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A NORCECA championship was more than enough to get the U.S. Men’s Junior National Team into the top 10 of the world rankings.
The United States jumped five spots to No. 9 in the recent FIVB Men’s U21 World Rankings that was released this fall.
The FIVB to determine its world rankings uses a mathematical formula based on how teams fare at the most recent World Championship and continental championships.
The United States under coach Jay Hoasck went undefeated at the U21 NORCECA Continental Championships this summer to clinch a berth to the upcoming 2017 U21 FIVB World Championship. It also was the first time the country won the gold medal at the international event in four years.
Along with this championship experience, the United States returns to the World Championship after finishing in 11th place at the global event in 2015.
This is the second time the United States has been in the top 10 of the U21 World Rankings since the FIVB revamped its rankings formula in 2015.
Three NORCECA countries were in the top 15 of the latest rankings. Canada despite losing to the United States in the NORCECA semifinals finished one spot ahead of the gold medalists at No. 8, while Cuba was No. 13 in the world rankings.
The United States next competition will be the U21 FIVB World Championship that begins June 23 in the Czech Republic.
MEN’S U21 FIVB WORLD RANKINGS (top 20)
1. Russia — 122 points
2. Argentina — 120 points
3. China — 110 points
4. Brazil — 96 points
5. Italy — 78 points
6. Turkey — 64 points
7. Poland — 55 points
8. Canada — 52 points
9. United States — 48 points
10. Slovenia — 43 points
T-11. Iran — 41 points
T-11. Egypt — 41 points
13. Cuba — 39 points
14. Japan — 30 points
T-15. Morocco — 26 points
T-15. Ukraine — 26 points
17. France — 23 points
T-18. Colombia — 22 points
T-18. Korea — 22 points
T-20. Chile — 18 points
T-20. Guatemala — 18 points