The biggest pool-play match of the tournament for the United States was memorable for all the wrong reasons.
The United States was held to a tournament-low .078 attack percentage as it lost to Canada 25-19, 25-18, 34-32 at the Pan American Cup on Thursday in Mexico.
Both the United States and Canada entered this pool-play finale undefeated with the winner clinching the Pool A title and a bye to the semifinals. Despite the loss, the United States remains in medal contention and had already clinched a berth to the quarterfinals.
The United States hit less than .100 in each of the final two games, including the team having a negative-.025 attack percentage in the third game.
Former Ball State outside attacker Patrick Rogers in the loss had a match-high 11 kills on a .444 attack percentage. Rogers, though, was the only U.S. player to have both more than five kills and hit more than zero.
Canada out-blocked the United States 10 to 7 highlighted with outside attacker Kaden Schmidt having a match-high five blocks.
Schmidt also contributed eight kills on a .375 attack percentage. Pin-hitter Erik Siksna led Canada with nine kills, while Long Beach State opposite Daniil Hershtynovich added six kills against the United States.
Canada finished with a .310 attack percentage and committed 10 attack errors – 15 fewer errors than the United States.
Canada in the third game overcame an early five-point deficit and had a match-point opportunity that the United States fought off to force overtime. The United States in the overtime survived eight more Canadian match-point opportunities before losing on an attack error.
The United States with this loss will play the Dominican Republic in the quarterfinals on Friday.
The Dominican Republic finished Pool B in third place at 2-2 with victories against Cuba and Curacao.