U.S. gets silver medal after loss to Brazil in Pan Am Cup finals

The United States will leave Canada with silver instead of gold.

The U.S. Men’s Junior National Team lost to undefeated Brazil 25-22, 25-23, 25-17 in the Pan American Cup finals on Sunday in Gatineau, Canada, and earned the silver medal at the international tournament.

Brazil (5-0) in the victory out-blocked the United States 9 to 4. This was one of the first matches at the tournament that a team out-blocked the United States (4-2), which entered the finals with a tournament-best 2.88 blocks per game average.

Loyola Freshmen All-American middle attacker Jeff Jendryk in the loss had a team-high three blocks and was the only U.S. player with multiple blocks.

BYU outside attacker Brenden Sander led the United States with nine kills and two aces against Brazil. In addition, Hawai’i outside attacker Kupono Fey and Ball State middle attacker Matt Walsh both coming off the bench midway through the match added six kills.

Brazil opposite Lucas Madaloz finished with a match-high 12 kills in the victory.

This sweep was the second time in the last five days that the United States lost to Brazil. The United States in group play lost to Brazil in four games on Wednesday for its only other loss at the international tournament.

Both the United States and Brazil could potentially meet again at the upcoming FIVB U-21 World Championship in September.

The United States will open that tournament in Group B with matches against Russia, Poland and Argentina.