Sept. 30, 2013
LANGLEY, B.C. - Former Penn State standouts Matt Anderson and Max Holt helped the United States men's volleyball team to a 3-0 win against Canada in the gold medal match of the NORCECA championship Saturday evening. The victory marks the first time team USA has won the biennial NORCECA (North America, Central America and Caribbean) Championship since 2007.
Anderson led the US with a pair of match-high performances, tallying 14 kills and three aces, while also earning tournament MVP honors. Holt totaled 11 kills in the win.
Both teams kept it close throughout the opening set, before team USA broke open a tie, 23-23, to capture a 25-23 win in the first frame. Building on the early momentum, team USA took set two, 25-20 and completed the sweep with a 25-14 victory in set three.
Anderson and Holt weren't the only Penn State alumni playing in the event. Prior to the gold medal match against the Canadians, the United States outlasted Puerto Rico, 3-1 to advance to the championship round in a semifinal match that featured four Penn State alums. Anderson and Holt were on one side of the net, while Dennis Del Valle and Edgardo Goas were on the opposite side with team Puerto Rico. Del Valle earned both the Best Digger and Best Libero honors for his efforts in the tournament.
The U.S. Men concluded the tournament with a 4-0 record and are now qualified for the FIVB Grand Champions Cup, which takes place Nov. 19-24 in Japan.
While at Penn State, Anderson helped the Nittany Lions to its second National Championship title in 2008 and earned numerous honors along the way including AVCA National Player of the Year and First-Team AVCA All-American honors. He also earned Second-Team All-American honors in 2007, as well as All-EIVA laurels in 2007 and 2008.
Holt also helped guide PSU to a National Championship title in 2008, joining Anderson on the NCAA Championship All-Tournament Team. He picked up All-EIVA First Team honors, consecutively from 2006 to 2008, as well as First-Team AVCA All-American honors in 2008. Holt's 48 service aces during the 2008 season ranks second on the all-time single-season record list.
Del Valle was a Second Team AVCA All-American from 2008-2010 and the libero on the 2008 National Championship team. He also holds the Penn State all-time digs record with 1,260. Edgardo Goas earned Second Team AVCA All-America honors in 2009 and 2011, while picking up All-EIVA First Team honors from 2009-11.