MANAGUA, Nicaragua, November 17, 2025. – The second edition of the NORCECA U17 Boys’ Continental Volleyball Championship will begin this Tuesday at the Alexis Argüello Sports Complex in this city, with eight teams vying for a spot at next year’s World Championship.
Coaches are convinced that this is a key age group for the development of young talents, and all aim to secure top positions that will allow them to contend for a World Championship berth.
Brandon Taliaferro, United States Head Coach: “We are ready to have fun and play very hard. We will try to ensure everyone has a great experience here, both on and off the court. The idea is for the players to gain experience, to see how official NORCECA and FIVB international events work. This will be the first official tournament for our players, so it’s important that they accumulate experience.”
Francisco Lerebours, Dominican Republic Head Coach: “We represent a new project for the Dominican Republic and we truly have good expectations. We hope to finish within the top five and continue developing these young players, who have a projection all the way to 2028 in all international competitions. This category is extremely important because it is the foundation; if each Federation doesn’t have that foundation, it has no project. This is the project for the Dominican Republic as we work toward a better future.”
Joa Liam Sem Estrada, Cuba Head Coach: “Our objectives are always the same in every tournament: to earn the qualification. This time, it’s the ticket to the World Championship, and also to come as a team to improve, for the boys not only to have fun but to learn how to play volleyball and qualify. They come with the perspective of growing in their volleyball and, in the near future, participating in championships of the different categories.”
Walter Jenkins, Costa Rica Head Coach: “The boys are very excited. We, the coaches, are too because we have been working since around March, so the expectation is to secure a good position in the tournament. The learning experience is important because among the 12 players, only one has previous experience; the others come in with no experience at all, at least in international events of this kind.”
Hernán Torres, Puerto Rico Head Coach: “We have a group of new boys with whom we are trying to begin this international projection. In Puerto Rico, we’ve looked for the best talent, the greatest height possible, so we can take this process to a high level and have them come ready to compete. We are looking for qualities in these boys that will allow them to rise to the senior national team in the future.”
Denis Rivera, Mexico Head Coach: “We are pleased with the work the boys have done to be here. We know this is the first age group for this type of tournament, and we are motivated and prepared to begin the event. Two years ago, during the first U17 World Championship, we saw a high level of play, and I believe this age is important for driving athlete development.”
Elwyn Oxley, Barbados Head Coach: “My expectations for them to perform well are very high. We’ve traveled a long way to be here, as we had to qualify and we won in our zone. The boys are excited, and I think they’ve earned this opportunity. As a coach, I especially like hearing them say they want to play volleyball and want to have a great experience. These young athletes play first-division volleyball in their respective clubs, which is the highest division we have. They also play in the U19 school tournaments. The boys are fully equipped, well prepared, and ready to stay focused, committed, and disciplined.”
Jorge Mena, Nicaragua Head Coach: “We are the hosts, and we have prepared almost all year for this event. We’ve had difficulties with the boys, but we’ve tried to build a competitive team. We know the quality of the event, but we will try to perform well in this tournament. This category is formative; we try to find the best elements for the future, athletes who will later become the replacements for the top-level players.”
The opening day will be this Tuesday:
2:00 pm – Mexico vs United States
4:00 pm – Cuba vs Dominican Republic
6:00 pm – Puerto Rico vs Costa Rica
Opening Ceremony
8:00 pm – Nicaragua vs Barbados
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