Boys U19 Team Will Play for Gold at 2023 Pan Am Cup

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (March 17, 2023) – The U.S. Boys U19 National Team will play for the gold medal Saturday at the 2023 Pan American Cup in Guatemala after defeating Costa Rica 3-0 (25-19, 25-19, 25-15) in the semifinals.

It was the second straight sweep for the U.S. Boys over Costa Rica in the tournament. On Wednesday, the U.S. won 25-18, 25-20, 25-17 in the last match of pool play.

They will play Mexico Saturday night at 7 p.m. PT for the gold medal. Earlier in the week, Mexico took a set off the U.S. before falling 3-1.

MATCH STATISTICS

Setter and team captain Tread Rosenthal was pleased with how the team came together for this win.

“From the start we did a good job of getting everyone in the game fast,” he said. “I think serving to start was a little bit inconsistent, but as the match went on it was better. We just kept the fire going from start to finish, so that was great.”

Outside hitter Sterling Foley led all scorers with 15 points on 14 kills and one block. Fellow outside hitter Finn Kearney scored 11 points on nine kills and and two aces. Middle blockers Isaiah Preuitt and Josh Aruya each notched seven points–Preuitt with five kills, one block and one ace, and Aruya with three kills, a team-high three blocks and an ace.

Outside hitter Sean Kelly had five kills and ace. Rosenthal scored four (two kills and two blocks), and outside hitter Victor Loiola had four kills. Middle blocker Gaige Gabirel picked up two kills and an ace, and opposite Marek Turner had a kill and a block.

Libero Kellen Larson was credited with five receptions and two digs.

Overall, the U.S. led Costa Rica in kills (45-20), blocks (8-2) and aces (6-0).

The U.S. Boys will be going for their second consecutive Pan American Cup gold medal; they also won the event in May 2022.

“Tomorrow, we’re going to try and come out and do the same thing,” Rosenthal said. “Hopefully we’ll limit it to three sets; try not to let them get the juices going. It feels great coming back here (to the championship match), but we’re not done yet.”

2023 U.S. Boys U19 NORCECA Continental Championship Roster

Player (Pos., Height, Birth Year, Hometown, School, USAV Region)
1 Kellen Larson (L, 5-10, 2005, Irvine, Calif., Woodbridge HS, Southern California)
5 Marek Turner (Opp, 6-5, 2006, Long Beach, Calif., Woodrow Wilson HS, Southern California)
6 Victor Loiola (OH, 6-4, 2005, Manhattan Beach, Calif., Mira Costa HS, Southern California)
7 Trent Taliaferro (S, 6-4, 2005, San Clemente, Calif., JSerra Catholic HS, Southern California)
10 Isaiah Preuitt (MB, 6-8, 2005, Portland, Ore., Central Catholic HS, Columbia Empire)
11 Finn Kearney (Opp, 6-5, 2006, Phoenix, Ariz., Sandra Day O’Connor HS, Arizona)
12 Sterling Foley (OH, 6-6, 2005, Newport Beach, Calif., Corona del Mar HS, Southern California)
13 Sean Kelly (OH, 6-6, 2005, Manhattan Beach, Calif., Loyola HS, Southern California)
14 Sebastiano Sani (OH, 6-8, 2005, Bethesda, Md., Walter Johnson HS, Chesapeake)
15 Josh Aruya (MB, 6-7, 2005, Mission Viejo, Calif., Mission Viejo HS, Southern California)
16C Tread Rosenthal (S, 6-7, 2006, Manhattan Beach, Calif., Mira Costa HS, Southern California)
18 Gaige Gabriel (MB, 6-8, 2005, Birdsboro, Pa., Exeter Township HS, Keystone)

Alternates
Roan Alviar (L, 5-11, 2006, Hayward, Calif., Bishop O’Dowd HS, Northern California)
Kahale Clini (OH, 6-3, 2005, Honolulu, Hawaii, Punahou School, Aloha)
Cole Hartke (OH, 6-10, 2006, Barrington, Ill., Barrington HS, Great Lakes)
Trevell Jordan (MB, 6-8, 2006, Mesa, Ariz., Desert Ridge HS, Arizona
Parker Tomkinson (MB, 6-10, 2006, Carlsbad, Calif., Carlsbad HS, Southern California)
Peter Zurawski (S, 6-6, 2005, Oak Park, Ill., Oak Park River Forest HS, Great Lakes)

Head Coach: Matt Fuerbringer
Assistant Coaches: Kevin Moore and Daniele Desiderio
Performance Analyst: Nate Ngo
Athletic Trainer: Cheryl Bueno
Team Leader: Cody Liner

U.S. Schedule for the 2023 NORCECA Boys U19 Continental Championship
All times PT
Matches will be streamed on Facebook at Fnvg Voleibol Guate.
View the full schedule on the NORCECA website.
March 13: USA def. Belize, 3-0 (25-11, 25-21, 25-22)
March 14: USA def. Mexico, 3-1 (23-25, 25-19, 25-19, 25-20)
March 15: USA def. Costa Rica, 3-0 (25-18, 25-20, 25-17)
March 17 semifinal: USA def. Costa Rica, 3-0 (25-19, 25-19, 25-15)
March 18: Gold medal match: 7 p.m. PT USA vs. Mexico