UCSB middle blocker Dylan Davis has been named to the 12-player U.S. Men’s Junior National Team roster for the team that will compete at the 2011 FIVB Men’s Junior (U-21) World Championship held Aug. 1-10 in Brazil.
This past season Davis helped lead the Gauchos to the NCAA Tournament’s Final Four, a victory over top-ranked USC and the sport’s final match. He started all 32 of UCSB’s matches and averaged 1.65 kills and 0.86 blocks per set.
Most of the players on the team also have at least a year of collegiate competition under their belts as well, said John Hawks, the U.S. Men’s Junior National Team head coach.
“Most of our players have played a major role on their collegiate teams and that experience should carry over quite well for us,” Hawks said. “I feel like we are not going to be physically outmatched by anyone. This year’s team has tremendous depth and we can start a wide variety of lineups and still maintain a high level of cohesion on the court.”
Returning outside hitters are Jeremy Dejno (New Berlin, Wis.), Taylor Sander (Norco, Calif.), Brian Cook (Santa Cruz, Calif.) and Taylor Crabb (Honolulu, Hawaii).
Returning middle blockers selected are Eric Mochalski (Manhattan Beach), Scott Kevorken (Westlake Village) and Davis (Corona del Mar). The two returning opposites are Maurice Torres (Riverside) and Joshua Taylor (Honolulu, Hawaii).
Micah Christenson (Honolulu, Hawaii) returns at setter along with Men’s Junior Team newcomer Connor Olbright (Orange, Calif.), who played on the 2009 U.S. Boys’ Youth National Team.
The libero is Henry Cassiday (Honolulu, Hawaii), who is also new to the team.
The U.S. Men’s Junior National Team will train July 11-23 in Geneva, Ohio. On July 24, the team will travel to Buenos Aires, Argentina to play in a tournament against several international teams to prepare for the FIVB Men’s Junior World Championship.
