Not many Puerto Rico attack attempts hit the court with libero Troy Gooch in the back row.
Gooch led all players with a tournament-high 20 digs as the United States swept Puerto Rico 25-21, 26-24, 25-18 at the Pan American Cup on Tuesday in Mexico.
The former Purdue Fort Wayne and UCLA libero had a game-high nine digs in the second game, including multiple digs during a run to erase a five-point deficit midway through the game. Gooch also had eight digs in the final game to help the United States secure the sweep and remain undefeated in pool-play.
Hawai’i setter Tread Rosenthal guided the U.S. offense to out-hit Puerto Rico .383 to .160.
Former Ball State outside attacker Patrick Rogers had a match-high 11 kills on a .450 attack percentage and led all players with four kills in the final game. UCLA outside attacker Sean Kelly added 10 kills and hit .381, while Hawai’i opposite Kainoa Wade had eight kills.
The United States finished with 11 blocks – 10 more blocks than Puerto Rico.
USC middle attacker Parker Tomkinson finished with a match-high four blocks highlighted with the game-winning block in the second-game overtime.
Puerto Rico pin-hitter Pedro Molina in the loss had a team-high 10 kills. Molina, though, was the only Puerto Rico player to have more than six kills.