COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (June 25, 2016) – The U.S. Boy’s Youth National Team overpowered Costa Rica 25-9, 25-17, 25-16 in its second pool play match at the NORCECA U19 Continental Championship on Saturday in Havana, Cuba.
The Americans outpaced their opponents, totaling 28 kills to Costa Rica’s 13, also out-blocking (8-1) and out-serving the Costa Ricans with 12 aces against zero allowed. Additional match statistics were not immediately available.
“We played and passed well and made good transitions. We accomplished with our playing system and we had good communication among us. We are very proud of winning and it is our main goal,” opposite Jaylen Jasper (Arnold, Maryland) said in a translated NORCECA press release.
On Friday the Boy’s Youth National Team topped Nicaragua; the Americans face the Dominican Republic in the final pool play match on Sunday at 8 p.m. ET. On Saturday, Nicaragua upset Dominican Republic 3-1 (20-25, 25-13, 25-21, 25-23); a U.S. win on Sunday would clinch the pool heading into Monday’s quarterfinals.
The U.S. won the U19 Continental Championship in 2015; the top two teams from this year’s tournament will qualify for the 2017 FIVB Boys’ U19 World Championship.
The team’s roster was chosen from a group of 24 players selected after a series of national try outs earlier this year. Many of the athletes named to the Boys’ Youth National Team chose to forgo playing with their respective club teams at the Boys’ Junior National Championships in order to represent the U.S. at the tournament. The National Championships begin Wednesday in Dallas, Texas.
U.S. Boys’ Youth National Team