Youth Beach Teams Head to FIVB Worlds

Becky Murdy
Assistant, Media Relations and Publications
Phone: 719-228-6800
E-Mail: becky.murdy@usav.org

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (June 20, 2011) – USA Volleyball has announced the two boys’ and two girls’ Youth Beach National Teams (U19) that will represent the United States in the 2011 FIVB Beach Volleyball Swatch Youth World Championships June 22-26 in Umag, Croatia.

Sara Hughes (Costa Mesa, Calif.) and Justine Wong-Orantes (Cypress, Calif.) will join Mikayla Tucker (Placerville, Calif.) and Alexa Strange (San Clemente, Calif) on the girls’ side as both teams compete in their first international tournament.

“Sara and Justine are one of the most experienced teams out there in terms of events played together and events won on the domestic level,” USA Volleyball Director of International and High Performance Beach Programs Ali Lamberson said. "I am looking forward to their international debut as they have the potential to be the USA’s next medal-winning team.

“Mikayla is one of our most consistent ball control players so pairing her with Alexa, a very terminal lefty who puts up a big block, makes sense,” Lamberson said. “After having success in some AAA events, I am confident that they will have a great tournament.”

Tucker and Strange must advance past the qualification round on June 22 before joining Hughes and Wong-Orantes in the main draw on June 23.

The U.S. girls look to defend the title as Jane Croson (Lakewood, Calif.) and Summer Ross (Carlsbad, Calif.) captured the gold medal at the 2010 edition in Porto, Portugal, the first gold medal for the United States in the tournament’s nine-year history.

The boys have also tallied success at past FIVB Youth World Championships with the U.S. teams of Tony Ciarelli (Huntington Beach, Calif.)/Jeff Carlson (Newport Beach, Calif.) in 2008 and Joey Dykstra (Hermosa Beach, Calif.)/Mark Van Zwieten (Pompano Beach, Fla.) in 2005 capturing silver medals.

Patrick Carr (Sterling, Va.) and Skyler McCoy (Lakewood, Calif.) along with Nick Porterfield (Los Angeles, Calf.) and Bennett Bird (San Diego, Calif.) will represent the United States in the boys’ division.   

Porterfield and Bird will compete in the qualification round slated for June 22 before hopefully joining compatriots in the main draw round, starting on June 23.

“Patrick, Skyler, and Bennett were all in Russia with us for the 2010 bilateral exchange,” Lamberson said. “They have been itching to compete internationally since then, so it will be great to see what they can do.  Patrick puts up a big block and Skyler plays well behind him.  Nick was one of our strongest performers at the 2010 Holiday Camp and is a great balance for Bennett’s size and net play.”

Sixteen boys and 11 girls were selected for the Beach Youth National Team from the USA Beach High Performance Tryouts. The players were then evaluated through team training and the top four athletes per gender were announced to represent the red, white and blue at the FIVB World Championships.

Athletes eligible for the Youth U19 Beach teams were born in 1993 or 1994.

For complete information about the 2011 FIVB Beach Volleyball Swatch Youth World Championships, click here.

Girls U-19 Youth World Championship Team
Name (Hometown, Height, School)
Sara Hughes (Costa Mesa, Calif., 5-10, Mater Dei)
Justine Wong-Orantes (Cypress , Calif., 5-7, Los Alamitos)
Mikayla Tucker (Placerville, Calif., 5-8, Union Mine)
Alexa Strange (San Clemente, Calif., 6-0, San Clemente)

Girls U-19 Youth Beach High Performance National Team
Name (Hometown, Height, School)
Jace Pardon (Manhattan Beach, Calif., 5-11, Mira Costa)
Kayla Mallett (Torrance, Calif., 5-10, West Torrance)
Marina Boulanger (Goleta, Calif., 5-7, Dos Publos)
Samantha Cash (San Diego, Calif., 6-2, Canyon Crest Academy)
Tiffany Morales (Redondo Beach, Calif., 5'-6, Redondo Union)
Kamila Tan (San Diego, Calif., 6-0, Cathedral Catholic)
Jansen Button (Menifee, Calif., 5-7, Paloma Valley)

Boys U-19 Youth World Championship Team
Name (Hometown, Height, School)
Patrick Carr (Sterling, Va., 6-5, Potomac)
Skyler McCoy (Lakewood, Calif., 6-1, St. John Bosco)
Nick Porterfield (Los Angeles, Calif., 6-3, Loyola)
Bennett Bird (San Diego , Calif., 6-6, Westview)

Boys U-19 Youth Beach High Performance National Team
Name (Hometown, Height, School)
Kyle Baily (Huntington Beach, Calif., 6-4, Huntington Beach)
Jackson Bantle (Pacific Palisades, Calif., 6-1, Loyola)
Spencer Buckley (Coto De Caza, Calif., 6-6, Santa Margarita Catholic)
Matt Butler (Huntington Beach, Calif., 5-11, Huntington Beach)
Victor Chen (San Diego, Calif., 6-2, Westview)
Quinlan Dougherty (Santa Barbara, Calif., 6-3, Santa Barbara)
Dane Hunsicker (Las Vegas, Nev., 6-5, Centennial)
Chris Long (Tustin, Calif., 6-0, Beckman)
Riley Mallon (Manhattan Beach, Calif., 6- 2, Mira Costa)
John Oxnard (Yorba Linda, Calif., 6-1, Esperanza)
Nick Rademacher (Long Beach, Calif., 6-5, Long Beach Poly)
Riley Thomas (Hermosa Beach, Calif., 6-2, Mira Costa)

Tags: 2011 FIVB Beach Volleyball Youth World Championships, Beach, Beach Volleyball, FIVB, FIVB beach, FIVB World Championship, U.S. Beach Youth National Team