STANFORD, Calif. - Stanford associate head coach Ken Shibuya has been named the head coach of USA Volleyball's 2015 FIVB U19 Boys’ World Championship team, which will compete Aug. 14-23 in Argentina.
The Boys’ Youth National Team (BYNT) is the pinnacle of the USA Volleyball Boys’ HP Program for 17- and 18-year-old athletes. Twelve athletes were selected to represent the United States at the World Championship out of an initial training roster of 25, including incoming Cardinal freshman Jordan Ewert.
"Our staff feels that we have selected a very strong squad to go down to Argentina and compete for a medal,” said Shibuya. “It was extremely difficult to narrow down to 12 as we had a great group of 20 remaining players to choose from. In the end, we picked players that we felt best fit our system and our needs."
The 12-person roster has an impressive seven returners from the 2014 Boys’ Youth National Team that won a gold medal at the 2014 NORCECA Youth Continental Championship: Ewert (Antioch, Calif.), TJ DeFalco (Huntington Beach, Calif.), Micah Ma’a (Kaneohe, Hawaii), Branden Oberender (Simi Valley, Calif.) Scott Stadick (Watertown, Wis.), Joshua Tuaniga (Long Beach, Calif.), and Joseph Worsley (Moraga, Calif.).
DeFalco was named MVP and Best Spiker at the NORCECA Championship. Stadick landed Best Blocker, Ewert took Best Receiver, Ma’a was named Best Setter, and Tuaniga took Best Server of the tournament.
The newcomers to the 2015 team include Kyle Ensing (Valencia, Calif.), Reese Devilbiss (Mount Wolf, Pa.), Noah Dyer (San Clemente, Calif.), George Huhmann (High Ridge, Mo.), and Michael Wexter (New Lenox, Ill.).
"This is one of the most talented and intelligent youth national teams we've put together,” Shibuya said. “We have great setting in Micah Ma'a and Josh Tuaniga, strong middle play from Brandon Oberender, George Huhmann, and Scott Stadick, and a deep core of skilled pin hitters in Noah Dyer, Jordan Ewert, TJ Defalco, Reese Devilbiss, Michael Wexter, and Kyle Ensing. Joe Worsley will be key to our success and we expect him to do some special things from the libero position."
Team USA is currently in a scrimmage series with Germany’s boys’ youth team, which will also be competing in Argentina. The scrimmages are taking place from Aug. 5-9 at Simpson College and Grand View University.
The team departs for Argentina on Aug. 10, and competition will commence on Aug. 14. The U.S. is competing in Pool A, comprised of Argentina, Belgium, France, and Turkey. The U.S. will begin play on Aug. 14 at 1:30 p.m. PT against Turkey.
"I believe that we have a team that can hold up to the rigors of play at Worlds,” Shibuya said. “We are excited to bring our brand of USA Volleyball to Argentina and make our nation proud."
2015 FIVB U19 Boys’ World Championship Roster
2 - Kyle Ensing (6-6, Opp, Valencia, Calif.)
4 - Reese Devilbiss (6-2, OH, Mount Wolf, Pa.)
5 - Noah Dyer (6-6, OH, San Clemente, Calif.)
6 - George Huhmann (6-11, MB, High Ridge, Mo.)
9 - Micah Ma’a (6-4, S, Kaneohe, Hawai'i)
10 - Joshua Tuaniga (6-3, S, Long Beach, Calif.)
12 - Scott Stadick (7-0, MB, Watertown, Wis.)
13 - Michael Wexter (6-6, Opp, New Lenox, Ill.)
14 - TJ DeFalco (6-6, OH, Huntington Beach, Calif.)
15 - Branden Oberender (6-8, MB, Simi Valley, Calif.)
17 - Joe Worsley (6-1, L, Moraga, Calif.)
19 - Jordan Ewert (6-5, OH, Antioch, Calif.)
Head Coach: Ken Shibuya
Assistant Coach: Kris Berzins
Assistant Coach: Brad Keller
Statistician: Kevin Burch
Schedule (All times PT)
8/14 – USA vs. Turkey, 1:30 p.m.
8/16 – USA vs. Belgium, 5 p.m.
8/17 – USA vs. France, 1:30 p.m.
8/19 – USA vs. Argentina, 5 p.m.