Friday, 17 May 2024

Pan Am Cup Team Beats Puerto Rico for 5th

The U.S. Men’s Pan American Cup Team demonstrated their resilience and secured a victory against Puerto Rico, finishing in fifth place in Colima, Mexico. Despite their quarterfinal loss to Argentina, the U.S. team bounced back with a commanding performance, winning the match with scores of 25-17, 25-23, and 25-18. This victory allowed them to end the tournament on a positive note.

Best Digger Award for Kyle Dagostino

U.S. libero, Kyle Dagostino, showcased his exceptional skills on the court and was named the Best Digger with an impressive average of 3.88 digs per set. This recognition adds to the team’s achievements and highlights Dagostino’s contributions to their success.

Lessons Learned and Areas for Improvement

U.S. Head Coach Milan Zarkovic emphasized the importance of learning from the tournament and acknowledged that there is still work to be done. He expressed his optimism for the upcoming Pan American Games, in which most of the players will be competing. This experience will serve as a valuable foundation for the team’s future endeavors.

Standout Performances

James Shaw, playing as the opposite, led all scorers with 15 points, recording 14 kills and an ace. Sam Holt, the outside hitter, made a significant contribution with 14 points, including 11 kills, two blocks, and one ace. Colton Cowell, another outside hitter, scored 10 points through seven kills and three aces.

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Solid Defense and Impressive Stats

Brendan Schmidt and George Huhmann, the middle blockers, each scored seven points, with Schmidt boasting a match-high of four blocks. The U.S. team displayed their dominance by outperforming Puerto Rico in key areas. They had a higher hitting percentage with .388 compared to Puerto Rico’s .140, out-hit them with 44 kills against 30, and showcased superior blocking skills with 10 blocks compared to Puerto Rico’s five. Additionally, the U.S. team led in aces with a score of 4-3.

U.S. Starters and Key Statistics

The U.S. team’s starting lineup against Puerto Rico consisted of Colton Cowell and Sam Holt as outside hitters, Brendan Schmidt and George Huhmann as middle blockers, James Shaw as the opposite, Josh Tuaniga as the setter, and Kyle Dagostino as the libero. The statistics for the match revealed Shaw as the leading scorer with 14 kills, Holt with 11 kills, Cowell with seven kills, and Schmidt with four blocks. Dagostino continued to shine defensively, recording 24 digs.

Summary

In summary, the U.S. Men’s Pan American Cup Team displayed their resilience and determination by defeating Puerto Rico and securing fifth place in the tournament. Led by standout performances from players like James Shaw and Sam Holt, the team showcased their skills and dominated in various statistical categories. Although they faced setbacks, Head Coach Milan Zarkovic expressed his optimism for the future and emphasized the valuable lessons learned from the competition.

If you want to stay up to date with the U.S. Men’s Pan American Cup Team and their upcoming matches, visit Alpinetgheep.com for more information!

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