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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (July 24, 2025) – The U.S. Boys U19 National Team was unable to maintain the momentum of a strong first set, dropping its opener at the FIVB U19 World Championship, 3-1 (17-25, 25-17, 25-21, 25-20) to Finland on Thursday in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
The U.S. finished with one more kill (49-48). Finland led in blocks (11-6) and aces (4-2), while committing three fewer errors.
Outside hitter Grant Lamoureux led the U.S. with 14 kills and eight successful receptions, while adding seven digs. Fellow outside Myles Jordan scored 13 points on 11 kills, one block and one ace. Middle blocker Roman Payne totaled 12 points on nine kills and three blocks.
Libero Layton Bluth led the team with 11 digs. Elan Taylor recorded nine kills and seven digs, and middle blocker Luc Soerensen added five points on four kills and a block. Setter Lucas Helle contributed a kill, block and an ace.
The first set was even at 10 when the U.S. went on a 7-1 run, highlighted when Lamoureux put a ball straight down on a back row attack to force a Finland timeout. A Taylor block extended the lead to eight, 20-12.
With a 21-15 lead, the U.S. showed its balance with Lamoureux, Payne and Taylor recording consecutive kills for set point. Taylor closed out the set with his third kill and fourth point. Lamoureux finished with four kills.
An ace put Finland up by four in the second set, 14-10. Payne put together back-to-back kills to cut the margin to two. A tough Helle serve led to a Sorensen kill on an overpass to cut the deficit to one point, 16-15, but Finland ended the set on a 10-2 run. Taylor scored four points on three kills and an ace, while Payne and Lamoureux each added three kills.
The U.S. used a 4-0 run to even the third set at 17. Kills by Lamoureux and Jordan, along with an ace by Helle, keyed the run. Finland scored the next two points and did not trail the rest of the set.
Kills by Soerensen (19-18) and Lamoureux (20-19) cut the lead back to one, but Finland took a 2-1 lead in the match by finishing the set on 5-2 run. Lamoureux led the way with four points.
Finland scored the first four points of the fourth set and jumped out to a 7-1 lead. Down 10-3, the U.S. called a timeout and went on a 7-2 run to cut the lead back to two on a kill by Jordan. After a timeout, Finland responded with an 8-3 run to take control of the set. Jordan led the U.S. with five kills.
2025 Boys U19 National Team World Championship Roster
Name (Pos., Ht., Hometown, School, USAV Region)
1 Layton Bluth (L, 5-8, Gilbert, Ariz., Casteel HS, Northern California)
4 Lucas Helle (S, 6-4, Pauline, S.C., Dorman HS, Palmetto)
5 Elan Taylor (OH, 6-4, San Jose, Calif., Valley Christian HS, Northern California)
8 Myles Jordan (OH, 6-5, Houston, Texas, Ridge Point HS, Lonestar)
10 Noah Douphner (OH, 6-6, Stevenson Ranch, Calif., West Ranch HS, Southern California)
12 Rafael Urbina (S, 6-6, Broomfield, Colo., Legacy HS, Rocky Mountain)
14 Aleksey Mikhailenko (OH, 6-8, Mequon, Wis., Homestead HS, Badger)
16 Luc Soerensen (MB, 6-8, Meadville, Pa., Meadville Area Senior HS, Keystone)
19 Roman Payne (MB, 7-0, Carlsbad, Calif., Carlsbad HS, Southern California)
20 Grant Lamoureux (OH, 6-10, Clemmons, N.C., Pepperdine University, Carolina)
21 William Dryden (OPP, 6-7, Los Gatos, Calif., Archbishop Mitty HS, Northern California)
23 Corbin Batista (OPP, 6-7, St. George, Utah, Alta HS, Intermountain)
28 Thomas Henige (MB, 6-9, Glendale, Ariz., Perry HS, Arizona)
Coaches
Head Coach: Charlie Sullivan (Springfield College)
Assistant Coach: Jonah Carson (MVVC)
Assistant Coach: Patrick Shawaryn (Penn State)
Performance Analyst: AJ Ruttenberg (UCLA)
Team Doctor: Dr. Chris Cornell (Coduhi Clinic)
Team Lead: Donovan Martinez (NTDP)
2025 Boys U19 World Championship Schedule
All times Pacific
July 24: Finland def. USA, 3-1 (17-25, 25-17, 25-21, 25-20)
July 25: USA vs. Cuba, 8 a.m.
July 26: USA vs. Colombia, 8 a.m.
July 28: USA vs. Brazil, 8 a.m.
July 29: USA vs. Korea, 8 a.m.
July 30: Playoffs/Round of 16, TBA
Aug. 1: Playoffs/Quarterfinals, TBA
Aug. 2: Playoffs/Semifinals, TBA
Aug. 3: Finals, TBA