U.S. Men Top Puerto Rico to Open Pan Am Cup

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Aug. 15, 2023) – The U.S. Men’s National Team began the 2023 NORCECA Pan American Cup with a 3-0 (26-24, 25-13, 25-23) win over Puerto Rico on Tuesday at the Astros Arena in Guadalajara, Mexico.

The U.S. (1-0) return to the court Wednesday with a 1 p.m. PT match against Chile to close pool play.

Match Statistics (PDF)

The U.S. nearly doubled Puerto Rico in kills (44-23) with a .322 hitting efficiency percentage. Three players, all from the U.S., reached double digits in points.

Opposite Parker Van Buren led the way with 15 points on 14 kills and one ace to help the U.S. to a 7-3 advantage in aces. Outside Jacob Pasteur matched Van Buren with 14 kills, while middle blocker Patrick Gasman contributed 10 points on six kills, two blocks and two aces. The teams were even in blocks with six apiece.

Outside hitter Ethan Champlin totaled seven points on four kills and a match-high three aces, and middle blocker Michael Marshman scored six points in the first set on four kills and two blocks. Middle blocker Merrick McHenry added four points with two kills and two blocks.

The U.S. started the match quickly, taking an 8-4 lead, but Puerto Rico used a 10-4 run to take a 14-12 lead. Trailing 18-14, the U.S. scored three consecutive points, the last of which keyed by a terrific pancake dig by McIntosh. Two kills by Pasteur and a hitting error gave the U.S. a 24-22 lead. Puerto Rico rallied to tie the set at 24, but back-to-back kills by Van Buren gave the U.S. the set.

As they did in the first set, the U.S. took an 8-4 lead in the second set, but this time controlled play the entire set. A Gasman ace extended the lead to 11 at 21-10. All seven U.S. aces were in the second set. Van Buren (six points) and Pasteur each recorded five kills.

It was Puerto Rico’s turn to jump out in front in the third set, leading most of the way until a 3-0 U.S. run turned a 17-15 deficit into a one-point lead. The set was tight the rest of the way with the U.S. scoring the final two points to clinch the match.

“This is thanks to teamwork, the time we’ve trained together, the confidence we have in each other, and our commitment to doing what each of us is responsible for,” Van Buren said.

The U.S. Men have won the Pan American Cup five times, most recently in 2012. They finished third in 2022. Cuba won the last two editions in 2022 and 2019.

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)
3 Cole Bogner (S, 6-3, Chesapeake, Va., Penn State, Old Dominion)
6 Timothy McIntosh (L, 6-0, Miami, Fla., Sacred Heart, Florida)
7 Jacob Pasteur (OH, 6-4, Westminster, Md., Ohio State Univ., Chesapeake)
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)
13 Patrick Gasman (MB, 6-10, Clovis, Calif., Univ. of Hawaii, Northern California)
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)
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)
24 Brett Wildman (OH, 6-5, Virginia Beach, Va., Penn State, Old Dominion)
25 Ethan Champlin (OH, 6-3, Oceanside, Calif., UCLA, Southern California)
26 Merrick McHenry (MB, 6-7, Bedford, Texas, UCLA, North Texas)

Head Coach: Andy Read
Assistant Coach: Angel Nikolov
Assistant Coach: Samuel Stafford
Team Leader/Performance Analyst: Nathaniel Wilson
Athletic Trainer: Benjamin Colletti

U.S. Men’s Schedule for the Pan American Cup
All Times Pacific Daylight

Aug. 15 USA def. Puerto Rico, 3-0 (26-24, 25-13, 25-23)
Aug. 16 at 1 p.m. USA vs Chile
Aug. 18 Playoffs for semifinals
Aug. 19 Classification matches and semifinals
Aug. 20 Classification matches and finals