Bolingbrook Native Heads To International Volleyball Tournament

BOLINGBROOK, IL — Bolingbrook native Tyler Mitchem on Wednesday begins representing USA Volleyball in a weeklong international tournament in Durango, Mexico.

Mitchem, a graduate of Bolingbrook High School, is one of 14 USA players competing at the NORCECA (North, Central America and Caribbean) Continental Championship that runs Wednesday through Monday.

He is a middle blocker, according to a news release from USA Volleyball, and is a senior at Lewis University in Romeoville, Illinois.

In the 2021 season, Mitchem earned his second straight First Team American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-American honor, which is his third AVCA All-American honor overall, according to Lewis University. He was also an all-Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (MIVA) First Team selection.

"He finished the 2021 season averaging 2.76 kills and 1.30 blocks per set," Lewis University said. "Mitchem ranked second in the country in hitting percentage and was third nationally in blocks."

Related: Bolingbrook's Mitchem Leads Lewis U Into MIVA Tournament

Mitchem and the rest of the U.S. Men's team will play in Pool B along with 2019 NORCECA champions Cuba, Dominican Republic and Guatemala, Lewis University said.

"The 2021 USA Volleyball Men’s NORCECA Team has several talented young players, many of whom will stepping on the court for USA for the very first time," U.S. Head Coach Andy Read, who coaches for the Balboa Bay Club and is a volunteer coach for Long Beach State, said in a statement. "Several players trained in the USA gym prior to the team departing for the Volleyball Nations League, so the level of play in our training has been quite good."

The U.S. Men will play in Pool B along with defending 2019 NORCECA champion Cuba, Dominican Republic and Guatemala, USA Volleyball said in a news release. Pool A will consist of Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico and Trinidad & Tobago.

The United States opens competition against Guatemala on Wednesday at 1 p.m., Lewis University said. The U.S. Men will take on the Dominican Republic in their second pool game on Thursday at 6 p.m. and then wrap up pool play against Cuba on Friday at 6 p.m.

The medal round begins on Saturday, with two quarterfinal contests starting at 6 p.m., according to Lewis University. The semifinals take place on Sunday and the first place and third place matches will be held next Monday starting at 6 p.m.

All times are in Central Time.

The U.S. Men took silver at the 2019 NORCECA Championship, falling to Cuba 3-1 in the final, according to USA Volleyball.