U.S. Boys U17 Moves into 2026 Pan Am Cup Semis After Win over Host Guatemala

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Aug. 6, 2026) – The U.S. Boys U17 National Team advanced to the semifinals of the 2026 NORCECA Boys U17 Pan American Cup in Guatemala City with a 3-0 (25-20, 25-17, 25-14) win over host Guatemala on Friday.

The U.S. (3-1) will play either Mexico or Venezuela in tomorrow’s semifinal round at either 3 p.m. or 5 p.m.

The U.S. offense dominated the match, hitting .470 for the match with 37 kills and only six errors in 66 attacks. Meanwhile, Guatemala was limited to 24 kills with the same number of errors. The U.S. also recorded nine blocks to only one for Guatemala and led 5-3 in service aces.

Outside hitter Sid Saikanth led all players with 14 points on 10 kills, a match-high three blocks and an ace. He hit .714 for the match without an error in 14 total attacks.

“I think it was a great fight between both teams. I’m just happy that USA came out on top and excited to move on to the semifinals,” Saikanth said.

Opposite Jackson Real also reached double digits with 12 points on nine kills, a pair of blocks and an ace. Libero Collin Tullis finished with a match-best 15 digs and led the U.S. with six excellent receptions. Saikanth added five excellent receptions and four digs.

Outside Logan Flores scored seven points on six kills without an error in nine attacks and one block. Middle blocker Nolan Barrett hit .500 with five kills and only one error on eight attacks, adding a block for six points. Middle Frankie Vincent scored five points on four kills and a block and setter Jonah Tuaniga scored five points on three kills and two aces in addition to running the highly effective U.S. offense.

Guatemala served an ace to take an early 5-2 lead in the match. Tuaniga put a second ball over to cut the deficit to one, 6-5. A Lula Kordus III ace evened the set at nine apiece and a Saikanth block gave the U.S. its first lead at 11-10. Real put away a backset from Tuaniga on the third U.S. swing of the rally for a 16-15 U.S. lead and a hitting error put the U.S. ahead by two points for the first time, prompting a Guatemala timeout. A Barrett block and another Real kill stretched the lead to four points. After another timeout, Tuaniga stretched his serving run to five points on a Real block and a Guatemala error that put the U.S. up 21-15. A Saikanth kill gave the U.S. a 24-18 lead and after Guatemala saved two set points, Vincent scored to give the U.S. the opening set. Real led all players with eight points on six kills and two blocks.

After the U.S. scored the first two points of the second set, the teams were tied 12 times before the U.S. regained a two-point lead, 15-13, on a Saikanth tip that landed in between the entire Guatemala defense. Barrett recorded a kill for an 18-14 lead and then Flores adjusted mid-air to score on a tip. A Tuaniga ace put the U.S. up by six and forced Guatemala to take a timeout. Saikanth scored off the block for a seven-point advantage, 22-15. The U.S. earned set point on a Real kill with Saikanth ending the set with fifth kill and seventh point of the set.

After falling behind 4-3 in the third set, the U.S. went on an 8-1 run behind the serving of Vincent and Tuaniga. Kills by Saikanth and Tuaniga followed by a Flores block put the U.S. ahead 9-5. Real and Barrett recorded kills on consecutive plays and a Tuaniga ace increased the lead to 15-6. A Flores kill and the 21st Guatemala hitting error capped a 14-2 U.S. run. A block by Dane Schaefer gave the U.S. an 18-8 advantage. A Flores kill and Vincent block extended the lead to 11 points, 20-9. Saikanth and Vincent kills gave the U.S. match point at 24-12. Guatemala fought off two match points before serving into the net. Flores and Vincent each scored four points on three kills and a block.

2026 Boys U17 National Team Roster for Pan American Cup

No. (Name, Position, Height, Hometown, High School, USAV Region)
2 Logan Flores (OH, 6-1, Cypress, Calif., Cypress HS, Southern California Southern Nevada)
3 Collin Tullis (L, 6-2, Slidell, La., Seton Catholic Homeschooling, Southern)
4 Sid Saikanth (OH, 6-3, Leander, Texas, Rouse HS, Lone Star)
5 Dane Schaefer (S, 6-3, Manhattan Beach, Calif., Mira Costa HS, Southern California Southern Nevada)
9 Gabe Desiderio (OH, 6-6, Los Altos Hills, Calif., Saint Francis HS, Northern California)
10 Nikodem Opiola (MB, 6-5, Arlington Heights, Ill., Rolling Meadows HS, Great Lakes)
12 Carter Tchaikovsky (S, 6-6, Huntington Beach, Calif., Huntington Beach HS, Southern California Southern Nevada)
13 Frankie Vincent (MB, 6-6, Schaumburg, Ill., Schaumburg High School, Great Lakes)
15 Noah Mbaitoloum (OH, 6-7, Rockville, Md., Winston Churchill HS, Chesapeake)
16 Jackson Real (OPP, 6-9, Irvine, Calif., San Clemente HS, Southern California Southern Nevada)
18 Nolan Barrett (MB, 6-7, Encinitas, Calif., La Costa Canyon HS, Southern California Southern Nevada)
20 Louis “Lula” Kordus III (OH, 6-5, Los Altos, Calif., Homestead HS, Northern California)
21 Gavin McWaters (OPP, 6-8, Loveland, Ohio, Loveland HS, Ohio Valley)
24 Jonah Tuaniga (S, 6-0, Long Beach, Calif., Millikan HS, Southern California Southern Nevada)

Alternates
1 Nate Paige (L, 5-10, Wheaton, Ill., Wheaton Warrenville South HS, Great Lakes)
6 Paxon Boynton (L, 5-11, Mesa, Ariz., Mountain View, HS, Arizona Region)
7 Sean John (MB, 6-3, Mount Prospect, Ill., John Hersey HS, Great Lakes)
8 Tommy Clifford (OH, 6-5, Glen Ellyn, Ill., Glenbard West HS, Great Lakes)
11 Kekoa Wade (OPP, 6-5, Kailua, Hawaii, University Laboratory School, Aloha)
14 Jackson Vanderpool (MB, 6-6, Queen Creek, Arizona, Higley HS, Arizona Region)
17 Kellen Saurer (S, 6-8, Elgin, Ill., Wheaton Academy, Great Lakes)
19 Miles Crotty (MB, 6-3, Hermosa Beach, Calif., Mira Costa HS, Southern California Southern Nevada)
22 Grant Schmidt (OPP, 6-7, San Diego, Calif., Clairemont HS, Southern California Southern Nevada)
23 Luis Tarja (OH, 6-7, Temecula, Calif., Temecula Valley HS, Southern California Southern Nevada)
25 Dean Wagner (OH, 6-1, Irvine, Calif., Mater Dei HS, Southern California Southern Nevada)
26 Ryder Wilper (OH, 6-6, Golden, Colo., Ralston Valley HS, Rocky Mountain)

Coaches
Head Coach: Mike Wall (USA Volleyball)
Assistant Coach: Steven Duhoux (Ohio State)
Assistant Coach: Tom Stillwell (NTDP)
Athletic Trainer: Beth Drayer (BD Movement)
Performance Analyst: Alex Hurlburt (The Volleyball Institute)
Team Lead: Brandon Oswald (NTDP)
Training Coach: Sean Byron (Daemen), Derek Sullivan (Belmont Abbey)
Mental Performance Coach: Mitzi Kincaid (Performance GRIT)

Schedule

All Times PT

August 4
USA def. Mexico, 3-2 (25-17, 18-25, 25-20, 24-26, 15-8)

August 5
USA def. Puerto Rico, 3-0 (25-14, 25-23, 25-17)

August 6
Canada def, USA, 3-1 (19-25, 25-23, 25-20, 32-30)

August 7
Quarterfinals: USA def. Guatemala, 3-0 (25-20, 25-17, 25-14)

August 8
Semifinals: USA v. Mexico/Venezuela, 3/5 p.m.

August 9
Medal match