Seaside 17-Mikasa, NAVC Green Bears Win 17s Boys Titles

Bill Kauffman
Manager, Media Relations and Publications
Phone: 719-228-6800
E-Mail: bill.kauffman@usav.org

AUSTIN, Texas (July 9, 2010) – Seaside 17-Mikasa (Southern California Region) and NAVC Green Bears (Canada) captured the 17 Open and 17 Club Division titles, respectively, Friday afternoon to wrap up the 31st Annual USA Volleyball Boys’ Junior National Championships held at the Austin Convention Center in Texas.

In the 17 Open Division, Seaside 17-Mikasa rallied in both sets to defeat Manhattan Beach Surf 17s (Southern California Region) 28-26, 25-19 in the gold-medal match. Earlier in the tournament, Seaside 17-Mikasa rallied to defeat Manhattan Beach Surf 17s 22-25, 25-18, 15-10 in the fourth round.

Seaside 17-Mikasa dug itself into a 5-0 hole to start the first set and quickly climbed back to within two at 11-9. However, Manhattan Beach Surf 17s rebuilt a six-point cushion at 16-10. Seaside 17-Mikasa staged another run as Scott Hartley crushed a kill to tie the set at 19-all, which was followed by a Manhattan Beach Surf 17s error to provide Seaside 17-Mikasa with its first lead at 20-19. Seaside 17-Mikasa stretched its lead to 21-19 to cap a 7-2 scoring run, but Manhattan Beach Surf 17s came back to tie the set at 23-all. Seaside 17-Mikasa had set-point opportunities at 24-23 and 25-24, but Manhattan saved both chances and took its only set point opportunity at 26-25. Seaside 17-Mikasa responded with three unanswered points ending with a Shane Beatty winner at 28-26.

Manhattan Beach Surf 17s staked itself to an 8-5 advantage in the second set, only to have Seaside 17-Mikasa push into a tie at 10-all. Manhattan Beach Surf 17s inched itself to a 17-14 advantage, only to have a Sean Kemper kill tie the set at 17-all and Seaside 17-Mikasa went ahead on an error at 18-17. Seaside 17-Mikasa expanded its lead to five points at 23-18 as Nathan Knuuttila took over with a kill and block after an error. Knuuttila finished off the set at 25-19 with an ace.

Seaside 17-Mikasa advanced to the title match after dealing Halcones de Torrimar (Puerto Rico) a 25-13, 22-25, 16-14 loss in the semifinals. Manhattan Beach Surf 17s reached the gold-medal match by defeating SCVC 17 Quiksilver (Southern California Region) 25-19, 25-20 in the semifinal round. SCVC 17 Quiksilver bounced back to earn the bronze medal with a 25-16, 22-25, 15-13 victory over Halcones de Torrimar.

Seaside 17-Mikasa’s Cole Tyler was named the 17 Open Division most valuable player. He was joined on the all-tournament team by Shane Beatty (Seaside 17-Mikasa, Southern California Region), Justin Cobb (Manhattan Beach Surf 17s, Southern California), Javier Jimenez (Halcones de Torrimar, Puerto Rico), Sean Kemper (Seaside 17-Mikasa, Southern California Region), Austin Kingi (SCVC 17 Quiksilver, Southern California Region), Nathan Knuuttila (Seaside 17-Mikasa, Southern California Region), Zack LaCavera (Balboa Bay 17 Quiksilver, Southern California Region), Dominic Lile (OCVC 171, Southern California Region), Ryan Olson (Manhattan Beach Surf 17s, Southern California Region), Cristian Rivera (Halcones de Torrimar, Puerto Rico), Austin Rysyk (Bay-to-Bay Nike Black, Northern California Region), Bill Siroky (Ultimate B17 Gold, Great Lakes Region), Keats Stanley (SCVC 17 Quiksilver, Southern California Region) and D.J. White (Manhattan Beach Surf 17s, Southern California).

NAVC Green Bears U17 defeated Rise Above VBC (Canada) 25-21, 25-23 in an all-Canada match for the 17 Club Division final. NAVC had defeated Rise Above VBC 28-26, 23-25, 15-12 in a close fourth round match earlier in the tournament.

In the opening set of the gold-medal match, Rise Above VBC claimed an early 9-4 advantage before NAVC Green Bears cut the gap to two points at 9-7. Rise Above VBC answered by regaining a four-point edge at 13-9. However, NAVC Green Bears pushed out in front 18-16 on a 9-3 scoring spurt and finished with a 25-21 victory.

NAVC Green Bears built an early 6-1 lead in the second set and never allowed Rise Above VBC back in the match. NAVC Green Bears led 16-9, but had to withstand a late push as Rise Above VBC closed to within one at 24-23 before losing 25-23.

NAVC Green Bears topped Balboa Bay 17 White (Southern California Region) 25-22, 16-25, 15-13 in the semifinals to reach the gold-medal match. Rise Above VBC held off Piterres 17 (Puerto Rico) 25-19, 21-25, 15-10 in the semifinals. Piterres 17 won the bronze medal match 25-18, 21-25, 15-11 over Balboa Bay 17 White.

David Ponich of NAVC Green Bears was named the 17 Club Division most valuable player. He was joined on the all-tournament team by John Alexander (Riptides SB 17 Orange, Southern California Region), Alek Burk (Balboa Bay17 White, Southern California Region), Bryan Campos (Gigantes Carolina, Puerto Rico), Nick Curci (Balboa Bay 17 White, Southern California), Luis Del Valle (Borinquen Coqui, Puerto Rico), Anderson Diaz (Piterres, Puerto Rico), Ernie Fernandez (Piterres, Puerto Rico), John Goranson (Rise Above VBC, Canada), Ryan Graham (Arizona Premier Volleyball, Arizona Region), Jackson Maris (NAVC Green Bears, Canada), Calvin Nickifor (NAVC Green Bears, Canada), Hector Rivera (Gigantes Carolina, Puerto Rico), Brook Sedore (Rise Above VBC, Canada) and Brett Walsh (Rise Above VBC, Canada).

To view teams competing in the event, schedules, brackets or results, click here.

For more information on the USA Volleyball Boys’ Junior National Championships, visit usavolleyball.org/events/2403.

2010 USA Volleyball Boys’ Junior National Championships Schedule
12 Club (July 2-4): Gold – Narajinto Envol (Puerto Rico); Silver – Vaqueros 12-1 (Puerto Rico); Bronze – Torrimar 12-2 (Puerto Rico)
13 Club: Cancelled due to limited team registrations
14 Club (July 5-8): Gold – Ultimate B14 Gold (Great Lakes); Silver – Gigantes Carolina 14 (Puerto Rico); Bronze – Front Range Volleyball Club B141 Clear (Rocky Mountain)
14 Open (July 5-8): Gold – Ka Ulukoa M14 Mizuno (Aloha); Silver – San Juan VBC 14 (Puerto Rico); Bronze – Borinquen Coqui 14-1M (Puerto Rico)
15 Club (July 4-7): Gold – Piterres 15 (Puerto Rico); Silver – Vaqueros 15-1 (Puerto Rico); Bronze – Santa Monica Beach Club 15-Black
15 Open (July 4-7): Gold – SCVC 15 Quiksilver (Southern California); Silver – 949 15 Black (Southern California); Bronze – Halcones de Torimar (Puerto Rico)
16 Club (July 3-6): Gold – Vaqueros 16-1 (Puerto Rico); Silver – San Gabriel 16 Black (Southern California); Bronze – Gigantes Carolina (Puerto Rico)
16 Open (July 3-6): Gold – West Allis Lighting B16 (Badger); Silver – Ultimate B16 Gold (Great Lakes); Bronze – Balboa Bay 16 Quiksilver (Southern California)
17 Club (July 6-9): Gold – NAVC Green Bears U17 (Canada); Silver – Rise Above VBC (Canada); Bronze – Piterres 17 (Puerto Rico)
17 Open (July 6-9): Gold – Seaside 17-Mikasa (Southern California); Silver – Manhattan Beach Surf 17s (Southern California); Bronze – Piterres 17 (Puerto Rico)
18 Club (July 2-5): Gold – High Line Volleyball Club 2009-2010 18B (Southern California); Silver – Seaside 18-Mikasa (Southern California); Bronze – Spectrum 18s (Southern California)
18 Open (July 2-5): Gold – Manhattan Beach Surf 18s (Southern California); Silver – Outrigger 18 (Aloha); Bronze – Orange County Volleyball Club 18-1 (Southern California)

Tags: USA Volleyball Boys' Junior National Championships