U.S. Boys U19 National Team Blocks Way Past Cuba for First Win at 2025 Worlds

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (July 25, 2025) – The U.S. Boys U19 National Team used a suffocating block to defeat Cuba, 3-1 (17-25, 25-19, 25-15, 25-21) and earn its first win at the FIVB U19 World Championship on Friday in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

The U.S. (1-1) continues play with its third match in as many days tomorrow, Saturday, July 26, at 8 a.m. PT against Colombia (0-2).

The match was nearly even in kills with the U.S. holding a 43-42 edge and each team serving five aces, but the U.S. controlled the net with 15 blocks to just four for Cuba. Each team totaled 29 errors.

Outside hitter Grant Lamoureux again led the U.S. as he led all players with 13 kills, four of the team’s five aces and 18 total points. His block made him one of eight U.S. players to record a block. Middle blocker Roman Payne finished with six blocks, two more than the entire Cuba team, and added six kills and an ace for 13 points.

Outside Elan Taylor scored nine points on eight kills and a block, and opposite William Dryden made his World Championship debut with seven points on six kills and a block. Middle blocker Thomas Henige made his debut with six points on four kills and a pair of blocks.

Setter Lucas Helle contributed five points on three kills and two blocks, and shared match-high honors with seven digs. Libero Layton Bluth led the U.S. with seven successful receptions. Opposite Corbin Batista, who recently won a gold medal with the U19 Pan American Cup team, scored four points on three kills and an ace.

The U.S. scored four of the match’s first five points but took its last lead of the opening set, 9-8, on a Luc Soerensen block. A Payne kill brought the U.S. within two points, 14-12, but Cuba quickly answered with three points, the final one on an ace, to force a U.S. timeout as the lead stretched to five. Lamoureux recorded five of the team’s 10 kills in the set.

Lamoureux served back-to-back aces to give the U.S. a 5-1 lead in the second set and cause an early Cuba timeout. A Henige block ended the longest rally of the match that featured a great dig by Helle to put the U.S. out in front 10-4.

One of three late Lamoureux kills on back row attacks extended the lead to seven, 18-11. Batista scored the next two U.S. points for a 20-14 lead. Cuba cut the margin to three, but a service error and two more back row kills by Lamoureux evened the match. Lamoureux scored seven points in the set, adding five kills to his two early aces.

The U.S. took the first three-point lead of the third set when Lamoureux scored on another back row attack to give the U.S. a 13-10 advantage and lead Cuba to take a timeout. The lead grew to five, 17-12, when Batista scored off a bump set from Bluth.

Leading 19-13, the U.S. used its strong block to dominate the remainder of the set as Payne recorded three blocks and Lamoureux another for a 24-14 lead. Dryden ended the set with his first kill of the championship. Taylor led all scorers with six points on five kills and one of the team’s eight blocks in the set. Payne finished with four blocks.

Trailing 14-13, Cuba ran off four consecutive points to take its biggest lead of the fourth set, 17-14. After a service error, the U.S. tied the set on a Helle kill on a second ball swing and a misplay on Dryden’s serve.

Two errors gave Cuba the lead back, 19-17, but the U.S. finished the match on an 8-2 run. A Dryden kill gave the U.S. a 21-20 lead and Payne served for three points in a row to set up match point. A Helle block and a Cuba error upped the margin to three points before a Payne ace made it 24-20. Henige ended the match on a back row attack. Dryden finished the set with five kills.

2025 Boys U19 National Team World Championship Roster

Name (Pos., Ht., Hometown, School, USAV Region)
1 Layton Bluth (L, 5-8, Gilbert, Ariz., Casteel HS, Northern California)
4 Lucas Helle (S, 6-4, Pauline, S.C., Dorman HS, Palmetto)
5 Elan Taylor (OH, 6-4, San Jose, Calif., Valley Christian HS, Northern California)
8 Myles Jordan (OH, 6-5, Houston, Texas, Ridge Point HS, Lonestar)
10 Noah Douphner (OH, 6-6, Stevenson Ranch, Calif., West Ranch HS, Southern California)
12 Rafael Urbina (S, 6-6, Broomfield, Colo., Legacy HS, Rocky Mountain)
14 Aleksey Mikhailenko (OH, 6-8, Mequon, Wis., Homestead HS, Badger)
16 Luc Soerensen (MB, 6-8, Meadville, Pa., Meadville Area Senior HS, Keystone)
19 Roman Payne (MB, 7-0, Carlsbad, Calif., Carlsbad HS, Southern California)
20 Grant Lamoureux (OH, 6-10, Clemmons, N.C., Pepperdine University, Carolina)
21 William Dryden (OPP, 6-7, Los Gatos, Calif., Archbishop Mitty HS, Northern California)
23 Corbin Batista (OPP, 6-7, St. George, Utah, Alta HS, Intermountain)
28 Thomas Henige (MB, 6-9, Glendale, Ariz., Perry HS, Arizona)

Coaches

Head Coach: Charlie Sullivan (Springfield College)
Assistant Coach: Jonah Carson (MVVC)
Assistant Coach: Patrick Shawaryn (Penn State)
Performance Analyst: AJ Ruttenberg (UCLA)
Team Doctor: Dr. Chris Cornell (Coduhi Clinic)
Team Lead: Donovan Martinez (NTDP)

2025 Boys U19 World Championship Schedule
All times Pacific

July 24: Finland def. USA, 3-1 (17-25, 25-17, 25-21, 25-20)
July 25: USA def. Cuba, 3-1 (17-25, 25-19, 25-15, 25-21)
July 26: USA vs. Colombia, 8 a.m.
July 28: USA vs. Brazil, 8 a.m.
July 29: USA vs. Korea, 8 a.m.
July 30: Playoffs/Round of 16, TBA
Aug. 1: Playoffs/Quarterfinals, TBA
Aug. 2: Playoffs/Semifinals, TBA
Aug. 3: Finals, TBA