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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”. |
