U.S. Boys U19 National Team Ends 2025 Worlds with Win Over Japan

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (August 3, 2025) – The U.S. Boys U19 National Team completed play at the 2025 FIVB U19 World Championship in Tashkent, Uzbekistan with a 3-2 (20-25, 25-16, 25-15, 23-25, 15-12) victory over Japan on Sunday.

The five-setter was the fourth in the tournament for the U.S. (4-5), which also played four sets four times with only one of nine matches being a sweep.

The U.S. block was the key to the victory as it amassed 14 blocks to just four for Japan. The U.S. also led in kills (57-52) and aces (4-2). Japan made two fewer errors (35-33).

MATCH STATISTICS

“The guys did a nice job,” head coach Charlie Sullivan said. “We’ve been pretty beat up and faced a lot of adversity this week and on the wrong end of a couple close matches, so to see us take a little step forward, get a little better and have a good result was very pleasing today.”

Four U.S. players reached double digits in the match, led by captain and outside hitter Grant Lamoureux, who led the team in scoring for the eighth time with 18 points on 14 kills and four blocks. He shared the team lead with libero Layton Bluth by recording 10 digs. Bluth paced the team with nine successful receptions and Lamoureux added six.

Middle blocker Roman Payne posted a match-high five blocks to go with 10 kills and an ace for 16 points. Opposite William Dryden totaled 12 points on 10 kills, a block and an ace. Outside hitter Myles Jordan finished with 10 points on nine kills and a block and recorded seven successful receptions.

In addition to running the effective offense, setter Lucas Helle contributed eight points with five kills, two blocks and an ace. Middle blocker Thomas Henige scored seven points on six kills and an ace, and opposite Corbin Batista added three points on a pair of kills and an ace.

After dropping the first set, the U.S. dominated the next two sets. Payne recorded three blocks and two kills in the second set win. Jordan added four points on three kills and a block. In the third set, Dryden recorded four kills with Helle (one kill, one block, one ace) and Lamoureux (two kills, one block) adding three points.

The U.S. appeared to take a 23-22 lead in the fourth set, but Japan successfully challenged that a ball called out was in. Japan took the set to send the match to a deciding fifth set.

Back-to-back kills by Lamoureux staked the U.S. to a 4-1 lead in the fifth set and forced Japan to take an early time out. A Jordan kill gave the U.S. an 8-5 lead at the side switch. Japan scored the next two points, the second on a block, to pull within a point.

The U.S. responded by scoring the next three points on kills by Payne and Lamoureux followed by a Japan hitting error. A service error gave the U.S. a 13-9 lead. The U.S. moved ahead 14-10 and Japan saved two match points before outside hitter Elan Taylor entered the match and provided the kill that sealed the win. Lamoureux scored six points on five kills and a block.

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 def. Cuba, 3-1 (17-25, 25-19, 25-15, 25-21)
July 26: USA def. Colombia, 3-2 (25-19, 19-25, 25-18, 30-32, 15-9)
July 28: Brazil def. USA, 3-0 (25-21, 25-22, 25-22)
July 29: USA def. Korea, 3-1 (25-27, 28-26, 25-22, 25-19)
July 30: Round of 16: Bulgaria def. USA, 3-2 (25-22, 25-23, 20-25, 14-25, 16-14)
Aug. 1: Playoffs: Argentina def. USA, 3-2 (22-25, 25-21, 21-25, 25-20, 15-9)
Aug. 2: Playoffs, Pakistan def. USA, 3-1 (25-14, 22-25, 25-18, 25-23)
Aug. 3: 15th Place Match: USA def. Japan, 3-2 (20-25, 25-16, 25-15, 23-25, 15-12)