Cuba, USA and Puerto Rico to play for 9-16 positions at U19

RIFFA, Bahrain, August 24, 2017 – Egypt finished Cuba’s hopes of a spot in the quarterfinals of the 2017 FIVB Volleyball Boy’s U19 World Championship with a 3-2 (25-19, 23-25, 18-25, 25-22, 15-10) victory at Isa City Sports Hall on Thursday.

Youseff Hamdy Awad had 32 points for the winners to match the total of Cuban Lazaro Brunet.

France forged their berth in the quarter-finals with a 3-0 win against USA (25-21, 25-13, 25-20). Celesti Cardin scored 11 points while Pierre Derouillon contributed another 10 points for France’s win on Thursday. USA captain Joel Schneidmiller led all scorers on the floor with 12 points. 

Japan went into their fifth consecutive win with a straight-sets match against Puerto Rico (25-17, 25-16, 25-21). Thursday’s victory brings Japan to the quarter-final phase of the competition.

Captain Kento Miyaura and Tatsunori Otsuka headed Japan’s scoring output with 13 points each. Setter Shunsuke Nakamura’s brilliant orchestration spelled the difference for the team’s collective effort on offence. 

Mexico registered their first win as they claimed a 3-2 (25-18, 25-21, 18-25, 22-25, 15-11) victory in a play-off for 17th-20th place against Tunisia.

Mexico’s Axel Manuel Tellez led all scorers with 21 points from 14 attacks, four blocks and three service aces, while captain Raymond Gerald Stephens added another 20 points.