COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (July 26, 2025) – The U.S. Boys U19 National Team won its second consecutive match at the FIVB U19 World Championship with a hard-fought 3-2 (25-19, 19-25, 25-18, 30-32, 15-9) victory over Colombia on Saturday in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
After a day off, the U.S. (2-1) will face Brazil (1-2) on Monday, July 28, at 8 a.m. PT.
The U.S. held a substantial advantage in kills (66-47), while also leading in blocks (9-3) and aces (9-8). Colombia made 15 fewer errors (45-30).
“It was a great learning experience for our guys. You’re on the road, you’re traveling, you’re grinding a little bit and facing a lot of adversity with a lot of things out of their control happening that could have set them off task. We stayed the course,” said U.S. head coach Charlie Sullivan. “I’m really proud of the focus, and even though we had moments where we weren’t sure, we stuck to the plan and the guys did a great job staying together and executing down the stretch. I’m really proud of the set five victory.”
MATCH STATISTICS
Outside hitter Grant Lamoureux led the U.S. for the third consecutive time, taking it to a new level with match-bests of 31 points–25 kills and five aces to go with a block.
Middle blocker Roman Payne scored 16 points on 13 kills, a block and two aces. Opposite William Dryden totaled 11 points on eight kills, two blocks and an ace. Middle Thomas Henige rounded out the team’s double-digit scorers with 10 points on seven kills and a match-high three blocks.
Libero Layton Bluth led all players with 13 digs and added six successful receptions. Setter Lucas Helle contributed six digs with one kill, block and ace. Outside hitter Elan Taylor finished with eight points on seven kills and a block, adding four digs and three successful receptions.
Lamoureux served back-to-back aces to put the U.S. ahead 11-7 in the first set. A Payne ace stretched the lead to five (13-8), and a kill by opposite Corbin Batista put the U.S. ahead 16-9 and forced Colombia to use its second timeout. Payne ended the set with his fourth kill and fifth point. Lamoureux led all players with six points on four kills to go with his two aces.
Cuba scored the first four points of the second set and jumped out to a 10-3 lead. The U.S. used a 5-0 run to close the gap to two points, 14-12, but were unable to get any closer. Lamoureux again scored six points, this time on five kills and his third ace.
The U.S. never trailed in the third set, taking a quick 5-2 lead on a Taylor kill. Colombia pulled within a point, 9-8, but a Dryden kill and two more Lamoureux aces moved the lead back to four points.
Colombia scored twice to cut the lead to three, 21-18, but misplayed an overpass, and a Lamoureux kill made it 22-18. A Helle ace, a Taylor block, and another Lamoureux kill ended the set. Dryden scored six points on five kills and a block, while Lamoureux added three kills to his two aces for five points.
Back-to-back aces completed a 10-1 Colombia run in the fourth set that turned a 6-4 deficit into a 14-7 lead. A Payne ace off the tape and a Henige kill on an overpass ended a 12-5 U.S. run that evened the space at 19. The set was tied 11 more times with the U.S. having four match points and saving three set points before Colombia tied the match at two sets apiece. Lamoureux finished with nine points on eight kills and a block.
Taking advantage of a series of Colombia errors, the U.S. took a four-point lead into the side switch in the deciding set. Lamoureux scored off an overpass and a key up by Helle kept a rally alive that ended with another Colombia error and an 8-4 U.S. lead.
After the teams traded points, Lamoureux delivered a kill off the block and Payne recorded a block for an 11-5 U.S. lead. Lamoureux’s fifth kill of the set made it 14-8. Colombia saved one match point, its fifth of the match, before the U.S. sealed the win.
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: 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