California State University Northridge Athletics
Theo Edwards Helps U.S. to First-Ever Pan American Cup Title
6/8/2022 9:05:00 AM | Men's Volleyball
The Boys U19 Team (5-0) did not lose a set in the tournament and qualified for the 2023 FIVB World Championship along the way. The tournament culminated with the U.S. sweeping Mexico in the final, 3-0 (25-22, 25-18, 25-18).
"It was such an awesome and unique experience," said Edwards. "I thought the guys on the team rose to the occasion and Charlie (Sullivan) had some really great strategies on getting the team to bond in such a short time. We also bonded as a coaching staff which was equally important, the team was just a great group of guys."
Edwards added another chapter to his international coaching experience which also includes coaching stints with USA Volleyball at the 2017 FIVB Boys' U19 World Championship in Bahrain, the 2016 NORCECA Championships in Cuba and the 2014 Men's Pan Am Cup in Tijuana, Mexico.
In Guatemala, the Americans cruised through pool play, sweeping Chile, Costa Rica and Mexico. The U.S. then swept Chile again in a semifinal match before overcome a four-point deficit late in the first set on the way to sweeping Mexico in the final."We were tested in the first match against Mexico and the guys really leaned on each other and we pulled out the win," said Edwards. "Leading into the final match they guys understood what they could accomplish, in terms of being the first U.S. team to win the championship. For us as a staff, It came down to how can we get the team to buy in and believe in what we're trying to achieve, that's what made it special."
Edwards joined Purdue-Fort Wayne assistant coach Lindsay Brown on Sullivan's coaching staff. CSUN Graduate Assistant Athletic Trainer Rachel Menze served as the team trainer.
U.S. Schedule for the Boys U19 Pan American Cup
Pool Play
May 23 USA def Chile, 3-0 (26-24, 25-16, 25-11)
May 24 USA def Costa Rica, 3-0 (25-20, 25-17, 25-15)
May 25 USA def Mexico, 3-0 (25-21, 25-13, 25-13)
Quarterfinals on May 26
Mexico def Dominican Republic, 3-0 (25-22, 25-16, 25-17)
Chile def Guatemala vs Chile, 3- 1 (25-15, 25-13, 19-25, 25-20)
Classification and Semifinals on May 27
Guatemala def Honduras, 3-0 (25-13, 26-24, 25-15)
Costa Rica def Dominican Republic, 3-1 (25-15, 25-13, 27-29, 25-19)
USA def Chile, 3-0 (25-18, 25-18, 25-20)
Mexico def Puerto Rico, 3-2 (25-19, 25-19, 20-25, 18-25, 17-15)
Finals on May 28
7th place: Dominican Republic def Honduras, 3-1 (19-25, 25-12, 25-13, 25-12)
Costa Rica def Guatemala, 3-0 (25-19, 30-28, 29-27)
Puerto Rico def Chile, 3-0 (25-17, 25-19, 25-19)
USA def Mexico, 3-0 (25-22, 25-28, 25-28)
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