The U.S. dominated statistically with 45 kills to 29 and an 11-4 advantage in blocks. There were only three aces in the match with the U.S. earning two of them.

Tournament Most Valuable Player and outside hitter Blake Fahlbusch (USC) led all players with 17 points on 15 kills and two blocks. Opposite Corbin Batista (BYU) also produced 15 kills. Isiah Powell (Penn State) continued his dominant play in the middle with six blocks, two more than Mexico, and five kills for 11 points. Powell was named the tournament’s best blocker.

Middle blocker Dante Cayaban (Ball State) finished with nine points on six kills, a block and two aces. He was chosen as the tournament’s best server. Five U.S. players recorded at least six digs with libero Ben Bayer (Long Beach State) and Batista leading the way with nine each. Bayer, who shared match-high honors with 10 successful receptions, was selected as the best receiver at the championship.

Outside hitter Logan Hutnick totaled nine successful receptions and seven digs. Setter Brett Novak (Lindenwood) scored three points on two kills and a block while running the powerful U.S. offense.

The U.S. scored five consecutive points to turn a one-point lead into a six-point advantage, 15-9, in the first set. A Batista kill made it 13-9, followed by a Powell block after scrambling defense by the U.S., and Fahlbusch completed the run with a kill off the block.

An out-of-system kill by Batista gave the U.S. a 23-17 lead, another Powell block made it 24-20, and Cayaban put a ball down to give the U.S. the opening set. Batista recorded five kills in the set and Powell also scored five points with three blocks and a pair of kills.

The second set was close throughout with Mexico holding a slim 18-17 lead. A Fahlbusch kill and block regained the lead for the U.S. After a Mexico kill tied the set again, the key point of the set saw the U.S. make several point-saving defensive plays until a Batista kill gave the U.S. the lead for good.

Consecutive blocks by Fahlbusch and Powell made it 22-19, and Fahlbusch’s sixth kill and eighth point of the set extended the lead to four points, 23-19. Powell and Batista recorded kills to end the set with the U.S. ending on a 6-2 run to go up two sets.

The U.S. used a 4-0 run, capped by a Novak block, to give the U.S. a 10-5 lead in the third set. Kills by Batista gave the U.S. six-point leads at 14-8 and 16-10. Mexico went on a 5-2 run to cut the margin to three points, 18-15, but it would be as close as it got.

Powell’s fifth and sixth blocks of the match and two Fahlbusch kills accounted for the final four U.S. points with Fahlbusch clinching the championship with his 15th kill and 17th point. Batista led the U.S. with six kills in the set and Fahlbusch added five.

BYU commit selected in MLB Draft

Middle infielder Jaiden LoRe (5-11, 180) was selected in the fifth round of the Major League Draft by the Baltimore Orioles.

The BYU commit from Phoenix, Ariz., was the 154th selection in the draft. As a senior at Corona Del Sol High School, LoRe hit .418 on 46 hits, collecting 19 RBI, 14 doubles, one triple and four home runs while stealing nine bases. Playing primarily at shortstop, LoRe handled 97 chances with just two errors for a fielding percentage of .979 and also contributed 29 assists. In 110 at-bats, LoRe had just four strikeouts. He is graded as the No. 5 player in Arizona and No. 2 shortstop by Perfect Game. He is also graded as the 189th best player in the country and the 54th-best shortstop.

Hucks promoted to new position for BYU women’s basketball

Head coach Lee Cummard has announced the promotion of graduate assistant Dallin Hucks to Director of Video and Strategy.

“Coach Hucks has been and will continue to be a valuable asset to our team,” said Cummard. “Dallin has been with the team for several years: first as a manager, then as a graduate assistant and now as Director of Video and Strategy. He has shown that he is all in for this team, these athletes and is 100 percent committed to helping this program succeed. I am excited to see how he will help our team grow this season.”

Hucks joined the BYU women’s basketball program for the 2020-21 season as a practice player/manager. A year later, he was tasked with assisting coaches with film breakdown of upcoming opponents, offensive tendencies and set plays.

Hucks stepped away from BYU women’s basketball for a year to finish his bachelor’s degree. While completing his degree, Hucks served as an assistant coach to nine-time Utah State Champion and former Cougar men’s assistant coach Quincy Lewis at Lehi High School.

Upon graduating from BYU with a degree in Physical Education Coaching and a minor in Spanish, Hucks rejoined the Cougar program as a graduate assistant. He finished his second season as a GA and was responsible for opponent film breakdown, scout team preparation and in-game opponent analytics.

Hucks is from American Fork, Utah, where he played high school basketball with former BYU men’s basketball’s Spencer Johnson. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in physical education teaching/coaching and a minor in Spanish teaching from Brigham Young University in 2023. In May 2025, Hucks was married to Gabriela Ulloa.