U.S. Boys U19's Block Stymies Korea in 2025 Worlds Pool Play Finale

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (July 29, 2025) – The U.S. Boys U19 National Team used a dominating block to record a critical 3-1 (25-27, 28-26, 25-22, 25-19) victory over Korea to close out pool play at the FIVB U19 World Championship on Tuesday in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

“It was the most consistently focused performance we have had all tournament. That came from a lot of growth and recognizing things we could do better. I’m really proud of the guys. They put their minds to this one and all their effort, and represented USA Volleyball really well,” said U.S. head coach Charlie Sullivan.

The U.S. (3-2) will move on to the Round of 16 tomorrow, Wednesday, July 30, at 2 a.m. PT against Bulgaria.

“That will be another extraordinary test here at the World Championships because we are playing teams who play the game so well. It is really forcing us to make adjustments and raise our level of play. Another great opponent in another great tournament, so we are looking forward to it,” Sullivan remarked.

The U.S. controlled the net, finished with an overwhelming 20-2 advantage in blocks. The U.S. recorded eight more kills (52-44). Korea led 8-5 in aces and committed 14 fewer errors (40-26).

Outside hitter Grant Lamoureux led all players in points (27) and kills (20), shared match-high honors with five blocks, and led the U.S. with two aces.

“Starting the tournament, we came out a little slow and didn’t figure out how to play together the best. We had a meeting last night talking over everything that we can come out and do better. I think we executed that plan perfectly. We came out as a team with high energy, a strong culture, and just played the volleyball we know we can play, and it turned out great for us,” commented Lamoureux, who has led the team in scoring in all five matches.

Middle blocker Roman Payne also registered five blocks, adding nine kills for 14 points. He hit .750 with his nine kills without an error in 12 attacks. Setter Rafael Urbina contributed five points with three blocks, a kill and an ace. He led the team with six digs, while running the offense that hit at a .433 efficiency percentage with 52 kills and 13 errors in 90 total attacks.

Outside hitter Elan Taylor came off the bench to total nine points on eight kills and a block. He hit .700 with just one error in 10 attacks. Middle Thomas Henige hit .727 with eight kills and added an ace for nine points. Opposite William Dryden joined Lamoureux and Payne with five blocks and added two kills.

Neither team led by more than two points at any time in the first set. A Jordan kill, Helle ace and Lamoureux kill on a back row attack turned an 18-16 deficit into a 19-18 lead for the U.S. A Payne kill made it 23-21 but Korea scored the next two points with the tying point coming on an ace off the tape.

A Dryden block gave the U.S. set point at 24-23 but after the teams exchanged service errors, Korea scored the final three points to take the set. Lamoureux led the U.S. with seven points on four kills, two of the team’s five blocks and an ace.

Korea scored the first five points of the second set, running its consecutive point streak to eight, and eventually took a 7-1 lead. The U.S. pulled within three points, 11-8, on a block by setter Rafael Urbina after Korea struggled with a Dryden serve and was out of system.

After falling behind 16-10, the U.S. ran off four points in a row with an Urbina ace cutting the lead to two. Korea led 21-19 before the U.S. tied the set for the first time. A great up by Bluth on a tough serve led to a Lamoureux kill and then a good Urbina cover off the block touch led to a Taylor kill to even the set at 21-21.

The U.S. saved three match points after trailing 24-22 and 26-25 before scoring three points in a row to take the set and even the match on a pair of blocks. Lamoureux, who served the final two points, scored seven points on five kills and two blocks.

A Lamoureux ace put the U.S. ahead 9-6 in the third set. The lead grew to five on a Korea hitting error, 16-11, and was still five when a Taylor kill made it 20-15. Korea scored the next four points to cut the margin to one.

The teams split the next four points when a Payne kill pushed the advantage back to two, 23-21. After yielding the next point, the U.S. scored the final two points on a Taylor kill off the block and an Urbina block, the team’s 17th block of the match. Lamoureux scored seven points on six kills and an ace, Taylor recorded five kills, and Payne and Urbina each had two blocks.

The U.S. started the fourth set strong with a Payne kill and a Korea hitting error giving the U.S. a 9-4 lead. Taylor scored the team’s next three points on two kills and a block for a 12-8 lead. Blocks by Lamoureux and Payne stretched the lead to seven points, 17-10.

Urbina punched a kill to the back court after a tight pass for a 20-12 U.S. lead. The lead was still eight, 21-13, after a Dryden kill before Korea ran off five points in a row, the last three on aces. A serving error after the second U.S. timeout during the run extended the advantage back to four points, 22-18.

Kills by Lamoureux and Henige gave the U.S. match point and, after surrendering one point, the U.S. sealed the win on Lamoureux’s 20th kill of the match. He finished the set with six points on five kills and a block.

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 def. Colombia, 3-2 (25-19, 19-25, 25-18, 30-32, 15-9)
July 28: Brazil def. USA, 3-0 (25-21, 25-22, 25-22)
July 29: USA def. Korea, 3-1 (25-27, 28-26, 25-22, 25-19)
July 30: Playoffs/Round of 16, TBA
Aug. 1: Playoffs/Quarterfinals, TBA
Aug. 2: Playoffs/Semifinals, TBA
Aug. 3: Finals, TBA