The USA Volleyball’s 2017 Men’s Junior National Training Team consists of 20 of the top men’s volleyball players in the United States under the age of 21. Coming up for the team will be the 2017 FIVB Men’s U21 World Championship From June 23-July 2 in the Czech Republic, where the staff will have to condense the roster to just 12 players.
There are eight players that are returning from the 2016 Men’s Junior National Team. Last year that team won the NORCECA Continental Championships and qualified for the World Championships. The returners are middle blockers Scott Stadick and George Huhmann, opposite Kyle Ensing, outside hitters Jordan Ewert, Dylan Missry and Austin Matautia, setter Josh Tuaniga and libero Matt Douglas. There are five players that made the team that weren’t apart of last year’s squad but competed with teh 2014 or 2015 Boys’ Youth National Teams: outside hitter TJ DeFalco, setter Micah Ma’a, outside hitter Brett Rosenmeier, middle blocker Patrick Gasman and libero Noah Dyer.
Since DeFalco is traveling with the U.S. Men’s National Team for the World League, his status with the Junior National Team is yet to be decided.
Seven additional players have been added to the training squad, all newcomers – libero Gage Worsley, setter Matthew Yoshimoto, outside hitter Parker Dixon, middle blockers Keenan Sanders and Tyler Mitchem and opposites Matthew Szews and Calvin Mende.
The team will begin their training on June 9, with the staff consisting of head coach Jay Hosack and assistant coaches Jonah Carson and Matthew McCarthy. After five days of training, the staff will trim the team down to the final 12 players.
For the U21 World Championships, the 12 players chosen for the roster will first take on Russia, Turkey and Cuba in Pool B.
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