Follow
A mixture of current college men’s volleyball players and recent college graduates will represent the United States at an upcoming international event.
USA Volleyball announced Monday its 14-player roster for the NORCECA Continental Championship that will begin Wednesday in Durango, Mexico.
Former Long Beach State setter Josh Tuaniga and former Ohio State opposite Jake Hanes highlight this roster after the two players spent the summer playing for the United States at the FIVB Volleyball Nations League. Tuaniga also was an alternate for the United States at the recent Olympics in Tokyo.
Along with its alumnus Tuaniga, Long Beach State leads all teams with two current college players on the roster. Grand Canyon, Lewis, Penn State, Pepperdine, Stanford, UCLA and USC each have one current player making the U.S. team.
“The 2021 USA Volleyball men’s NORCECA team has several talented young players, many of whom will [be] stepping on the court for [the] USA for the very first time,” U.S. head coach Andy Read said in a statement. “Several players trained in the USA gym prior to the team departing for the Volleyball Nations League, so the level of play in our training has been quite good.”
The United States will begin the NORCECA Continental Championship with pool-play matches against Guatemala, the Dominican Republic and Cuba.
The champion of this four-team pool will receive an automatic berth to the tournament’s semifinals. In addition, the second and third place teams will advance to the quarterfinals.
U.S. roster for NORCECA Championship
Setter: Samuel Kobrine, USC
Setter: Josh Tuaniga, Long Beach State (2016-19)
Opposite: Jake Hanes, Ohio State (2018-19)
Opposite: Jalen Penrose, Penn State (2014-18)
Outside attacker: Camden Gianni, Grand Canyon
Outside attacker: Spencer Olivier, Long Beach State
Outside attacker: Will Rottman, Stanford
Outside attacker: Brett Wildman, Penn State
Middle attacker: Merrick McHenry, UCLA
Middle attacker: Tyler Mitchem, Lewis
MIddle attacker: Keenan Sanders, UC Santa Barbara (2017-21)
Middle attacker: Austin Wilmot, Pepperdine
Libero: Mason Briggs, Long Beach State
Libero: Kyle Dagostino, Stanford (2015-19)