Boys U19 Team Qualifies for Worlds, Advances to Semis

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (May 25, 2022) – The U.S. Boys U19 National Team qualified for the FIVB U19 World Championship and advanced to the semifinals after defeating Mexico 3-0 (25-21, 25-13, 25-13) on Wednesday in Guatemala City.

The U.S. swept Pool B 3-0 to reach the semifinals and won one of the four tickets available to the age-group World Championship. The U.S. Boys will play Chile (2-2) in the semifinals at 5 p.m. PT on Friday. In their previous pool play match, the U.S. beat Chile 3-0 (26-24, 25-13, 25-11).

OFFICIAL STATISTICS

“Qualifying to the World Championship was one of our goals and after having so much time off because of COVID, it’s a great feeling,” said U.S. Head Coach Charlie Sullivan.

Assistant Coach Theo Edwards added, “The guys really rallied around each other. The bench was into it. Just the way we handled the pressure and handled the crowd and the adversity; I thought we did a tremendous job.”

The U.S. serving was on point as it led Mexico 11-0 in aces. The U.S. also led in kills (36-18) and blocks (9-1). Mexico committed fewer errors than the United States (19-28).

U.S. opposite Finn Kearney and outside hitter Sterling Foley led the United States with 15 points each; each scored on 10 kills, two blocks and three aces.

Outside hitter Sean Kelly added 10 points on eight kills and two aces. Middle blocker Kaumana Carreira scored six points on a match-high four blocks and two kills. Middle Reed Wainwright scored five points on three kills and two aces.

Tristan Whitfield tallied three points on two kills and an ace. Jameson Vaccaro scored on one kill. Setter Tread Rosenthal scored on a block and set his team to a .464 hitting efficiency. Libero Kellen Larson was credited with seven excellent receptions and two digs.

Kearney led the team in digs with three. Foley led in excellent receptions with 12.

“We are so excited,” Kelly said. “Our team has improved in everything: serving, receiving, hitting and setting. Our teamwork is great and that’s all that really matters.”

Matches will be streamed on Facebook Live at Fnvg Voleibol Guate except for all Guatemala’s matches that will be streamed exclusively on Facebook Live at Comité Olímpico Guatemalteco.

2022 Boys U19 National Training Team
No. Name (Pos., Ht., Hometown, Region, College commitment)
1 Kellen Larson (L, 5-10, Irvine, Calif., Southern California, NA)
4 Quinn Bishop (OH, 6-3, Jupiter, Fla., Florida, NA)
6 Victor Loiola (OH, 6-4, Manhattan Beach, Calif., Southern California, NA)
8 Jameson Vaccaro (OH, 6-4, San Diego, Calif., Southern California, NA)
9 Caleb Blanchette (S, 6-5, Brentwood, Tenn., Southern, NA)
11 Finn Kearney (OPP, 6-5, Phoenix, Ariz., Arizona, NA)
12 Sterling Foley (OH, 6-6, Newport Beach, Calif., Southern California, NA)
13C Sean Kelly (OH, 6-6, Manhattan Beach, Calif., Southern California, NA)
16 Tread Rosenthal (S, 6-7, Manhattan Beach, Calif./Austin, Texas, Southern California, NA)
17 Reed Wainwright (MB, 6-7, Newport Beach, Calif., Southern California, NA)
18 Tristan Whitfield (MB, 6-7, Virginia Beach, Va., Old Dominion, Princeton)
19 Kaumana Carreira (MB, 6-8, Mission Viejo, Calif., Southern California, NA)

Head Coach: Charlie Sullivan (Head Coach, Springfield College)
Assistant Coach: Lindsay Brown (Assistant Coach, Purdue Fort Wayne)
Assistant Coach: Theo Edwards (Associate Head Coach, CSUN)
Performance Analyst: Jon Parry (Technical Coordinator, LBSU)
Athletic Trainer: Rachel Menze (CSUN)
Team Leader: Sam Shweisky (Head Coach, Princeton)

U.S. Schedule for the Boys U19 Pan American Cup
(All times PDT)

Pool Play
May 23 USA def Chile, 3-0 (26-24, 25-16, 25-11)
May 24 USA def Costa Rica, 3-0 (25-20, 25-17, 25-15)
May 25 USA def Mexico, 3-0 (25-21, 25-13, 25-13)

Quarterfinals on May 26
Mexico def Dominican Republic, 3-0 (25-22, 25-16, 25-17)
Chile def Guatemala vs Chile, 3- 1 (25-15, 25-13, 19-25, 25-20)

Classification and Semifinals on May 27
1 p.m. Honduras vs quarterfinal loser
3 p.m. Costa Rica vs quarterfinal loser
5 p.m. USA vs quarterfinal winner
7 p.m. Puerto Rico vs quarterfinal winner

Finals on May 28
1 p.m. 7th place match
3 p.m. 5th place match
5 p.m. 3rd place match
7 p.m. Championship