U.S. serving too much for Canada in U19 NORCECA opener

It didn’t take outside attacker Grant Lamoureux long to deliver from the service line for the United States.

Lamoureux finished with a match-high five aces as the United States swept Canada 25-23, 25-15, 25-23 in its group-play opener at the NORCECA U19 Continental Championship on Tuesday in Ponce, Puerto Rico.

Lamoureux had three aces in the final game to complete the sweep, including two aces during a 6-0 run early in the game. The outside attacker also contributed two aces as part of a 10-point victory in the second game.

Four U.S. players had multiple aces and the United States ended with 12 aces – eight more aces than Canada.

Opposite Cooper Keane added two aces highlighted with a game-winning ace that prevented the first game from going to overtime. Both outside attackers Thomas Demps IV and Aleksey Mikhailenko had two aces against Canada.

The United States out-hit Canada .235 to .222 and had a match-best .455 attack percentage in the second game.

Lamoureux led all players with nine kills, while Mikhailenko had eight kills on a .333 attack percentage.

Pin-hitter Reuben Veith in the loss had a team-high seven kills and was Canadian player with more than five kills.

The United States with this victory moves into a tie for first place in Group A.

The team will play Suriname in its second of three group-play matches. Suriname suffered a three-game loss to Cuba in its group-pay opener on Tuesday.

The first-place team in the four-team group at the end of group-play will receive a bye to the semifinals. The second and third place teams will earn berths to the quarterfinals.