Jean Paul Gonzalez has lived a blur of emotions this year. At 18, the outside hitter from San Juan has worn Puerto Rico’s jersey at both the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Boys’ U19 and Men’s U21 World Championships. Each day, he said, has offered something new to learn.

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“It’s a long tournament,” Gonzalez said. “One day you lose and then you win. But we keep going every day, staying positive and getting better in our game.”

He said moving up from the U19 level, where he felt comfortable, to the U21 stage meant adjusting to taller opponents and faster play. “Honestly, I love being in the U19. It’s like my level and then going to this higher level, it’s tough,” he said. “But you can go through it if you have patience, and you have to enjoy the game.”

Playing alongside older teammates, he added, has made the transition easier. “You get more experience through the time you play with them. I love it, I love them.”

That eagerness to learn was already visible in high school. At Colegio San Jose de Rio Piedras, he was named Puerto Rico’s Player of the Year in 2024 and stacked up MVP honors and championships with his school and clubs. His titles included the Angel Matos Challenge, Copa FPV and the Caribbean Volleyball Tournament, achievements that eventually put him on the radar of U.S. collegiate scouts.

The process wasn’t smooth. “You get recruited and you just start sending emails to the coaches and then they talk to you,” he said. “Before I was going to GCU (Grand Canyon University) but they closed the program, so I had to find another way. Then I finally prepared to do so. They helped me out.”

That new opportunity came at Purdue Fort Wayne, where Gonzalez will start his freshman season. “It’s a good feeling,” he said. “You get to play in a high-level volleyball program. I’m excited and just getting better this offseason, then play to see how the level goes.”

When told that Purdue Fort Wayne once produced Lloy Ball, Beijing 2008 Olympic gold medal–winning USA setter, Gonzalez was caught off guard. “Wow, I didn’t know that,” he said. “I will be going to a good program.”

In Puerto Rico, where baseball and basketball usually dominates, Gonzalez leaned toward volleyball early. “When I was young, I started playing with my friends,” he said. “My brother used to play basketball, but I didn’t like the physical contact. So, I went with volleyball because it’s more distance, and you play with your team and get closer to them. That’s why I chose volleyball.”

That choice led him to the Puerto Rican national team, where competition for roster spots is fierce. “It’s just being proud of yourself that you could make the team,” Gonzalez said. “Right now, in Puerto Rico there are a lot of good players, and they do the tryouts. You have to work hard so you can get to the team. I’m proud of myself, work hard, love the game and enjoy it.”

Life at home, he added, keeps him balanced. “Honestly, I love living in Puerto Rico,” he said. “I love beach volleyball. In Puerto Rico, we usually have more fun time. And I love balancing studies and volleyball. I love it.”

Gonzalez said the focus is on steady progress. “We plan to get better each game,” he said. “We’re passing good, but we have to work harder on offense because the block is pretty high. We have a lot of teams that are good on their blocks. So, we’re planning, from the loss, to get better at it. We’re trying to at least get top 15 at the World Championship.”

Asked how he handles the pressure, Gonzalez kept his answer short. “It’s a bunch of emotions,” he said. “But you just have to keep going.”

2025 FIVB Volleyball Men’s U21 World Championship: full schedule

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