STANFORD, Calif. – Stanford women's volleyball alumna Karissa Cook took home a gold medal on the beach, while men's volleyball alum James Shaw and current Cardinal Kathryn Plummer represented the indoor teams at the Pan American Games in Lima, Peru.
Cook and partner Jace Pardon became the first U.S. beach team to win a gold medal at the Pan American Games. In the final, Cook/Pardon defeated Argentina's defending Pan Am Games champion and two-time Olympian Ana Gallay of Argentina and her partner Fernanda Pereira, 14-21, 22-20, 15-10.
Cook, from Santa Cruz, and Pardon, from Manhattan Beach, did not lose a set in the tournament until the final.
The U.S. Men's Pan American Games Team finished sixth as the team fell to Puerto Rico 22-25, 25-21, 25-22, 20-25, 15-8. Shaw started at opposite as every player on the U.S. roster started at least one set.
Puerto Rico led in kills (60-58) and aces (8-7). U.S. led in blocks (9-6). The U.S. had 33 scoring errors while Puerto Rico had 27.
U.S. Women's National Team defeated Canada 25-16, 25-14, 25-23 to finish in seventh place in Lima.
Plummer, who subbed into all three sets, chipped in seven kills on 12 swings and a block for eight points.
The U.S. converted 37.5 percent of its attacks into points with a .260 hitting percentage (36-11-96). The Americans held Canada to a 27.6 kill percent and .029 hitting efficiency (29-26-105).
Team USA out-blocked Canada 16-4 and held a 6-4 margin in aces. The American offense generated a 36-29 advantage in kills and they limited their errors to 17 for the match.
