UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Two current Penn State men's volleyball players and one former player are set to represent USA at the 2023 Men's U21 NORCECA Pan American Cup on June 5-10 in Havana, Cuba. Ryan Merk and Owen Rose are on the 12-player roster, while Taylor Hammond, a 2016 Penn State graduate, is an assistant coach.
Merk and Rose are coming off outstanding first seasons at Penn State as each excelled as redshirt freshmen. The duo started at libero and middle blocker, respectively, and helped the Lions advance to the national semifinal. The season included a No. 1 ranking at one point and wins over both national finalists, UCLA and Hawaii, during the regular season.
Merk was named the EIVA Freshman of the Year and a first-team All-EIVA selection following the regular season, and later added honorable mention All-America status. Rose joined him as both a first-team All-EIVA honoree and as an honorable mention All-American.
Hammond was a four-year starter at setter for the Lions from 2013-16. He was a four-time All-EIVA selection while guiding Penn State to four-straight EIVA titles. Hammond is currently an assistant coach at UC San Diego.
U.S. Schedule for the 2023 Men's U21 NORCECA Pan American Cup
All Times EST
June 5, at 2 p.m., USA v Nicaragua
June 6, at 2 p.m., USA v Guatemala
June 7, at 4 p.m., USA v Cuba
June 8, at 2 p.m. and 1 p.m., Quarterfinals
June 9, at 10 a.m. and Noon, Classification matches, at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m., Semifinals
June 10, at 10 a.m., Seventh-place match, at Noon Fifth-place match. at 2 p.m. Bronze-medal match. at 4 p.m. Gold-medal match
