Loomis finished the gold-medal match with 12 kills on 26 attempts to go with two blocks and a dig. Stolfus added nine kills on 23 swings, one ace, one block and two digs.

“We are happy to have medaled, but to be honest, if we made a couple better decisions, we could have taken the match to three sets and possible even won it in a short third set,” Stolfus said.

After trailing 3-1 early in the first set, the U.S. poured out a 4-1 run with Loomis collecting three kills and Stolfus a block. Loomis downed a kill to give Team USA a two-point cushion at 8-6, Leading 9-8, the U.S. netted three unanswered points on Brazil errors forcing the host team to call a time out down 12-8. Brazil answered with a 3-0 run out of the break capped by a Santos ace. Brazil tied the set at 14-all on a Rego block. The U.S. regained a two-point cushion at 16-14 on a Stolfus kill and Loomis ace. Brazil changed the momentum with a 3-0 spurt and a 17-16 advantage after a Santos block.

The turning point in the set, and possibly the match, occurred with the first set tied at 18-all. The U.S. powered an attack down that they believed hit the sand for a kill, but the referees allowed play to continue with a Brazil dig and ensuing kill to put the Americans down 19-18 instead of leading by the same score. The U.S. held off one set point at 20-18 with a Loomis kill, only to see Brazil end it at 21-19.

The second set witnessed eight ties and four lead changes before either reached 10 points. Brazil rattled off eight unanswered points to break away from an 8-all tie as Santos served out four winners in the run. Brazil went on to win the set 21-13 with the U.S. getting no closer than six points down the stretch.

“It was absolutely an honor to play in the final against Brazil,” Loomis said. “We wanted to get to the medal round, so today we had nothing to lose. So we were enjoying the moment.”

Emanuel finished with 10 kills on 21 attacks to go with a match-high three blocks and three digs. Ricardo contributed three aces, six kills and two blocks.

For the tournament, Loomis led all players with nine aces on 143 serves, while Stolfus finished third in the category with six aces on 117 serves. Loomis totaled 76 kills for second-most among all players, while Stolfus added 59 kills for fifth place. Loomis charted nine blocks for seventh place in the tournament, while Stolfus’s eight blocks put him in ninth place.

The U.S. advanced to the title match on Saturday by defeating Cubans Francisco Alvarez Cutino and Leonel Munder 21-13, 17-21, 15-13 during the semifinal round. The victory guaranteed the American duo the first U.S. medal in men’s beach volleyball during the history of the Pan American Games.

Loomis and Stolfus advanced to the medal round by sweeping Uruguay’s Nicolas Zanotta and Fabio Dalmas 25-12, 25-14 on Friday morning during the quarterfinals. The U.S. won Pool C with a 2-1 record with victories over Ecuador and Venezuela before losing to Puerto Rico.

Loomis and Stolfus earned their silver medal at the Pan American Games despite only having played just three previous tournaments together this season. According to USA Beach Coach Gary Sato, the duo has progressed rapidly through disciplined communication.

“Ty and Hans are open to input and feedback,” Sato said. “They communicate well amongst themselves.”

As for the future, Stolfus says upcoming international tournaments are not out of the question.

“We want to play on the international circuit, and it will only be a matter of time,” Stolfus said.

According to Stolfus, the tandem likely will enter the FIVB stop in Poland the first weekend after Labor Day.

USA Stats

Hans Stolfus: 9 kills (23 attacks), 1 block, 1 ace (19 serves), 2 digs
Ty Loomis: 12 kills (26 attacks), 2 blocks, 0 aces (15 serves), 1 dig
Totals: 21 kills (49 attacks), 3 blocks, 1 ace (34 serves, 3 faults), 3 digs

Brazil Stats
Emanuel Rego: 10 kills (21 attacks), 3 blocks, 0 aces (17 serves), 3 digs
Ricardo Santos: 6 kills (19 attacks), 2 blocks, 3 aces (23 serves), 1 dig
Totals: 16 kills, 40 attacks), 5 blocks, 3 aces (40 serves, 1 fault), 4 digs