The U.S. Men’s Junior National Team achieved an outstanding victory in the 2016 NORCECA Under-21 Continental Championship, securing their qualification for the 2017 FIVB U21 World Championship. In a thrilling match against Cuba in Gatineau, Quebec, Canada, the MJNT demonstrated their prowess with a 25-17, 29-27, 19-25, 25-22 win.
The Journey to Victory
The MJNT displayed exceptional skills throughout the tournament, finishing with an impressive 4-0 record. Setter Josh Tuaniga was awarded the tournament’s Most Valuable Player and Best Setter, while outside hitter Jordan Ewert was recognized as the Best Spiker.
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The final at Centre Sportif de Gatineau reached its climax during the second set. Despite facing a six-point deficit at 17-11, Team USA showed resilience and made a remarkable comeback, securing the set on the sixth set point. The victory was sealed by leading scorer Kyle Ensing, who successfully put down a free ball.
In the fourth set, the U.S. took the lead early on, preventing Cuba from narrowing the gap to less than two points after the first technical timeout. A serving error by Cuba ultimately sealed the U.S. victory and solidified their place in the championship.
A Triumph of Teamwork and Dedication
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The U.S. Men’s Junior National Team demonstrated exceptional teamwork and dedication throughout the tournament. Setter Josh Tuaniga expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “This is super-awesome, being able to fight with this team, go through it all and see that each guy wants it just as much if not more. Just to see the fire in our team. That’s what makes it all worth it. We’ve seen how much we love this game.”
Ensing emerged as the top scorer with an impressive 20 points, including 15 kills from 25 attacks, while Ewert contributed 19 points, with 18 successful kills from 34 attacks. Jose Carlos Romero led Cuba with 19 points, followed by the outside-hitter combo of Gutierrez and Miguel Lopez, each contributing 14 points.
Analysis and Stats
The MJNT showcased their offensive prowess throughout the match, converting 55-of-106 attacks (51.9 percent), while Cuba managed to score on 54-of-115 attacks (47 percent). The U.S. team’s reception remained solid, limiting Cuba to just three aces. Additionally, the U.S. out-blocked Cuba 11-4, with Ensing leading the team with four blocks.
U.S. Head Coach Jay Hosack commended the team’s work ethic, stating, “One of the things that we took pride in when we started training was we were not going to let anyone outwork us. That second game was the deciding factor. We talked about sending a message by sending a ball back in play – it doesn’t matter if it’s a free ball or a down ball – just to say to them ‘you have to do better than that.’ After that, they started making more errors. I could not be more proud of the way they played tonight.”
U.S. Starters and Statistics
The U.S. team’s starters for the match against Cuba were:
- Outside Hitters: Jordan Ewert and Dylan Missry
- Middle Blockers: Scott Stadick and George Huhmann
- Opposite: Kyle Ensing
- Setter: Josh Tuaniga
- Libero: Matthew Douglas
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Here are the key statistics for the U.S. team against Cuba:
- Kills: Ewert 18, Ensing 15, Missry 9, Huhmann 6, Stadick 6, Wexter 1
- Blocks: Ensing 4, Stadick 2, Missry 2, Tuaniga 1, Ewert 1, Huhmann 1
- Aces: Huhmann 1, Enging 1, Tuaniga 1
- Digs: Ensing 7, Douglas 6, Ewert 5, Missry 4, Tuaniga 2, Devilbiss 1, Huhmann 1, Stadick 1
The Team Roster
The U.S. Men’s Junior National Team boasts a talented roster, including standout players from various colleges and regions. Here are the team’s impressive players:
- Kyle Ensing (Opposite, 6-7, Long Beach State, Valencia, California, SCVA)
- Reese Devilbiss (Outside Hitter, 6-2, Ohio State University, Mount Wolf, Pennsylvania, Keystone)
- Jack Cole (Middle Blocker, 6-6, Pepperdine University, Lafayette, California, NCVA)
- George Huhmann (Middle Blocker, 6-10, Princeton University, High Ridge, Missouri, Gateway)
- Scott Stadick (Middle Blocker, 7-0, UC Irvine, Watertown, Wisconsin, Badger)
- Joshua Tuaniga (Setter, 6-2, CSU Long Beach, Long Beach, California, SCVA)
- Austin Matautia (Outside Hitter, 6-5, University of Hawaii Manoa, Ewa Beach, Hawaii, Aloha)
- Michael Wexter (Opposite, 6-6, Pepperdine University, New Lenox, Illinois, Great Lakes)
- Joe Worsley (Setter, 6-0, University of Hawaii, Moraga, California, NCVA)
- Matt Douglas (Libero, 5-10, USC, Pacific Palisades, California, Southern California)
- Jordan Ewert (Outside Hitter, 6-5, Stanford University, Antioch, California, NCVA)
- Dylan Missry (Outside Hitter, 6-4, UCLA, Holbrook, New York, Garden Empire)
Coaching Staff
The U.S. Men’s Junior National Team is guided by a skilled coaching staff:
- Head Coach: Jay Hosack, George Mason University
- Assistant Coach: Jonah Carson, Mountain View Volleyball Club
- Assistant Coach: Matt McCarthy, Lewis University
- Statistician: Virginia Pham, Virginia Commonwealth University
Tournament Schedule/Results
Here are the U.S. Men’s Junior National Team’s schedule and results for the tournament:
- July 5: USA def Barbados, 25-15, 25-15, 25-16
- July 6: USA def St. Vincent, 25-11, 25-12, 25-10
- July 8: Semifinals – USA def Canada, 25-9, 26-24, 25-21
- July 9: Finals – USA def Cuba, 25-17, 29-27, 19-25, 25-22
FAQs
Q: How did the U.S. Men’s Junior National Team qualify for the 2017 FIVB U21 World Championship?
A: The U.S. Men’s Junior National Team secured their qualification for the 2017 FIVB U21 World Championship by winning the 2016 NORCECA Under-21 Continental Championship.
Q: Who were the standout players for the U.S. Men’s Junior National Team in the final match against Cuba?
A: Setter Josh Tuaniga was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player and Best Setter, while outside hitter Jordan Ewert was recognized as the Best Spiker.
Q: What were the key statistics for the U.S. team against Cuba?
A: The U.S. team’s leading scorer was Kyle Ensing, with 20 points, including 15 kills from 25 attacks. Jordan Ewert contributed 19 points with 18 successful kills from 34 attacks.
Q: How did the U.S. team achieve victory in the final match?
A: The U.S. team’s determination and skill were instrumental in their victory. They made a remarkable comeback in the second set, overcoming a six-point deficit. In the fourth set, they took an early lead and maintained their advantage throughout the match.
Q: Who is the head coach of the U.S. Men’s Junior National Team?
A: The head coach of the U.S. Men’s Junior National Team is Jay Hosack from George Mason University.
Summary
The U.S. Men’s Junior National Team emerged victorious in the 2016 NORCECA Under-21 Continental Championship, securing their qualification for the 2017 FIVB U21 World Championship. With exceptional skills and teamwork, they triumphed over Cuba in a thrilling match. The team’s standout players, including MVP Josh Tuaniga and Best Spiker Jordan Ewert, played a crucial role in their success. Led by Head Coach Jay Hosack, the team’s performance exemplified dedication and talent. The U.S. Men’s Junior National Team’s remarkable journey to victory is a testament to their skill, determination, and love for the game.
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