The blocking dominance of the United States continued at the Pan American Cup.
The United States had 12 blocks and limited the host nation Mexico to a .053 attack percentage en route to a 25-16, 25-20, 25-16 semifinals victory on Saturday.
USC middle attacker Parker Tomkinson led all players with four blocks, including having the match-winning block to clinch the United States a spot in the gold-medal match. Former UCLA middle attacker Cameron Thorne also had three blocks highlighted with a block during a 9-2 run to close out the opening game.
Mexico hit zero in the first game and finished the match with 23 attack errors – 13 more errors than the United States.
Former Ohio State setter Michael Wright guided the U.S. offense to a .426 attack percentage in the sweep. The United States committed four combined errors in the final two games and a match-best .542 attack percentage in the second game.
Former Ball State outside attacker Patrick Rogers had a match-high nine kills and one error on a .444 attack percentage. Both Thorne and former CSUN pin-hitter Kyle Hobus added eight kills against Mexico.
Pin-hitter Diego Gonzalez Castañeda in the loss led Mexico with nine kills. Gonzalez Castañeda, though, was the Mexican player to have more than six kills.
This was the second consecutive match that the United States had double-digit blocks. The team had 12 blocks in a quarterfinals victory against Dominican Republic on Friday.
The United States with this victory will advance to play Puerto Rico in the gold-medal match on Sunday. Puerto Rico upset the top seed Canada in its semifinal match on Saturday.
The United States during the pool-play stage swept Puerto Rico and finished that match with 11 blocks.