Boys U19 Team Reigns at Pan American Cup for First Time

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (May 28, 2022) – Thanks to a rainstorm, the U.S. Boys U19 National Team had to wait two extra hours to play Mexico for the gold medal at the Pan American Cup on Saturday. The match was worth the wait as the U.S. swept Mexico in the final, 3-0 (25-22, 25-18, 25-18) in Guatemala.

It is the first time a U.S. team has won gold in the event. The Boys U19 Team (5-0) did not lose a set in the tournament and qualified for the 2023 FIVB World Championship along the way.

U.S. outside hitter and Team Captain Sean Kelly was named tournament MVP and First Best Spiker. Tread Rosenthal was named Best Setter. Finn Kearney earned Best Opposite and Best Server. Libero Kellen Larson was named Best Digger and Best Receiver.

OFFICIAL STATISTICS

“I am so proud our boys came so far,” U.S. Head Coach Charlie Sullivan said. “They were unselfish, they gave to the team first and for young men to do that I think they grew exponentially.”

“I don’t think they could have given any more to the system. It doesn’t work unless everybody gives to it.”

On Saturday, the U.S. led in kills (39-18), blocks (9-7) and aces (5-2). Mexico scored 31 points on U.S. errors while committing 22.

Kelly led all scorers with a match-high 15 points on 14 kills and one block. Outside hitter Sterling Foley added 14 points on eight kills, a match-high five blocks and one ace. Kearney totaled 13 points on nine kills, one block and a match-high three aces.

Middle blocker Kaumana Carreira scored seven points on six kills and one block. Rosenthal scored two points with a block and an ace. He set the team to a .313 hitting efficiency.

Middle Tristan Whitfield played as a substitute and scored two points on two kills. Larson was credited with 12 excellent receptions and nine digs.

The match started two hours late due to a rainstorm that got the court wet during the previous match.

Affected by slow starts throughout the tournament, the U.S. Boys had to overcome a four-point deficit late in the first set. The team remained patient, tying the score at 18 and moving on to the set win. The U.S. never struggled in the second and third sets.

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
Guatemala def Honduras, 3-0 (25-13, 26-24, 25-15)
Costa Rica def Dominican Republic, 3-1 (25-15, 25-13, 27-29, 25-19)
USA def Chile, 3-0 (25-18, 25-18, 25-20)
Mexico def Puerto Rico, 3-2 (25-19, 25-19, 20-25, 18-25, 17-15)

Finals on May 28
7th place: Dominican Republic def Honduras, 3-1 (19-25, 25-12, 25-13, 25-12)
Costa Rica def Guatemala, 3-0 (25-19, 30-28, 29-27)
Puerto Rico def Chile, 3-0 (25-17, 25-19, 25-19)
USA def Mexico, 3-0 (25-22, 25-28, 25-28)