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BYU got a glimmer of how offensively potent it could be next season as the United States earned a much needed win at an international tournament
BYU outside attacker Jake Langlois and opposite Ben Patch each had more than 15 kills to help the United States sweep Mexico 30-28, 25-22, 27-25 on Thursday in Reno, Nevada for its first group-play win at the Pan American Cup.
Patch making his first start of the tournament finished with a match-high 17 kills and added two blocks. It was also the first time Patch started a match since the 2013 Newcomer of the Year returned the volleyball court earlier this year following a two-year church mission.
Langlois in the victory had 16 kills, including the game-winning kills in both the first-game overtime and the second game.
Patch and Langlois were the only U.S. players to have double-digit kills in the victory. In addition, Loyola middle attacker Jeff Jendryk, a 2015 Off the Block/Springbak, Inc. Freshmen All-American selection, added seven kills against Mexico (0-2, 1 point).
The United States (1-1, 6 points) out-blocked Mexico 8 to 4. UC Santa Barbara All-American setter Jonah Seif led all players with three blocks and was one of five U.S. players with at least one block.
Mexico outside attacker Jorge Barajas in the loss had a team-high 13 kills.
This U.S. sweep comes one day after the team lost its group-play opener against Venezuela. The win also moves the United States into sole possession of second place and two points ahead of third-place Venezuela (1-1, 4 points) entering the final day of the group-play stage.
The top team in each group will receive a bye to the Pan American Cup semifinals, while the second and third place teams will advance to quarterfinals on Saturday.
The United States will conclude its group play against first-place Argentina (2-0, 8 points) on Friday.