TEPIC, Nayarit, Mexico, July 16, 2022.- Canada beat the United States 3-2 (25-21, 23-25, 25-21, 18-25, 15-9) to play for the Men’s Pan American Cup NORCECA Final Six title at the Amado Nervo Auditorium of Tepic, Nayarit.
This is the second title match in a row for Canada, in last year’s edition of the Pan Am Final Six they won the silver medal falling to Mexico and the United States won the bronze over the Dominican Republic.
Canada will face the winner of the other semifinal between Cuba and Puerto Rico.
This was the second occasion in the event that Canada beat the United States, but in straight sets in their first outing.
The roller coaster semifinal match was led by Canada on a 59-45 advantage in kills and 5-2 in serves. The U.S. led in blocks with a 10-6 margin and committed fewer errors than Canada (36-44).
Opposite hitter Jordan Canham topped Canada with 19 points on 18 kills and one ace, while outside hitters Brandon Koppers and Logan House registered 18 and 10 points respectively.
From the United States, opposite hitter Francesco Sani scored a match-high of 20 points on 19 kills and one ace, followed by outside hitter Brett Wildman with 11 points.
Jordan Canham, Top scorer of Canada: “It’s so crazy, it´s always a dream to grow up and make it to this kind of team; to be able to play the best volleyball against some of the best teams is super surreal and then coming out with a win to reach the finals, it’s amazing. In the title match I would really like a rematch against Cuba”.
Francesco Sani, Top scorer of United States: “It was a great match from both teams, I think they got a little more serving pressure than us and that’s why they one the game, in the stretch we had a couple of receiving errors and missed serves, but I feel really good about our team and we’re ready to play tomorrow”.
Nathan Groenveld, Aisstant Coach of Canada: “We knew it was going to be really close and to win had to win the pass-battle, we weren’t winning it up to the fifth it started to come alive, we knew it was there. Both teams run well in the middle and the corner with the pipes. It was an incredible match, with a couple of great plays from the base line”.
Andy Read, Head Coach of United States: “It hurts, I feel for my guys, we lost to a very good Canada team, we both played what we are capable of, and we came off a little short. Tomorrow, we want to get the bronze, we want to go back home to show that we are a very good team and that would define it”.
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