Maicol Isaac Ortiz’s year has been defined by long trips, new opponents and experiences far from home. The 17-year-old opposite spiker has represented Colombia at two World Championships in a matter of months, first at the FIVB Boys’ U19 event in Tashkent and then at the FIVB Men’s U21 tournament in Jiangmen, China. Each competition tested his game and showed him what it means to face teams with far more preparation and professional experience.

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“It’s a very long trip for both tournaments, about 22 or 23 hours to get to Uzbekistan for the U19 and almost the same number of hours to get to China,” Ortiz said. “But it’s good because I get to know different countries and play against players who have more experience.”

The difference between volleyball in Colombia and volleyball overseas became clear to him almost immediately. Domestic competition is scarce, while many of his opponents train and play year-round in professional leagues.

“In Colombia, we play two tournaments a year,” he said. “Here, many players are already in professional leagues.”

Despite the contrast in preparation, Ortiz has been able to stand out as a scorer. At the U21 championship, he tallied 71 points, including 78 from attack, four from blocks and two from serves. The numbers reflected his ability to carry Colombia’s offense against stronger and more seasoned teams.

One of his most notable games came against Cuba, where he scored 24 points in a tight five-set match. The effort kept Colombia within reach until the end and showed he could hold his own against some of the best young players in the competition.

“I think I’m a very happy player,” he said. “I train a lot to be ready for the tournament, and I think the team is very good. But we need more games against other countries to prepare.”

Ortiz also leans on role models as he shapes his path. He admires many volleyball athletes including Brazil’s Darlan Souza, but the inspiration closest to him has been Liberman Agamez, one of Colombia’s best-known volleyball players. Agamez reached out to Ortiz before the championship with words that reinforced his commitment.

“I talked with Liberman, and he sent me a message,” Ortiz said. “He told me I have the training and the team to represent Colombia. He’s my idol.”

The guidance of a figure like Agamez and the opportunities to compete abroad give Ortiz a sense of direction for the years ahead. He knows his development depends not only on training at home but also on the chance to keep playing internationally, where the level of play is higher and the challenges sharper.

To fans following his rise, Ortiz offered gratitude and determination, “Thank you very much to everyone. We are going to keep working very hard. We want to do something very good for our country. What we need is support, to play abroad and to gain experience.”

Those words reflect both a promise and a plea to keep working, to make Colombia proud, and to gain the support needed to compete beyond national borders. For Ortiz, every trip, every match and every point is part of building not just his future, but the future of Colombian volleyball.

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

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