Overview

In Group A, Spain came from 4-2 behind to down Netherlands 13-7 and New Zealand did the same to best Israel 12-11.

In Group B, USA had the better of champion Hungary in the last quarter, winning it 5-2 to upset Hungary 11-10. Greece also had to come from behind to beat Italy 13-11.

In Group C, Argentina defeated Mexico 16-7 and Croatia downed Brazil 18-9 with all its goals coming from senior internationals.

In Group D, China had the better of Canada 12-8 and Australia swam over South Africa 17-4.

Match Reports

Match 1, Group C, MEXICO 7 ARGENTINA 16 (1-4, 2-5, 2-2, 2-5)

Mexico may have started the scoring but Argentina quickly regained the initiative and bounced out to a 4-1 lead through four different players a full two minutes from quarter time. Anahi Bacigalupo, fresh from the Singaporean World Championships, scored off her left arm from a rebound at centre forward for 5-1 at the top of the second quarter and her second goal. She scored her third from penalty as Mexico stayed in touch, but by the end of the half, Argentina was 9-3 up thanks to Bacigalupo scoring from a six-metre foul with 33 seconds remaining.

The third period was even with Mercedes Feliciano scoring her second for Mexico with a backhand shot off counter for 11-5 at the final break. Bianca Perasso nailed her fourth and Maylen Sampedro her third — the first of three penalty goals with team-mate Juana Masini grabbing her second goal and Vivian Rangel her second for Mexico. Masini made it 15-6 from the top on extra and Felciano threw the last goal from centre forward for 16-7 at 1:20.

Match Heroes
Perasso and Bacigalupo scored four each and Sampedro and Masini netted three apiece for Argentina. Feliciano scored three goals and goalkeeper Alma Luna made 13 saves for Mexico.

Turning Point
The 5-1 advantage early in the second quarter had the match in the bag for Argentina.

Stats Don’t Lie
Argentina proved it superiority on shooting with 36 to 15, secured four from four on penalty while giving up three, made 10 steals to one and converted the sole extra chance while denying Mexico its two attempts.

Bottom Line
Argentina has senior world championship-honed players and this proved the difference today.

Match 2, Group D, CANADA 8 CHINA 12 (2-3, 1-2, 2-4, 3-3)

Two goals in the last six seconds was exciting enough in a match where China held sway despite the constant attentions of the Canadians. Jaya Basu scored the two opening goals for Canada with the second on penalty after a long break for a technical issue. China responded with the next three goals before the first break and extended the lead to 4-2 in the second quarter, but not until 2:51 when Huang Zerui converted her second extra-player goal. Goals were traded in the final minute with Katherine Featherstone and senior international Zhang Yumian making it 5-3.

Zou Yuhe took it out to 6-3 on extra before Featherstone on extra and Sydney Krushen from a six-metre-foul shot narrowed the score to 6-5. Zou, Zhang Yumian and Shi Yitong from the deep right gave China an excellent 9-5 margin by the final break. Natalia Blazevic gave Canada hope early in the fourth on extra. Both teams took a timeout as the match closed to well inside the final three minutes. Zhang Jingwen, another senior international, converted extra from the deep left and Melania Segulja drilled from the top for 10-7. Krushen had her penalty attempt saved and Zhang Yumian scored at the other end at 0:54. Canada sent up seven field players, lost the ball, China shot and the ball stopped short of the line; two players chased and the Canadian was ejected. The ball came to the attacker who scored into an unguarded goal. With six seconds left on the clock, Canada restarted and Blazevic sent in a missile that was deflected by a defender, beating the goalkeeper for 12-8 on the buzzer. Splendid finish.

Match Heroes
Zhang Yumian netted four goals and Yan Xintong pulled in nine saves for China. Blazevic, Featherstone and Basu scored two each for Canada.

Turning Point
China coming from two down to two ahead by midway through the second period and throwing in a three-goal spurt in the third quarter for a four-goal advantage.

Stats Don’t Lie
China was excellent on extra plays, converting six from eight while Canada planted four from six. Canada missed one of two penalty chances; China made eight steals to six and needed only 24 shots to 27 for the victory.

Bottom Line
China has a handful of senior internationals, which will put it in good stead for upcoming matches.

Match 3, Group D, SOUTH AFRICA 4 AUSTRALIA 17 (0-5, 1-5, 2-2, 1-5)

Australia signalled its intentions to head into the top grouping with a strong start to the tournament, turning the 5-0 opening quarter into 10-1 at halftime. Taafili Taoso scored from centre forward and on counter en route to being named player of the match. Anneliese Pamp scored from deep right to close the first-quarter scoring and scored off a cross pass for 9-1. She could have had three if her penalty attempt had no creased the bar and gone over the top. Tayla Dawkins scored on counter on the next attack for her second and the 10-1 scoreline.

The second quarter started well for South Africa with Bella Imbriolo and Mia Loizidis scoring and two more Aussie goals had the scoreboard at 12-3 with Pamp netting her third on counter. Three more Aussie goals started the fourth quarter with Bless Daly leading the way with her third. Jaime van den Bosch scooped in the ball from centre forward for 15-4 with Australia finishing with two penalty goals and one to Taoso.

Match Heroes
Pamp, Taoso and Daly all scored three goals for the Aussies.

Turning Point
Australia showed its intent from the start and never lifted the foot off the throat.

Stats Don’t Lie
Australia scored just one from four on extra but denied South Africa all six chances; buried three from four on penalty; made seven steals to four and outshot South Africa 31-24.

Bottom Line
Australia has a balanced team with plenty of junior experience.

Match 4, Group A, NETHERLANDS 7 SPAIN 13 (3-1, 2-4, 1-5, 1-3)

Spain has the team to go far in Salvador and not just outside the complex on to the beach. Spain found itself trailing 3-1 after scoring the opening goal but played consistent water polo to level the match at four and five by halftime. Ariadna Temprano scored two outside shots and Olympic gold medallist Isabel Piralkova converted a penalty foul as two Pien Gorter goals kept Netherlands in the picture. Gorter, who contested the senior worlds last month, had earlier scored the 2-1 go-ahead goal.

Three Spanish goals, including a second Piralkova penalty strike, changed the face of the match. Tess van der Meer grabbed her second goal for Netherlands but Carlota Penalver and Piralkova sent the score to 10-6. Gorter failed in her penalty attempt just before the final break. Spain shot out to 13-7 with another Dutch penalty attempt failing to go in and Piralkova converting extra for that 13^th goal at 1:15. A Dutch timeout yielded nothing and Spain had completed the last three quarters 12-4.

Match Heroes
Piralkova finished with four goals and Spanish goalkeeper Blanca Colominas made nine saves. Gorter made a hat-trick for the Netherlands

Turning Point
Netherlands took away the early advantage from Spain but Spain was in control by the end of the third period.

Stats Don’t Lie
Spain struggled on extra with one from seven while Netherlands converted four from 10. Spain made all four penalty attempts to Netherlands’ one from three. The Spaniards plundered 10 steals to three and shot 32-27.

Bottom Line
Spain had tried and tested players at the higher level against a Dutch team containing players from last year’s U18 world championships.

Progress Points

Group A: Spain 3, New Zealand 3, Israel 0, Netherlands 0
Group B: Greece 3, United States of America 3, Hungary 0, Italy 0
Group C: Croatia 3, Argentina 3, Brazil 0, Mexico 0
Group D: Australia 3, China 3, Canada 0, South Africa 0

Day 2 Schedule

Match 09. 09:00. Group D, China v South Africa
Match 10. 10:30. Group D, Australia v Canada
Match 11. 12:00. Group C, Croatia v Mexico
Match 12. 13:30. Group B, Italy v Hungary
Match 13. 16:00. Group A, Israel v Netherlands
Match 14. 17:30. Group C, Argentina v Brazil
Match 15. 19:00. Group B, United States of America v Greece
Match 16. 20:30. Group A, Spain v New Zealand

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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Aug. 10, 2025) – The U.S. Men’s U21 National Team ended an undefeated run at the 2025 NORCECA U21 Men’s Pan American Cup by capturing the gold medal with a 3-1 (26-24, 25-21, 22-25, 25-18) victory over host Canada on Sunday night in Calgary. In similar fashion to its preliminary round win when the two teams met, the U.S. won the first two sets, dropped the third set and clinched the win in the fourth set.

“I am so proud of this group of guys, the staff and everybody involved with this. Where we were a week ago in Colorado Springs coming together and implementing systems, to see this group play as clean as they did throughout the week, I am really proud of them,” U.S. head coach John Hawks said.

Both teams finished the match with 44 kills with the U.S. holding an 11-7 advantage in blocks. Canada served three of the five aces. The U.S. recorded seven fewer errors (41-34).

Outside hitter and 2025 Pan American Cup Most Valuable Player Sebastiano Sani led all players with 15 kills, 18 points and 10 digs, adding two blocks and an ace. Riggs Guy, who was voted the best spiker totaled 11 points on nine kills and two blocks. Sani was chosen as the tournament’s second-best spiker.

Guy and libero Kellen Larson led the team with six successful receptions with Larson also contributing eight digs. Opposite Kainoa Wade registered 10 kills, six of which came in the fourth set, and added six digs.

Middle blocker Tre Jordan scored nine points on seven kills and two blocks, while fellow middle Micah Goss posted a match-best four blocks with three kills for seven points. Setter Trent Taliaferro delivered 28 assists and added a block and an ace.

With the first set tied at seven, the U.S. went on a 5-1 run to take a 12-8 lead with a Goss kill and Sanoi block starting the run. Canada came back out of its timeout to score four points in a row for another tie. When Canada went up 15-14, its first lead since 2-1, the U.S. called its first timeout.

The score was tied seven times after that before a miscommunication on Canada’s behalf gave the U.S. a 23-22 before the 11th U.S. service error of the set. A Sani kill gave the U.S. set point, but Canada saved it with a quick side out. Canada’s service error brought up set point again and Goss ended the set with a block. Sani led all players with five points on four kills and a block. Four U.S. players contributed two points.

A Jordan kill and two Canada hitting errors gave the U.S. a 12-10 lead, the first two-point lead for either team in the second set. Sani followed with the first ace of the match, prompting a Canada timeout. Back-to-back Jordan kills extended the U.S. advantage to five points and complete a 6-0 run.

Canada used a triple block to score three consecutive points and cut the lead to three, 17-14, before a U.S. timeout. After a service error, Canada took advantage of three hitting errors and a kill off the block to square the set at 18-18. Guy recorded a kill to put the U.S. back out in front and a strong dig from Larson led to a Wade kill for a 20-18 lead.

Canada scored the next point and had a swing for a tie, but a Goss block put the U.S. ahead 21-19. The lead moved to three on Canada’s sixth hitting error of the set. Blocks by Taliaferro and Sani ran the lead back to five, 24-19. Canada saved two set points before a service error moved the U.S. within a set of capturing the gold medal. Sani led the U.S. again in the second set with four points on two kills, a block and an ace.

Sani recorded five early kills to give the U.S. a 9-6 lead in the third set. Canada went on an 11-4 run to take its biggest lead of the match at four points, 17-13. Trailing 19-15, the U.S. scored three consecutive points with back-to-back kills by Guy cutting the deficit to one. A kill and an ace by Canada pushed the lead back to three points and the U.S. was not able to draw closer than two points. Sani finished with six kills with Guy and Goss each scoring four points.

With the fourth set tied at 12, the U.S. started a 4-0 run after two strong digs from Taliaferro and another by Wade helped the U.S. outlast Canada on a long rally that ended with a hitting error. A Sani kill made it 14-12 and a Taliaferro ace completed the run.

A Sani kill and Jordan block ran the U.S. advantage to five points, 18-13. The teams exchanged the next six points before the U.S. scored back-to-back points on a Wade kill and a hitting error for a 23-16 lead. Another Wade kill set up match point. After a Canada sideout, the U.S. clinched the gold medal on Wade’s fifth kill of the set. Jordan added four points on two kills and a pair of blocks.

2025 Men’s U21 National Team

Name (Pos., Height, Hometown, School/Club, USAV Region)

1 Kellen Larson (L, 5-9, Irvine, Calif., Long Beach State, Southern California)
5 Marek Turner (OH, 6-6, Long Beach, Calif., Team Rockstar, Southern California)
6 Victor Loiola (OH, 6-4, Manhattan Beach, Calif., N/A, Southern California)
7 Trent Taliaferro (S, 6-5, San Clemente, Calif., UCLA, Southern California)
8 Jacob Little-Phillips (S, 6-2, Winter Park, Fla., Winter Park HS, Florida Region)
9 Tre Jordan (MB, 6-10, Mesa, Ariz., Grand Canyon, Arizona)
10 Johnny Dykstra (L, 6-2, Manhattan Beach, Calif., Univ. of Southern California, Southern California)
15 Joshua Aruya (MB, 6-9, Mission Viejo, Calif., UC Santa Barbara, Southern California)
17 Riggs Guy (OH, 6-3, Newport Beach, Calif., UC Santa Barbara, Southern California/Southern Nevada)
18 Kainoa Wade (OPP, 6-10, Kailua, Hawaii, Univ. of Hawaii, Aloha Region)
22 Sebastiano Sani (OH, 6-8, Aliso Viejo, Calif., Long Beach State, Chesapeake)
23 Micah Goss (MB, 6-6, Santa Barbara, Calif., UC Irvine, Southern California)

Alternates
2 Roan Alviar (L, 5-11, Hayward, Calif., Princeton, Northern California)
4 Aidan Klein (MB, 6-10, Evanston, Ill., Loyola Chicago, Great Lakes)
11 Finn Kearney (OH, 6-5, Phoenix, Ariz., Univ. of Hawaii, Arizona)
14 Justin Todd (MB, 6-7, Honolulu, Hawaii, Univ. of Hawaii, Aloha)
19 Grayson Bradford (OPP, 6-11, Redondo Beach, Calif., Mira Costa HS, Southern California)
24 Kahale Clini (OH, 6-3, Honolulu, Hawaii, UCLA, Aloha)

Coaches
Head Coach: John Hawks (UCLA)
Assistant Coach: Donan Cruz (Ball State)
Assistant Coach: Matthew Pollock (Pepperdine)
Performance Analyst: Thomas Shaffer (Loyola Chicago)
Athletic Trainer: Hazel Peterson (USOPTC)
Team Lead: Brandon Oswald (NTDP)

Schedule/Results

Aug. 5: USA def. Chile, 3-0 (25-15 25-14, 25-15)
Aug. 6: USA def. Barbados, 3-0 (25-18, 25-23, 25-14)
Aug. 7: USA def. Canada, 3-1 (25-11, 25-22, 23-25, 25-22)
Aug. 8: USA def. Mexico, 3-0 (25-17, 25-19, 26-24)
Aug. 9: USA def. Puerto Rico, 3-0 (25-19, 25-18, 25-18)
Aug. 10: Gold Medal Match: USA def. 3-1 (26-24, 25-21, 22-25, 25-18)

It is with great love and deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Richard F. Nye, affectionately known as Coach Nye, who died peacefully on August 4, 2025, in Denver, Colorado, at the age of 80.

Born on July 28, 1945, in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, Richard was the beloved son of Isabelle and Richard Nye.

He was a standout athlete at Chambersburg Area Senior High School, where he broke multiple records in football and track, earned All-State honors, and played in the prestigious Big 33 Football Classic.

He began his college football career at the University of Maryland, later transferring to West Chester University, where he continued to shine and played in two Tangerine Bowl games.

After earning his degree, Richard began a lifelong career in education and coaching. He taught and coached in Pennsylvania during the 1970s at the Scotland School for Veterans’ Children and Chambersburg High School, while also playing semi-professional football for the Chambersburg Cardinals. He later served as an assistant football coach at Shippensburg University before relocating to Colorado.

In Denver, Coach Nye became a respected educator and coach at George Washington High School, where he taught English and coached football and track and field for more than 20 years. He was part of the most successful football coaching staff in Denver Public Schools history, helping secure seven city championships. He was honored as Coach of the Year by Denver Public Schools—the first assistant coach ever to receive the award—and was selected to coach in the Colorado All-State Football Game. As the head track and field coach, he earned multiple additional coaching honors including Denver Public Schools Coach of the Year.

After retiring from teaching, he continued coaching at Eaglecrest High School, Denver South High School, and Denver Christian Academy. He also served over a decade as a Project Manager for the Jobs by George Foundation, supporting youth employment, and was a founding contributor to the Denver Youth Initiative.

Coach Nye was known not only for his fierce dedication to coaching but for the warmth and wisdom he shared with everyone he met. His signature phrase, “Life is Good,” became his life’s motto—one he shared at the end of every game, in every classroom, and with every friend.

Richard’s personality was as vibrant as his legacy. He loved telling stories (even the ones you heard a dozen times), scratch-off tickets, candy, Arnold Palmers, gambling, pizza, ice cream, and movies. His kindness and humor made him a cherished friend, mentor, and confidant.

He is survived by his loving wife, Leslie Nye, who respectfully requests privacy at this time.

He also leaves behind his beloved children and grandchildren: daughter Danielle Teter, her husband Garry, and their daughters Kylee, Jessica, and Alyssa; daughter Kristin Nye and her husband Shawn Ray; son Aaron Trench, his wife Christine, and their son Austin; brother Dirk Nye, his partner Regine Bendelow; and niece Corry Nye and her husband Lee Lazzara.

Arrangements are entrusted to Kramer Affordable Cremation.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Coach Nye’s name to one of the following organizations:

The Alzheimer’s Association

Donations may be made in memory of Coach Nye to support research and care services:

• Online: www.alz.org
• By mail: Alzheimer’s Association
  P.O. Box 96011
  Washington, DC 20090-6011

The Jobs by George Foundation

Coach Nye devoted many years to this foundation, which provides employment and educational opportunities for Denver-area youth. Donations in his name may support scholarship initiatives for students.

• By mail:
  Jobs by George Foundation
  c/o Kleinman, Guerra & Co. PC
  6300 S Syracuse Way, Suite 430
  Centennial, CO 80111

Though he is no longer with us in body, his spirit, teachings, and laughter will continue to live on in the countless lives he touched.

“Life is Good.”

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