COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Aug. 27, 2019) – The U.S. Boys Youth National Team will play for ninth-16th after falling to Argentina 25-20, 25-19, 25-14 on Tuesday at the FIVB U19 World Championship in Tunisia.

The U.S. will play Brazil on Wednesday at 11 a.m. PT in the first round of consolation.

Argentina was tough on defense and led the U.S. in blocks (10-4) and digs (25-7). It led in attacks (35-31) and aces (4-3). Argentina scored 26 points on U.S. errors and committed 15.

Outside hitter Alex Knight led the U.S. Boys with 14 points on 13 kills and one block. Middle blocker Gavin Julien scored eight points on six kills, one block and one ace. Outside hitter Francesco Sani finished with five points on five kills.

U.S. Head Coach David Hunt brought in setter Joe Karlous to start the second and third sets for starter Kevin Kauling. Clarke Godbold started the third set at opposite for James Hartley. Akin Akinwumi also spent time at opposite.

U.S. STARTERS VS ARGENTINA
Outside hitters: Alex Knight and Francesco Sani
Middle blockers: Ethan Hill and Gavin Julien
Opposite: James Hartley
Setter: Kevin Kauling
Libero: Mason Briggs
Substitutes: Joe Karlous (S), Akin Akinwumi (Opp), Clarke Godbold (Opp), Joe Deluzio (OH)

2019 U.S. Boys Youth National Training Team

Name (Pos., Height, Hometown, Region, College commit)
1 Kevin Kauling (S, 6-8, Naperville, Ill., Great Lakes, committed to Lewis)
3 Mason Briggs (L, 5-11, Valencia, Calif., So Cal, signed with Long Beach State)
4 Joe Karlous (S, 6-0, Costa Mesa, Calif., So Cal, signed with Pepperdine)
8 Akinola Akinwumi (Opp, 6-6, Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif., So Cal, signed with Pepperdine)
9 Clarke Godbold (Opp, 6-5, San Pedro, Calif., So Cal, committed to Long Beach State)
10 James Hartley (OH, 6-6, Waxhaw, N.C., Carolina, signed with Princeton)
11 Rico Wardlow (MB, 6-5, Bolingbrook, Ill., Great Lakes, signed with Purdue University Fort Wayne)
12 Alex Knight (OH, 6-6, Culver City, Calif., So Cal, signed with UCLA)
13 Ethan Hill (MB, 6-7, San Clemente, Calif., So Cal, signed with UCLA)
14 Francesco Sani (OH, 6-8, Bethesda, Md., Old Dominion, committed to UC Irvine)
15 Joe Deluzio (OH, 6-6, Windermere, Fla., Florida, committed to Pepperdine)
17 Gavin Julien (MB, 6-8, Whitefish Bay, Wis., Badger, signed with BYU)

Head Coach: David Hunt (Pepperdine men’s volleyball head coach)
Assistant Coach: Nick MacRae (Long Beach State men’s assistant coach)
Assistant Coach: Colin McMillan (Penn State men’s associate head coach)
Technical Coordinator: Nate Ngo (U.S. Men’s National Team)
Team Manager: Gabby Lutjen
Doctor: David Dyck

Schedule/Results (All times PT)
Aug. 21: USA def Dominican Republic, 25-18, 31-29, 25-17
Aug. 22: Korea def USA, 25-27, 25-17, 25-20, 25-22
Aug. 23: USA def Nigeria, 25-22, 25-19, 25-20
Aug. 25 at 11:30 a.m. USA vs Russia