NOGALES, Mexico, June 16, 2024.- The United States won the gold medal at the NORCECA Men’s U21 Continental Championship defeating Canada 3-0 (25-18, 25-21, 27-25) on Sunday in Nogales, Mexico.
This is the fourth gold medal for the United States in the history of the event, for an overall of 11 medals (two silvers, five bronzes).
For Canada, this is their fifth silver medal. They also have two golds and three bronze medals.
United States led in attack points by a huge margin (44-29) and also finished with a comfortable lead in blocks (12-9). Both teams scored one ace. United States gave away 25 points from errors compared to Canada’s 20.
Outside hitter Sterling Foley scored 16 points (13 attacks, 3 blocks) to lead the victory. Captain and outside hitter Sean Kelly contributed 12 points, all from attacks. Cole Hartke added 11 points (9 attacks, one block, one ace). Middle blocker Jackson Cryst had a match-high of 5 block points.
Opposite hitter Owen Weekes, who came in as a substitute during the first two sets and played the entire third set, was Canada’s top scorer with 13 points.
USA jumped to an early 13-8 lead and never allowed Canada to catch up in the first set. The same happened in the second, but after being up 15-10, an error and two consecutive blocks by Canada narrowed the gap. However, Sean Kelly ended Canada’s streak with a direct attack. Canada adjusted in the third set and held the lead several times, with attacks from Ashton South and serves from Piers De Greeff. USA reached match point at 24-23 with a block by Jackson Cryst, but Owen Weekes tied it with a kill. Then, Canada missed a set point, but two consecutive points from Sterling Foley (one kill and a block) pushed the Americans to another match point, which middle blocker Parker Tomkinson secured with a block.
Setter Tread Rosenthal said “It was an exciting finish. It was just great and playing together as a team, we’ve been preaching this for a while and just staying together through tough and good times. Finn Kearney and Trent Teliaferro came off the bench and gave us a little juice towards the end, and then it was just making the right play at the right time. Poise was our best skill, no matter what happened we stayed together and played steady the whole time”.
USA Head coach John Hawks said “Those last points were tough. The character of our guys, our coaching staff, the systems were putting in and they all just believed we could do it. Until we lose, we were still in this thing. The subs did a great job, all twelve of these players earned our trust, they can go in and do it, they all helped turn things around a little bit and I am so proud of them”.
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