COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Aug. 24, 2017) – The U.S. Boys Youth National Team fell to France on Thursday in Bahrain, 25-21, 25-13, 25-20, at the FIVB Boys’ U19 World Championship.
The U.S. boys (3-2) will face China (1-4) on Friday (Aug. 25) at 8 a.m. ET. France (4-1) will advance to the quarterfinals to play Russia (4-1).
“It was difficult,” Head Coach Sam Shweisky said. “France is a very talented team. Very well coached, very athletic. We knew we were going to be in for a battle tonight.”
Outside hitter Joel Schneidmiller led all scorers with 12 points on 10 kills (23 attempts), along with two aces. France led the U.S. in kills (35-25) and blocks (8-1).
Team USA Starters
Libero: Parker Mikesch
Setter: Chris Hall
Middles: Kyler Presho, Sam Lewis
Opposites: Jaylen Jasper
Outside Hitters: Devin Joslyn Joel Schneidmiller
Team USA Stat Leaders
Points: Joel Schneidmiller, 12; Samuel Lewis, 5; Jonny Bowles, 4; Devin Joslyn, 4
Kills: Joel Schneidmiller, 10; Jonny Bowles, 4; Samuel Lewis, 3; Devin Joslyn, 3
Blocks: Samuel Lewis, 1
Aces: Joel Schneidmiller, 2; Samuel Lewis, 1; Devin Joslyn, 1
“I thought the first set was difficult,” Shweisky said. “We didn’t respond as well as I hoped in the first set, but by the end of the first set, we started playing with a little bit more determination and focus. Unfortunately, we obviously had some injuries. I thought we fought back in the third, but the injuries and France’s overall depth and talent was too much for us to overcome tonight.”
(In second set, libero Parker Mikesch left the match with a knee injury and Brandon Browning replaced him. In the third set, Devin Joslyn came down on his ankle and Jerod Nelsen replaced him.)
“We were a little defeated because we didn’t have two of our important guys, especially the libero,” middle blocker Daniel Matheney said. “We just tried our best to overcome it … and tried to spark a comeback, but it just never clicked.
Next up … the U.S. will China on Friday.
“We’re trying to stay positive and look at what we’re doing well and what we’re improving on,” said Shweisky. “I think our defensive intensity is getting better. Our out-of-system swing selection is getter better and we’re trying serve more aggressively. If we keep improving and keep a positive mindset, we can have some success as we move on in the tournament.”
Said Matheney: “We’re definitely going to learn from this. We’re going to come out with the mentality of being confident. We need to come out firing.”
Team USA Matches
Aug. 19 … USA v. Bahrain … W … 28-26, 25-19, 20-25, 25-23
Aug. 20 … USA v. Puerto Rico … W … 25-21, 25-18, 23-25, 25-22
Aug. 21 … USA v. Tunisia … W … 28-30, 22-25, 25-19, 26-24, 15-9
Aug. 22 … USA v. Egypt … L … 18-25, 25-23, 25-22, 25-21
Aug. 24 … USA v. France … L … 25-21, 25-13, 25-20
The U.S. team earned a silver medal at the 2016 NORCECA Boys Youth Continental Championship in Cuba and finished seventh at the last U19 World Championship in 2015, equally the team’s best finish at Worlds.
2017 U.S. Boys Youth National Team
# — Name (Position, Ht., Hometown, Club, Region)
1 – Jonny Bowles – OP, 6-7, Chandler, Ariz., Aspire Volleyball, Arizona
2 – Brandon Browning – OH, 6-4, Newport Beach, Calif., 949 Volleyball, Southern California
3 – Joel Schneidmiller – OH, 6-6, Saratoga, Calif., Bay to Bay, Northern California
4 – Chris Hall – S, 6-2, Sherman Oaks, Calif., Manhattan Beach Surf, Southern California
5 – Jaylen Jasper – OP, 6-8, Arnold, Md., Annapolis Volleyball, Chesapeake
6 – Chase Johnson – S, 6-6, Moyock, N.C., Coastal Virginia Volleyball, Old Dominion
7 – Devin Joslyn – OH, 6-6, Angola, N.Y., Eden Volleyball, Western Empire
11 – Samuel Lewis – MB, 6-10, Long Beach, Calif., Team Rockstar, Southern California
13 – Daniel Matheney – MB, 6-6, Lawndale, Calif., Team Rockstar, Southern California
15 – Parker Mikesch – L, 5-11, Xenia, Ohio, Vanguard Volleyball, Ohio Valley
17 – Jerod Nelsen – OH, 6-7, Monte Sereno, Calif., Mountain View Volleyball, Northern California
20 – Kyler Presho – MB, 6-8, Rancho Mission Viejo, Calif., 949 Volleyball, Southern California
Team USA Staff
Head Coach: Sam Shweisky
Associate Head Coach: Brad Keller
Asst. Coach: Theo Edwards
Team Manager: Joel Walton
Doctor: Priscilla Tu
Technical Coordinator: Galen Dodd