Right from the start it was clear opposite Kainoa Wade would have a big offensive performance.
Wade had eight kills in the first game and finished with a match-high 16 kills as the United States defeated the Dominican Republic 22-25, 30-28, 25-17, 25-20 at the NORCECA Final Six on Wednesday in Puerto Rico.
Wade added two kills during the second-game overtime victory to help the United States rally from a one-game deficit. The Hawai’i sophomore also committed one attack error in the final two games and for the match hit .333.
Along with the offensive performance, Wade led all players with four aces against the Dominican Republic.
Three U.S. players finished with double-digit kills en route to the team earning its second consecutive victory.
UC San Diego pin-hitter Sebastiano Sani had 14 kills on a .323 attack percentage. Ball State outside attacker Patrick Rogers added 12 kills and hit .455, including having a game-high four kills and no errors in the final game.
Loyola setter Ryan McElligott and McKendree Nathan Flayter splitting time in the lineup guided the U.S. offense to out-hit the Dominican Republic .367 to .230.
McElligott also had the game-winning block to end the 10-point second-game overtime. The setter finished with a match-high three blocks.
Dominican Republic pin-hitter Wilfrido Hernandez in the loss had a team-high 13 kills.
The United States with this victory moves into second place in the tournament standings with two remaining pool-play matches. The top two teams at the end of pool-play will advance to the gold-medal match.