Boys U17 Wins Bronze at 2025 NORCECA Continental Championship

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Nov. 23, 2025) – The U.S. Boys U17 National Team won bronze in dramatic fashion at the 2025 NORCECA U17 Continental Championship on Sunday with a 3-2 (25-22, 19-25, 25-18, 21-25, 18-16) win over Mexico in Nicaragua.

The U.S. overcame three Mexico match points for the win and finished the tournament with a 4-1 record. This is the first year the U.S. has fielded a Boys U17 team.

The U.S. led Mexico in kills (64-63), blocks (12-7) and aces (11-4). Mexico scored 32 points off of U.S. errors while only giving up 21.

After missing most of the semifinal match with an injury, Noah Mbaitoloum returned with a vengeance, scoring 40 points on 36 kills, three blocks and an ace.

“It took incredible strength from our team, having to come back, losing two sets and going to a fifth set,” Mbaitoloum said. “Just to come back from those sets and have the will to fight through, that’s truly amazing, and that’s what makes this team great. Everybody on the court has a role, whether you’re on the bench, whether you’re playing, whether you’re starting; they all contribute.”

Nikodem Opiola had 12 points on eight kills, two blocks and two aces, and Jackson Real scored nine (four kills, two blocks, team-high three aces). Logan Flores had eight points (five kills, two blocks, one ace); Frankie Vincent scored six (three kills, two blocks, one ace); Dane Schaefer had two kills and two aces; Tommy Clifford had three kills; and Sid Saikanth had two kills.

Carter Tchaikovsky had a kill, block and ace while leading the U.S. offense at setter. Collin Tullis had 12 digs and 15 excellent receptions.

“I think they responded,” head coach Brandon Taliaferro said. “It took them half a game in the first set to wake up and get going. But, this is an amazing opportunity for them and a great experience. To come here and get a medal, I’m proud of them.”

Mexico got off to a hot start in the first set, quickly jumping out to an 8-3 lead. The U.S. was down 20-14 when they started a comeback with seven straight points to take a 21-20 lead. That stretch included kills from Clifford, Mbaitoloum (3) and a block from Real. At 22-22, the U.S. used another Mbaitoloum kill and a Vincent ace for match point, and a Mexico hitting error sealed the deal.

In set two, Mexico once again flew out to an early lead at 10-4, but this time they never relinquished that lead, winning 25-19.

It was the U.S. who took the lead early in the third set, grabbing a 12-5 lead on two straight aces from Real. Mexico moved within two at 14-12, but the U.S. went on another run for an 18-12 lead. Mexico never got closer than three points in the 25-18 U.S. win.

Mexico took an early 12-4 lead in set four, and the U.S. was forced to play catch up again. The lead was cut to three at 24-21, but that’s as close as the U.S. got. The 25-21 Mexico win set up a decisive fifth set.

Mbaitoloum opened the scoring in the fifth set with a kill, then made it 2-1 with a signature bounce. The U.S. kept a slim lead and made it 8-5 on a Flores ace before the side switch. Mexico stayed in it, closing the gap at 8-7, 9-8 and 10-9. Another Mbaitoloum kill gave the U.S. an 11-9 edge, but Mexico used a kill to close it to one again.

Mexico used another kill to tie it at 11 and then took the lead with a third straight kill from Palacios. The U.S. tied it after a Mexico error and then took the lead, 13-12, with a kill from Opiola. Mexico bounced back after a timeout with a block for 13-13.

Mexico had the first match point at 14-13 on a U.S. error, but Mbaitoloum came right back with a kill for 14-14. Mexico had its second match point at 15-14 on a kill, but Opiola responded to tie it.

The two teams traded points again for 16-16, and then Mbaitoloum notched another kill for the first U.S. match point. One match point was all the U.S. needed as Mbaitoloum went up again with a kill on an overpass for the victory.

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 def. Dominican Republic 3-0 (25-13, 25-15, 25-18)
Nov. 22: Cuba def. USA, 3-1 (25-22, 27-25, 12-25, 25-20)
Nov. 23: Bronze Medal Match: USA def. Mexico, 3-2 (25-22, 19-25, 25-18, 21-25, 18-16)