COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. (July 10, 2025) – The U.S. Boys U19 National Team completed 2025 NORCECA U19 Pan American Cup pool play undefeated after a 3-0 (25-17, 25-14, 25-19) victory over Puerto Rico on Thursday night in Cuernavaca, Mexico.
With the win, the U.S. (3-0) earned a bye in Friday’s quarterfinal round and will return to action in semifinal action on Saturday, July 12, at 5 p.m PT.
The U.S. dominated offensively with 42 kills to only 23 for Puerto Rico. The U.S. more than doubled Puerto Rico in blocks (9-4) and served one more ace (6-5).
Outside hitter Kale Cochran led all players with 14 points on 13 kills and one ace. Opposite Corbin Batista totaled 11 points on eight kills, two blocks and an ace.
Middle blocker Dante Cayaban was the only the other player to reach double digits with 10 points on eight kills and two aces. Middle blocker Isiah Powell led the team with three blocks, adding three kills for six points.
“I think we played a really good match. Puerto Rico came out strong and showed a lot of grit. They didn’t give up even being down two sets and played a strong third set,” Powell said. “We played a really strong, consistent game and showed a lot of energy throughout the match.”
The U.S. used a 7-2 early run to take a 9-5 lead in the opening set and the lead remained at least three for the remainder of the set. A key point was when the U.S. led 14-11 and scrambled to keep a rally going before a Novak block ended the play with a U.S. point. Cayaban recorded six kills and Batista also totaled six points with five kills and a block. The U.S. finished the set with a 17-9 advantage in kills.
The U.S. moved out to a 7-3 lead and was never seriously challenged in the second set. Two great digs by Batista on a rally that concluded with a Puerto Rico hitting error made it 14-7 and the lead soon grew to double digits, 18-8. Cochran ended the set with his fifth point on his fourth kill, this one off a set from Bayer. Hutnick and Batista both added three points on two kills and a block.
After setter Peter Chriss opened the third set with a block, Cayaban served for seven consecutive points, including an ace to make it 7-0. Powell’s third block made it 8-0 before Puerto Rico got on the board. Puerto Rico used a 5-1 run to pull within four points, 9-5, but that was as close as it would get the rest of the way. Cochran registered six kills and outside hitter Thomas Demps IV added five.
2025 Boys U19 National Team Pan American Cup Roster
Name (Pos., Ht., Hometown, School, USAV Region)
2 Ben Bayer (L, 6-1, Menomonee Falls, Wisc., Sussex Hamilton HS, Badger)
3 Thomas Phung (L, 5-10 Garland, Texas, Harvard University, Southern)
6 Thomas Demps IV (OH, 6-4, Raleigh, N.C., Broughton HS, Carolina)
9 Dante Cayaban (MB, 6-7, Saint Cloud, Fla., Saint Cloud HS, Florida)
13 Logan Hutnick (OH, 6-6, Huntington Beach, Calif., Huntington Beach HS, Southern California)
15 Blake Fahlbusch (OH, 6-8, Manhattan Beach, Calif., Loyola HS of Los Angeles, Southern California)
17 Peter Chriss (S, 6-6, Menlo Park, Calif., Menlo Atherton HS, Northern California)
18 Brett Novak (S, 6-6, Lancaster, Calif., Paraclete HS, Southern California)
22 Kale Cochran (OH, 6-7, Roseville, Calif., Whitney HS, Northern California)
23 Corbin Batista (OPP, 6-7, St. George, Utah, Alta HS, Intermountain)
24 Isiah Powell (MB, 6-7, Silver Spring, Md., Springbrook HS, Chesapeake)
25 Brodie Heshler (MB, 6-7, Harrisburg, Pa., Central Dauphin HS, Keystone)
Coaches
Head Coach: Jonah Carson (MVVC)
Assistant Coach: Sean Byron (Marist College)
Assistant Coach: Spencer Wickens (Stanford)
Performance Analyst: AJ Ruttenberg (UCLA)
Team Doctor: Dr. Chris Cornell (Coduhi Clinic)
Team Lead: Brandon Oswald (NTDP)
Schedule
All times PDT
July 8: USA def. Venezuela, 3-1 (20-25, 25-18, 25-16, 32-30)
July 9: USA def. Canada, 3-0 (25-20, 27-25, 25-17)
July 10: USA def. Puerto Rico, 3-0 (25-17, 25-14, 25-19)
July 11: Quarterfinals: Bye
July 12: Semifinals: USA vs. TBA, 5 p.m.
July 13: Medal matches