Outside attacker Grant Lamoureux came up big yet again for the United States at the FIVB U19 World Championship.
Lamoureux finished with a match-high 25 kills on a .611 attack percentage as the United States defeated Colombia 25-19, 19-25, 25-18, 30-32, 15-9 in pool-play on Saturday in Uzbekistan.
The Pepperdine sophomore had a combined 13 kills in the final two games, including game-high five kills on a perfect 1.000 attack percentage in the decisive fifth game. Lamoureux also did not commit an attack error through the first three games to help the United States avoid the upset against winless Colombia.
This is the third consecutive match to open the tournament that Lamoureux had double-digit kills. In addition, Lamoureux is one of four players at the tournament to have more than 50 kills through the first three matches.
Along with the offensive performance, Lamoureux led all players with five aces against Colombia.
Long Beach State commit Lucas Helle guided the U.S. offense to out-hit .388 to .257. The United States in the final game did not commit an attack error and had a match-best .778 attack percentage.
Hawai’i commit Roman Payne added 13 kills on a .550 attack percentage, while UC Santa Barbara commit William Dryden had eight kills.
Colombia pin-hitter Maicol Isaac Ortiz Castaneda in the loss had a team-high 20 kills.
The United States with this victory moves into third place in its pool with two remaining pool-play matches. The top four teams in the six-team pool at the end pool-play will advance to the Round of 16.