Colorado Springs, Colo. (August 9, 2024) – USA Volleyball is proud to announce the athletes who will represent the U.S. at the 2024 FIVB Beach Volleyball U19 World Championship, Aug. 27-Sept. 1, in Shangluo, China.
Sally Perez/Sarah Wood will start in the girls main draw. Grant Lamoureux/Blake Goodwin will open in the boys main draw.
The qualifier teams are Myriah Massey/Lily Dee Davis for the girls and Caleb Blanchette/Malachi Brewington for the boys.
Perez/Wood and Lamoureux/Goodwin earned their spots by winning the Beach U19 National Team Trials in June. Lamoureux was also a member of the Boys U19 Indoor National Team that won gold at the NORCECA U19 Continental Championship this year.
“I am very honored and grateful for the opportunity to represent USA for this event and very excited,” Lamoureux said. “For my first beach international tournament to be the U19 World Championships representing USA is a pretty awesome feeling!”
Perez, who will play at UCLA in the fall, echoed Lamoureux’s feelings.
“Representing the USA on the U19 National Team is something I’ve dreamed of for so long,” she said. “Wearing the flag across my chest means so much to me and I don’t take it lightly. It honestly causes me to be proud of the work I’ve done to get here and pushes me to keep up the dedication to keep the ball rolling.”
Massey won the silver medal at the 2022 Beach U19 World Championship with partner Ashley Pater. Blanchette, another beach/indoor athlete, also competed in the 2022 Beach U19 World Championship and was a member of the Men’s U21 Indoor National Team this year.
The reserve athletes are Charlotta Bell/Jordyn Scribner for the girls and George Stevens/Ambrose Engling for the boys. Alternates are Kyra Zaengle and Elena Fisher for girls and Spencer Smith, Kyle Chapman and Trey Thornton for boys.
The U.S. has had recent success on the girls side at worlds. Along with Massey/Pater, Sophie Kubiak/Bailey Showalter were fourth at 2022 worlds. In 2021, Megan Kraft (now playing on the Beach Pro Tour) and Delaynie Maple won gold, and Xolani Hodel and Kate Reilly were fourth.
U.S. Team for the Beach U19 World Championship
Girls
Name (Height, Hometown, School, USAV Region)
Sally Perez (6-3, Raleigh, N.C., UCLA, Carolina Region
Sarah Wood (6-2, Glen Mills, Pa., Garnet Valley HS, Ohio Valley)
Myriah Massey (5-10, Pickerington, Ohio, Florida State, Ohio Valley)
Lily Dee Davis (6-2, Austin, Texas, Westlake HS, Lone Star)
Charlotta Bell (6-3, Moraga, Calif., Campolindo HS, Northern California)
Jordyn Scribner (5-8, Seabrook, Texas, Clear Falls HS, Lone Star)
Kyra Zaengle (5-8 , Laguna Beach, Calif., Laguna Beach HS, Southern California)
Elena Fisher (5-10, Ross, Calif., Branson HS, Northern California)
Boys
Name (Height, Hometown, School, USAV Region)
Grant Lamoureux (6-10, Clemmons, N.C., West Forsyth HS, Carolina)
Blake Goodwin (6-1, Myrtle Beach, S.C., Carolina Forest HS, Palmetto)
Caleb Blanchette (6-5, Brentwood, Tenn., USC, Southern)
Malachi Brewington (6-4, Ozark, Mo., homeschooled, Delta)
George Stevens (6-3, Mount Juliet, Tenn., Green Hills HS, Southern)
Ambrose Engling (6-7, Middleton, Wisc., Princeton, Badger)
Spencer Smith (6-3, Gulf Breeze, Fla., Gulf Breeze HS, Gulf Coast)
Kyle Chapman (6-2, Sugar Land, Texas, Austin HS, Lone Star)
Trey Thornton (6-6, Spanish Fork, Utah, Maple Mountain HS, Intermountain)
Coaches
Boys Head Coach: Hudson Bates, The Ohio State University, Associate Head Coach
Boys Assistant Coach: Laurel Weaver, Beach NTDP Coach
Girls Head Coach: Angie Akers, University of Texas, Assistant Coach
Girls Assistant Coach: Kelly Reeves, UCLA, Assistant Coach
Athletic Trainer: Zoe Moura, San Diego Mesa, Athletic Trainer
Performance Analyst: Ben Bahr, Iowa United VB, Director of Operations
Team Leader: Cody Liner, USA Volleyball, Beach NTDP Boys Lead