The 14s Maverick coach and UCLA All-American delivers 30 points in the U23 Pan American Cup championship match, earning tournament MVP honors.
Ocean Point Volleyball Club is celebrating a championship performance by one of our own. David Decker, coach of our 14-Maverick team and an All-American opposite at UCLA, helped lead the U.S. Men’s U23 National Team to gold at the 2026 NORCECA Men’s U23 Pan American Cup.
Decker scored 30 points in the September 27 championship match against Costa Rica in San Salvador, El Salvador. His 27 kills, two service aces and one block powered Team USA to a four-set victory, 25–16, 23–25, 25–13, 25–17. He finished with a remarkable .622 hitting percentage, committing just four errors on 37 attacks.
His strongest stretch came in the third set, when he converted all nine of his attacks into kills and added two aces. With the championship within reach in the fourth set, Decker delivered the final kill to seal the gold medal. The United States finished the tournament undefeated, winning all four matches and dropping only one set.
Decker’s outstanding tournament earned him three individual awards: Most Valuable Player, Best Opposite and Best Server.
For Ocean Point, this achievement carries a special connection. The player competing for his country is also Coach David, the coach helping our 14-Maverick athletes learn the game, build confidence, and grow as teammates.
His international experience gives our players an opportunity to learn from someone who understands the demands of elite volleyball firsthand. Preparation, serving under pressure, making smart attacking decisions, and responding to setbacks are lessons he can bring directly from the court to practice.
That connection reflects what we value in our coaching staff: accomplished players and experienced coaches who can make their knowledge accessible to young athletes. At Ocean Point, we want high-level instruction delivered with patience, encouragement, and an understanding of how kids learn. Championship experience matters most when it helps the next player develop.
Decker’s gold-medal performance builds on his success at UCLA, where he was part of the Bruins’ back-to-back NCAA championship teams in 2023 and 2024. In 2026, he earned AVCA Honorable Mention All-America recognition and Second Team All-MPSF honors. UCLA also recognized his serving as a major strength, reporting that he ranked second nationally in aces per set heading into the postseason.
We are proud to congratulate Coach David and Team USA on their gold medal. For our 14-Maverick players, his achievement is an exciting reminder that the coach guiding them through their next practice is still pursuing excellence on some of volleyball’s biggest stages.