Boys' Youth National Team Roster Announced

B.J. Evans
Manager, Media Relations and Publications
Phone: 719-228-6800
E-Mail: bj.evans@usav.org

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Aug. 20, 2009) – USA Volleyball has announced the 12 players that will represent the United States at the FIVB Boys’ Youth (U-19) World Championship on Aug. 28-Sept. 6 in Jesolo  and Bassano del Grappa, Italy.

The group of 12 players was chosen from the preliminary training team of 19 that was announced on April 1. The group has been preparing in Florida under head coach Andy Read, who is also the interim head men’s volleyball coach at Long Beach State.

The team members selected are Micah Christenson (Honolulu, Hawai’i), Tanner Clayton (San Diego, Calif.), Taylor Crabb (Honolulu, Hawai’i), Dylan Davis (Corona del Mar, Calif.), Jeremy Dejno (New Berlin, Wis.), Nick Gibson (Shorewood, Wis.), Evan Mottram (Leona Valley, Calif.), Connor Olbright (Orange, Calif.), Spencer Rowe (Trabuco Canyon, Calif.), Taylor Sander (Norco, Calif.), Joshua Taylor (Honolulu, Hawai’i) and Maurice Torres (Riverside, Calif.).

“The final 12 guys who will be traveling to Italy to represent the USA at the Boy’s Youth World Championship are dynamic at the net blocking and hitting, powerful from the service line and steady in the ball control positions of passing, setting and defense,” Read said. “We have a few final days to train and improve our level of performance and our ability to sustain a high level for an extended period of time.”

The U.S. Boys’ Youth National Team won the 2008 NORCECA Championship in Miami to qualify for the 2009 World Championship. Five players from that team are returning: Davis, Mottram, Olbright, Sander and Torres. Sander will serve as the team captain.

“We have a nucleus of five players returning for the last summer’s team,” Read said. “We are going to rely on their experience and add that to the athletic and volleyball ability of the seven new players who have played their way onto the team.”

Read is being assisted by Sean Byron (Ohio State University) and Dan Friend (Lewis University). The head of the U.S. delegation to the Boys’ Youth World Championship will be Ken Preston, the former men’s head coach at UC Santa Barbara.

The Southern California Region put seven players on the team. The Aloha Region placed three and the Badger Region placed two.

The U.S. team will begin competition in Pool B with Iran, Japan and Serbia.

The event web site is at www.fivb.org/EN/Volleyball/Competitions/Youth/men/2009/.

FIVB Boys’ Youth World Championship
Aug. 28-Sept. 6 in Jesolo  and Bassano del Grappa, Italy

No Name (Position, Hometown, Region, Club)
2 Micah Christenson (Setter, Honolulu, Hawai’i, Aloha, Outrigger Canoe VC)
3 Tanner Clayton (Middle Blocker, San Diego, Calif., Southern California, Epic VC)
4 Taylor Crabb (LOH, Honolulu, Hawai’i, Aloha, Outrigger Canoe VC)
6 Dylan Davis (MB, Corona del Mar, Calif., So Cal, Balboa Bay VC)
7 Jeremy Dejno (LOH, New Berlin, Wis., Badger, Lightning VC)
10 Nick Gibson (LOH, Shorewood, Wis., Badger, North Shore Milwaukee VC)
12 Evan Mottram (Libero, Leona Valley, Calif., So Cal, Pacific Palisades VC)
14 Connor Olbright (Setter, Orange, Calif., So Cal, Balboa Bay VC)
15 Spencer Rowe (MB, Trabuco Canyon, Calif., So Cal, OCVC)
16 Taylor Sander (LOH, Norco, Calif., So Cal, Orange Coast VC)
18 Joshua Taylor (LOH, Honolulu, Hawai’i, Aloha, Ku’ikahi VC)
19 Maurice Torres (ROH, Riverside, Calif., So Cal, OC Riptides)

Tags: FIVB World Championship, U.S. Boys' Youth National Team, World Championships