LANGLEY, B.C. – The United States was too strong on the serve and, overall, too consistent, while defeating Canada’s men’s volleyball team 3-0 (25-23, 25-20, 25-14) in the gold medal match of the NORCECA championship on Saturday.

After a tight opening set, the FIVB No. 5 ranked U.S. seized momentum early in the second set and never let go.

Canada, which is ranked No 11, played the better part of the match without captain Fred Winters, who suffered an ankle injury early in the second set.

Matthew Anderson had 14 kills and three aces for the U.S

Dallas Soonias and Gord Perrin each had seven kills for Canada.

“We got outplayed completely by the USA,” said Canadian coach Glen Hoag. “We couldn’t receive so we couldn’t establish any offence and they played great block defence. We had a chance in the first set but we made too many unforced errors.”

Canada led for much of the opening set, before the U.S. went on a 5-0 run to go in front 23-21. Canada rallied to tie it 23-23, but the Americans took the set with two straight points.

In the second set, Winters suffered an injury early on and his absence was instantly apparent. With Winters out, the Americans earned eight of the next 11 points to open a 12-6 lead. After that, Canada never got closer than three points.

The third set saw the U.S. race out to a 5-1 lead and never trailed.

Canada’s men’s team hasn’t beaten the U.S. since an Olympic qualifying tournament in 1999. Most recently, Canada lost to the U.S. in the final of the 2012 Olympic qualifying tournament.

Cuba captured the bronze medal after rallying from two sets down to beat Puerto Rico in five.

The U.S. will represent NORCECA at the World Grand Champions Cup in Japan Nov. 19-24.