Caldwell, Ellis contribute to U.S. bronze in volleyball

Recent local high school graduates Gus Ellis and Kyle Caldwell helped the U.S. men’s junior national team sweep Mexico, 25-14, 25-23, 25-19, to claim the bronze medal at the North, Central America and Caribbean Volleyball Confederation Under-21 Continental Championships in El Salvador earlier this month.

Ellis, a middle blocker from Corona del Mar headed to Stanford, finished with a match-high 10 kills and a match-high two blocks. Caldwell, an opposite from Newport Harbor headed to UCLA, accounted for five points.

The U.S. qualified for the 2009 Federation Internationale de Volleyball Junior World Championships.

Cuba won the gold by beating Canada, 25-18, 20-25, 25-21, 29-27.

— From staff reports