Here’s hoping Dean Bittner can roll the performance of the U.S. Men’s A2 National Volleyball Team into next season, his last with Long Beach State.  The USA advanced to the finals of the Pan American Cup with a 3-0 (25-21, 25-23, 25-14) victory over Dominican Republic on Friday in Chiapas, Mexico.  The United States will play Canada in the gold medal match on Saturday at 6 p.m. PDT.

Robert Tarr (a Long Beach State alum) again led the U.S. Men in scoring with 15 points on 14 kills and one block. He converted 61 percent of his attacks into points.  Dean Bittner (Lakewood, Calif.) scored 13 points on 10 kills and three blocks.

Libero Isaac Kneubuhl (Pukalani, Hawai’i) was credited with 16 receptions, 94 percent positive and 94 percent excellent. Tarr had 22 receptions, 59 percent positive and 55 percent excellent.

The United States out-blocked the Dominicans 15-6 and converted 56 percent of its kill attempts while the Dominican converted 32 percent.

U.S. Head Coach Rick McLaughlin started Tarr and Vance at outside hitter, Meerstein and Holt at middle blocker, Bittner at opposite, Hildebrand at setter and Kneubuhl at libero. Nielsen replaced Vance in the second set and went on to play the third at outside hitter.