Follow
The preliminary U.S. roster is set that eventually will be whittled down for the upcoming FIVB U21 World Championship.
USA Volleyball announced on Tuesday the 20 college players selected to the U.S. Men’s Junior National Team training roster.
The NCAA Tournament semifinalists Hawai’i led all college programs with four players earning a spot on the U.S. roster. Long Beach State, Princeton, Lewis and UCLA each also had multiple players make the team.
Along with these schools, Ball State, Penn State, Stanford, Pepperdine, UC Irvine, UC Santa Barbara and USC each had a player named to the roster.
Among the players on the U.S. roster includes Long Beach State All-American setter Josh Tuaniga. Tuaniga was named the most valuable player of the 2016 NORCECA U21 Continental Championship as the United States won the gold medal to clinch a berth in the World Championship.
Tuaniga is one of four All-Americans on the training roster. UCLA setter Micah Ma’a was a 2016 All-American as a freshman and played in the 2017 season with an injury, while Long Beach State opposite Kyle Ensing was a Second-Team All-American.
Long Beach State All-American outside attacker TJ DeFalco, the 2017 AVCA National Player of the Year, also was selected to the team. DeFalco is currently playing with the U.S. Men’s National Team in FIVB World League.
The pool-play round of World League concludes on June 18 — five days before the start of the U21 World Championship in the Czech Republic.
The United States under coach Jay Hosack will begin its training session on Friday in Lake Placid, New York.
The coaching staff following the five-day training block will unveil the 12-player roster for the World Championship. In addition, the United States will participate in an exhibition match against the Pan American Cup champions Brazil before traveling to Europe for the World Championship.
U.S. Men’s Junior National Team training roster
Setter: Micah Ma’a, UCLA
Setter: Josh Tuaniga, Long Beach State
Setter: Matt Yoshimoto, Lewis
Opposite: Kyle Ensing, Long Beach State
Opposite: Calvin Mende, Penn State
Opposite: Matt Szews, Ball State
Outside attacker: TJ DeFalco, Long Beach State
Outside attacker: Parker Dixon, Princeton
Outside attacker: Noah Dyer, Pepperdine
Outside attacker: Jordan Ewert, Stanford
Outside attacker: Austin Matautia, Hawai’i
Outside attacker: Dylan Missry, UCLA
Outside attacker: Brett Rosenmeier, Hawai’i
Middle attacker: Patrick Gasman, Hawai’i
Middle attacker: George Huhmann, Princeton
Middle attacker: Tyler Mitchem, Lewis
Middle attacker: Keenan Sanders, UC Santa Barbara
Middle attacker: Scott Stadick, UC Irvine
Libero: Matt Douglas, USC
Libero: Gage Worsley, Hawai’i
Coaching staff
Head coach: Jay Hosack, George Mason
Assistant coach: Jonah Carson, Mountain View Volleyball Club
Assistant coach: Matt McCarthy, Lewis
Team manager: Jen Armson Dyer, Badger Region Volleyball
Doctor: David Dyck, Jr.
Technical coordinator: Galen Dodd, UCLA