COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Aug. 21, 2017) – The U.S. Boys Youth National Team continued its winning streak at the FIVB Under-19 World Championship on Monday with a 28-30, 22-25, 25-19, 26-24, 15-9 victory over Tunisia in Riffa, Bahrain.
The U.S. BYNT (3-0) leads Pool A and will finish pool play on Tuesday against Egypt (2-1) at 7 a.m. PT.
The U.S. boys led Tunisia in kills (55-45), blocks (10-9) and aces (9-6).
After the United States dropped the first two sets, U.S. Head Coach Sam Shweisky brought in Jonny Bowles at opposite and Joel Schneidmiller and Devin Joslyn at outside hitter.
Schneidmiller ended up leading all scorers with 18 points on a match-high 17 kills and one ace. Joslyn scored 14 points on 12 kills, one block and one ace. Bowles finished with 11 points on six kills, two blocks and a match-high three aces.
In the end, every player on the team started at least one set.
“Tunisia played very well and they really put a lot of pressure on us,” Shweisky told the FIVB. “I am really pleased to have a lot of guys in the team step up. It’s exciting to see the completeness of our team, so this was a fantastic win.”
In the fourth set, Tunisia reached match point at 24-23, but the U.S. came back to win the set on a kill from middle blocker Sam Lewis, Tunisia’s hitting error and kill by Schneidmiller.
In the fifth set, middle blocker Kyler Presho served for the first five points as the U.S. scored on two Joslyn kills, two blocks, including a solo stuff from Lewis and a Presho ace. Tunisia never recovered.
“I think that our having more energy at the end put pressure on them,” Joslyn said. “Coming out without playing in the beginning is hard; first of all, you’re nervous and second, you’re not very warm. Going out there and being vocal, when you’re not very warm, is a good thing for a hitter and a passer.”
Schneidmiller saw the match as a wake-up call.
“The other games we played weren’t easy ones, but we didn’t get pushed as much as we did today,” Schneidmiller said. “This was a good test for us. This game woke us up and snapped us back into shape. They took us to five and it was a good push, and we did well down the stretch to win.”
Starters for the United State vs. Tunisia
Outside hitters: Brandon Browning and Jerod Nelson
Middle blockers: Anthony Matheney and Kyler Presho
Setter: Chris Hall
Opposite: Jaylen Jasper
Libero: Parker Mikesch
Statistics for the United States vs. Tunisia
Kills: Joel Schneidmiller 17, Devin Joslyn 12, Jonny Boles 6, Nelson 6, Presho 3, Sam Lewis 3, Matheney 3, Jasper 2
Blocks: Presho 3, Matheney 3, Bowles 2, Lewis 1, Joslyn 1
Aces: Bowles 3, Schneidmiller 1, Presho 1, Nelsen 1, Lewis 1, Browning 1, Joslyn 1
Digs: Mikesch 7, Nelsen 5, Johnson 4, Presho 2, Browning 1, Matheney 1, Hall 1, Schneidmiller 1, Bowles 1
Pool Matches
Date … Matches
Aug. 19 … USA def Bahrain, 28-26, 25-19, 20-25, 25-23
Aug. 20 … USA def Puerto Rico, 25-21, 25-18, 23-25, 25-22
Aug. 21 … USA def Tunisia, 28-30, 22-25, 25-19, 26-24, 15-9
Aug. 22 … USA v. Egypt
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
Head Coach: Sam Shweisky
Associate Head Coach: Brad Keller
Asst. Coach: Theo Edwards
Team Manager: Joel Walton
Doctor: Priscilla Tu
Technical Coordinator: Galen Dodd