The U.S., ranked No. 1 in the world, will compete in Pool B along with Russia, the 2017 European U18 champions; Brazil, the 2017 South American champions, and, Belarus and Mexico. In 2013, the U.S. Girls’ Youth National Team made history becoming the first U.S. volleyball team of either gender to win a World Championship medal at the youth or junior level, taking the silver versus China in Thailand. In 2015, the U.S. earned another silver at World Championships against Italy. With the 2017 squad, the U.S. returns the majority of the lineup that earned a silver medal in the 2016 NORCECA Girls’ Youth Continental Championship in Puerto Rico. Head Coach Jim Stone began coaching the GYNT following a stellar career as the head coach at Ohio State University.