U.S. offense near flawless, sweeps Chile at Pan Am Cup

·

Photo courtesy of the FIVB and NORCECA

The bounce back was big for the United States following its first loss at the Pan American Cup.

The United States finished with a tournament-high .550 attack percentage as it swept Chile 25-23, 25-14, 25-15 on Wednesday in the Dominican Republic.

This pool-play victory comes a day after the United States suffered a five-game loss to Canada. In addition, the United States with the sweep secures quarterfinals berth and remains in contention for a possible bye to the semifinals.

The United States did not commit an attack error in the final two games and finished with a tournament-low three errors. Former Grand Canyon setter Nic Slight guided the offense to more than a .400 attack percentage in all three games, including a match-best .650 attack percentage in the final game.

<

UCLA outside attacker Cooper Robinson led all players with seven kills and zero errors on a .700 attack percentage. Former Saint Francis middle attacker Michael Marshman also had seven kills and hit a match-best .750, while former Penn State outside attacker Brett Wildman contributed seven kills on a .333 attack percentage.

The United States out-blocked Chile 10 to 2 and limited Chile to a .149 attack percentage.

Slight and former CSUN middle attacker Daniel Wetter each had a match-high three blocks. Robinson contributed two blocks against Chile.

Former Purdue Fort Wayne pin-hitter Vicente Ibarra in the loss had a team-high six kills

The United States will have an off-day on the final day of pool-play. The team will finish Pool A in at least second place and needs undefeated Canada to lose to Chile to finish in first place.

The first-place team in the five-team pool will receive a bye to the semifinals, while the second and third place teams will advance to the quarterfinals on Friday.