The United States is moving on to the Round of 16 at the FIVB U19 World Championship.
Pepperdine outside attacker Grant Lamoureux had a match-high 20 kills as the United States defeated South Korea 25-27, 28-26, 25-22, 25-19 in its pool-play finale on Tuesday in Uzbekistan.
The United States with this victory finished in the top four of its six-team pool and clinched a berth to the Round of 16.
Lamoureux had at least five kills in each of the final three games to help secure the win. The outside attacker had a game-high five kills in the final game, including the match-winning kill.
This was the fifth consecutive match to open the tournament that Lamoureux had double-digit kills and the second time the sophomore finished with at least 20 kills. Lamoureux also finished pool-play fifth among all players at the tournament with 84 kills.
The United States utilizing multiple setters during the match out-hit South Korea .433 to .124.
The United States limited South Korea to a zero attack percentage in the final two games and finished with a tournament-high 20 blocks – 18 more blocks than South Korea.
Along with the offensive performance, Lamoureux had a match-high five blocks. Hawai’i commit Roman Payne and UC Santa Barbara commit William Dryden each also had five blocks.
South Korea middle attacker Kangho Bang in the loss finished with a match-high six aces.
The United States following this victory will play Bulgaria in the Round of 16 on Wednesday.
Bulgaria finished in first place in Pool B with wins against China, Japan, Algeria and Canada.