Everything clicked offensively for the United States.
The United States finished with a tournament-high .515 attack percentage as it swept Costa Rica 25-14, 25-23, 25-19 in the U23 NORCECA Pan American Cup quarterfinals on Friday in Guatemala.
McKendree setter Nate Flayter opened the match guiding the offense to a match-best .714 attack percentage in the first game. In addition, the United States utilizing both Flayter and Loyola setter Ryan McElligott hit .600 in the second game.
Four U.S. players had at least five kills and more than a .400 attack percentage against Costa Rica.
Both Pepperdine pin-hitter Ryan Barnett and CSUN pin-hitter Jalen Phillips contributed a match-high eight kills. UCLA middle attacker Cameron Thorne had five kills on a perfect 1.000 attack percentage, while middle attacker Nicodemus Meyer added five kills and hit .833.
Meyer, the 2025 Off the Block National Blocker of the Year, also led all players with two blocks.
Costa Rica was held to a .054 attack percentage.
Costa Rica pin-hitter Dowshel Jekeal Mc Donald Smith in the loss finished with a team-high seven kills.
The United States with this victory will advance to the semifinals on Saturday. The team will play either Venezuela or the Dominican Republic depending on the results of the other semifinal match.
Both Venezuela and the Dominican Republic went undefeated in pool-play and earned byes to the semifinals.