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The United States will begin its attempt to capture the country’s first men’s volleyball gold medal at the Pan American Games in more than 20 years.
The U.S. Men’s Pan American Games Volleyball Team will open the international tournament with a pool-play match against Puerto Rico on Monday.
The Pan American Games is a multi-sport competition held every four years for North and South America countries. It is the largest multi-sport event besides the Olympics.
Check out what to know about this pool-play match between the United States and Puerto Rico.
United States vs. Puerto Rico
Match vitals: 1 p.m. (2 p.m. EST) in Guadalajara, Mexico
Follow live: Live video
Last medal finish at Pan Am Games: United States (2007 silver); Puerto Rico (never)
Current NCAA players on roster: United States (4); Puerto Rico (zero)
What to know: Four years after falling one match short of winning the nation’s first Pan American Games men’s volleyball gold medal since 1987, the United States will return to the court at the international tournament. The United States will play its pool-play opener against Puerto Rico — its first of three pool-play matches in the next three days. Unlike previous Pan American Games, this U.S. roster will be mixture of current college players, recent college graduates and veteran national players. The 2011 Pan American Games are later in the year than previous tournaments, which prevented some players from participating because of commitments to overseas professional teams. Evan Patak is the lone member of the U.S. Men’s National Volleyball Team who will play in the Pan American Games. In addition, four current college players — USC outside attacker Tony Ciarelli, UCLA setter Kyle Caldwell, Cal State Northridge outside attacker Matt Stork and UCLA middle attacker Nick Vogel — are on the U.S. roster. Puerto Rico has never won a medal in men’s volleyball at the Pan American Games and failed to advance beyond the pool-play round in 2007, including losing in three games to the United States.