The service game for the United States was ready right from the start at the U21 Pan American Cup.
The United States finished with 11 aces as it swept the Dominican Republic 25-13, 25-9, 25-21 in its pool-play opener Tuesday in Guatemala.
The United States had as many service errors as aces in a match that lasted 60 minutes. In addition, both Hawai’i opposite Kainoa Wade and UC Irvine setter Cameron Kosty led all players with four aces.
Wade opened the match with a game-high three aces in the first game, including two aces as part of a 10-3 run to close out the game. Kosty also had all four of his aces during a 6-0 run to start the second game.
Along with the serving performance, Kosty guided the United States offense to out-hit the Dominican Republic .390 to .103.
Long Beach State middle attacker Jackson Cryst led the United States with seven kills and zero errors on a .700 attack percentage. Cryst was one of three U.S. players to have at least four kills and not commit an error against the Dominican Republic.
Stanford outside attacker Aleksey Mikhailenko added five kills on a .555 attack percentage, while Wade had four kills and hit .571.
Cryst and Mikhailenko also each led all players with three blocks.
The United States limited the Dominican Republic to less than a .050 attack percentage in each of the first two games.
Pin-hitter Malik Zahir Britton Sosa in the loss had a match-high 12 kills. Sosa, though, was the only Dominican Republic player to have both more than a zero attack percentage and more than one kill.
The United States will continue pool-play with a match against Venezuela on Wednesday.
Venezuela suffered a three-game loss to Mexico in its pool-play opener on Tuesday.