UCLA opposite David Decker made most of his debut at the U23 Pan American Cup.
Decker finished with both a match-high six aces and 14 kills on a .385 attack percentage as the United States swept the Dominican Republic 25-19, 25-18, 25-22 on Wednesday in El Salvador.
Decker had three aces during a 7-0 run late in the third game to erase an 18-15 deficit. The opposite also led the United States with five kills in the final game of the team’s pool-play opening win.
The United States committed five attack errors the entire match and out-hit the Dominican Republic .534 to .257.
Three U.S. players had more than five kills and zero errors against the Dominican Republic.
Loyola middle attacker Aidan Klein added eight kills on a team-best .727 attack percentage, including having five kills in the final game. BYU outside attacker Trevor Herget had 10 kills on a .714 attack percentage, while Ball State middle attacker Will Patterson had six kills and hit .600.
Loyola outside attacker Ayden DesLauriers also had six kills.
Pin-hitter Malik Zahir Britton Sosa in the loss led the Dominican Republic with 14 kills. Britton Sosa, though, was the only Dominican Republic player to have double-digit kills.