Boys U17 Now 2-0 with Win Over Cuba at 2025 NORCECA Continental Championship

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Nov. 19, 2025) – The U.S. Boys U17 National Team secured its second-ever victory as a program, defeating Cuba 3-1 (23-25, 25-14, 25-23, 25-19) at the 2025 NORCECA U17 Continental Championship in Nicaragua.

The U.S. (2-0) will next play Dominican Republic (0-1), who will play Mexico later today, on Thursday, Nov. 20, at 12 p.m. PT.  Watch all matches live.

The U.S. held slight advantages over Cuba in kills (49-41) and aces (6-4). The match differentiator was in the blocking category with the U.S. dominating the stat line (14-5).

“Cuba versus USA is always a fun battle,” said head coach Brandon Taliaferro. “Cuba came out and got us in that first game and then we rallied back and I thought we were steady for the next three. The pressure was good for our guys, to get into this environment, to have a Cuba team play really well and for us to respond.”

Outside hitter Noah Mbaitoloum tied with Marquez from Cuba for lead scoring with 18 points on 17 kills and one block.

Three more U.S. players put up double-digit performances. Middle blocker Nikodem Opiola had 13 points on 10 kills and three blocks. Middle blocker Frankie Vincent had 11 points on five kills and a match-high six blocks. Outside hitter Logan Flores had 10 points on 10 kills.

Setter Carter Tchaikovsky got in on the action too with seven total points on three kills, two blocks and two aces. Other notable performances went to outside hitter Sid Saikanth and Gabe Desiderio, each with four points. Desiderio had a match-high three aces. Tommy Clifford, who had the match-winning ace, had two points, adding a block to his stat line. Libero Collin Tullis was credited with 13 digs.

Strong play at the net early on in set one gave the U.S. an 8-6 lead at the start with blocks from Vincent, Tchaikovsky and Opiola. The U.S. held the lead the entire set by as much as four points until Cuba tied it up late at 23-23. Cuba took advantage of an attack error from the U.S. and got a block of its own to close out the set.

Cuba never held a lead in the second set as the U.S. bounced back with a dominating performance. Cuba stayed within two points early on, but a seven-point run opened the door for the U.S. for a 16-7 lead. Tchaikovsky had back-to-back aces in that run. The U.S. strung together another run, this time five straight points to get to set point at 24-11. Cuba held off three set points before a service error from Cuba won the set for the U.S. and tied the match 1-1.

The U.S. jumped out to an early 4-1 lead in set three, thanks to big kills from Mbaitoloum and Vincent that ended two long rallies. However, it seemed each time the U.S. established a lead, Cuba would come back. Cuba took a 21-20 lead, its first lead since capturing the opening point of the set. Cuba continued to hold an advantage until a kill from Mbaitoloum shifted momentum and gave the U.S. set point at 24-23. Out of a Cuba timeout, Desiderio unleashed a booming serve for an ace, giving the U.S. a 2-1 match lead.

The fourth set was close until the end with neither team holding an advantage for very long. The separation came with the U.S. going on a four-point run to take a 23-18 lead. Saikanth had two kills for the U.S. in that run. Match point was captured after Mbaitoloum, who at this point was primarily relying on his power, switched it up and scored on a roll shot over the block. The U.S. took the set and match from the service line again, this time with an ace from Clifford.

Boys U17 National Team Roster for NORCECA Continental Championship

No. (Name, Position, Hometown, High School, USAV Region)
2 Logan Flores (OH, Cypress, Calif., Cypress HS, Southern California Southern Nevada)
3 Collin Tullis (L, Slidell, La., Seton Home Study Program, Southern)
4 Sid Saikanth (OH, Leander, Texas, Rouse HS, Lone Star)
5 Dane Schaefer (S/OPP, Manhattan Beach, Calif., Mira Costa HS, Southern California Southern Nevada)
7 Sean John (MB, Mount Prospect, Ill., John Hersey HS, Great Lakes)
8 Tommy Clifford (OH, Glen Ellyn, Ill., Glenbard West HS, Great Lakes)
9 Gabe Desiderio (OH, Los Altos Hills, Calif., Saint Francis HS, Northern California)
10 Nikodem Opiola (MB, Arlington Heights, Ill., Rolling Meadows HS, Great Lakes)
12C Carter Tchaikovsky (S, Huntington Beach, Calif., Huntington Beach HS, Southern California Southern Nevada)
13 Frankie Vincent (MB, Schaumburg, Ill., Schaumburg High School, Great Lakes)
15 Noah Mbaitoloum (OH, Rockville, Md., Winston Churchill HS, Chesapeake)
16 Jackson Real (OPP, San Clemente, Calif., San Clemente HS, Southern California Southern Nevada)

Alternates
1 Nate Paige (L, Wheaton, Ill., Wheaton Warrenville South HS, Great Lakes)
6 Tyler Berent (S, Mountain View, Calif., Mountain View HS, Northern California)
11 Kekoa Wade (OPP, Kailua, Hawaii, University Laboratory School, Aloha)
14 Jackson Vanderpool (MB, Queen Creek, Arizona, Higley HS, Arizona Region)
17 Kellen Saurer (S, Elgin, Ill., Wheaton Academy, Great Lakes)

Coaches
Head Coach: Brandon Taliaferro (USA Volleyball)
Assistant Coach: Steven Duhoux (Ohio State)
Assistant Coach: Tom Stillwell (NTDP)
Athletic Trainer: Cherryl Bueno (Coast to Coast AthletiCare)
Performance Analyst Noel Carpio (NTDP)
Team Doctor: Dainis Berzins, D.O. (Cedars-Sinai – Los Angeles)
Team Lead: Donovan Martinez (NTDP)

Schedule

All times PT
Nov 18: USA def. Mexico 3-0 (25-20, 25-22, 25-13)
Nov. 19: USA def. Cuba 3-1 (23-25, 25-14, 25-23, 25-19)
Nov. 20: USA vs. Dominican Republic, 12 p.m.
Nov. 21: Quarterfinals
Nov. 22 Semifinals and classification
Nov. 23: Medal matches and classification