UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State men’s volleyball redshirt seniors Ryan Merk and Owen Rose are bringing gold medals back to Happy Valley after helping the U.S. Men’s National Team win the NORCECA Men’s Final Six in Ponce, Puerto Rico.
USA clinched the title with a 3-0 (27-25, 25-20, 25-21) sweep of host Puerto Rico in the championship match. Rose tallied five kills, four digs, and one block, while Merk contributed three digs. It was the team’s second win over Puerto Rico in the event.
The path to the title included a 4-1 record in round-robin play, including wins over Canada, Dominican Republic, Suriname, and Puerto Rico. USA then avenged its only loss of the competition with a 3-2 triumph over Mexico in the semifinal round.
Merk and Rose were mainstays in the USA lineup throughout the event, helping the team win gold for the third-straight year.
Merk and Rose now return to Penn State for their final season, looking to lead the Nittany Lions to a third-consecutive EIVA title.