WINNIPEG, Manitoba, Canada - The USA Men's National Volleyball Team held off a stubborn Cuban squad, 3-1, to win its second-consecutive NORCECA Continental Championship at the MTS Centre Thursday night.

Former University of Hawai`i Warrior standout Clay Stanley scored a team-high 14 points to lead a balanced attack as the United States posted a 25-22, 25-27, 25-23, 25-22 victory to finish the tournament with a perfect 5-0 record while losing just one set (15-1) along the way.

Stanley slammed down 13 kills and had one service ace while posting a hitting percentage of .524 for Team USA, which has won 14-straight matches and three-straight gold medals (America's Cup, the FIVB World Championship Qualifying Tournament and the NORCECA Championship) in improving to 23-5 this season.

The Americans, who also won the last NORCECA Championship in 2003, have now earned back-to-back crowns for the first time in 20 years.

In addition to bragging rights in the NORCECA zone for another two years, Team USA qualifies for the Grand Champions Cup in Japan from Nov. 22-27, a six-team tournament that features the champions from four confederations (Africa, Europe, NORCECA and South America), the host team (Japan) and one wild-card team (chosen by the FIVB).

UH Warrior head coach Mike Wilton and current UH consultant Carl McGown were a part of Team USA head coach Hugh McCutcheon's staff.

"It was a great experience," Wilton said by telephone last night. "Clay (Stanley) gave a solid effort tonight, and now it's back home (Friday) and begin preparations for our upcoming 2006 season."

Cuba (currently the world's 12th-ranked team) and the United States (No. 5) are the traditional powers in the NORCECA zone, which encompasses North America, Central America and the Caribbean. Since the first men's NORCECA Championship in 1969 (the tournament is held every other year in odd-numbered years), Cuba has won 13 out of 19 times. The United States has won the remaining six championships (1973, 1983, 1985, 1999, 2003 and 2005) and has finished second eight times.

Final Standings

Gold - USA
Silver - Cuba
Bronze - Canada
4 - Dominican Republic
5 - Puerto Rico
6 - Mexico
7 - Panama
8 - Barbados