama (OH, 6-8, 2004, Phoenix, Ariz., UCLA, Arizona)
21 Mason Briggs (L, 6-0, Long Beach, Calif., Long Beach State Univ., Southern California)
22 Kyle McCauley (OH, 6-4, Huntington Beach, Calif., UC San Diego, Southern California)
23 Michael Marshman (MB, 6-7, Glenmont, N.Y., St. Francis Univ., Excelsior Empire)
25 Ethan Champlin (OH, 6-3, Oceanside, Calif., UCLA, Southern California)
26 Merrick McHenry (MB, 6-7, Bedford, Texas, UCLA, North Texas)
27 Jalen Penrose (OP, 6-8, Cambridge, Mass., Penn State, New England)