Phillips, Mortensen Will Compete in Youth Olympics
The Phoenix duo qualified for the 2026 Youth Olympic beach volleyball tournament in Dakar, Senegal.
Updated on Oct. 14, 2026 in Volleyball
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Caden Phillips and Gavin Mortensen will represent the United States at the 2026 Youth Olympic Games. The competition in Dakar, Senegal, is scheduled to begin on October 31, 2026.
Why it matters
The duo secured their spot after winning the USA Beach Volleyball Youth Olympic Beach Trials in Hermosa Beach, California. They bring international experience to the Games after reaching the round of 16 at the U18 World Championships in The Hague.
Williams Field High School currently maintains an 8-0 record this season. The tournament format in Dakar includes an initial round-robin pool play phase followed by a knockout stage involving 16 teams.
The players
Caden Phillips
He is an athlete from Phoenix who competes as the No. 1 pair for the Williams Field High School boys beach volleyball team.
Gavin Mortensen
He is a Phoenix-based beach volleyball player who pairs with Caden Phillips for Williams Field High School.
Williams Field High School
This is the secondary educational institution in Arizona where the athletes compete on the boys beach volleyball team.
The details
Phillips and Mortensen currently serve as the No. 1 pair for their high school team, where they remain undefeated. Their upcoming challenge follows a performance in the Netherlands where they successfully advanced through the field to the round of 16.
Timeline
October 31, 2026: Beach volleyball competition begins in Dakar.
November 2, 2026: Round of 16 matches take place.
November 3, 2026: Quarterfinals and semifinals take place.
November 4, 2026: Medal matches take place.
Season Trajectory
This qualification shifts the local spotlight toward international competition as the duo looks to translate their high school success to a global stage. Their performance in Dakar will determine how they rank among the top youth beach volleyball pairings in the world.
The duo will compete in pool play before attempting to advance through a 16-team knockout bracket starting in early November. Their participation at the Youth Olympic Games effectively ends their availability for the remainder of the high school season.
The takeaway
The pair represents a rising generation of athletes from Phoenix moving into international competition. Following their undefeated high school season, the duo faces their biggest test against global rivals in the upcoming knockout rounds.
Further reading
Find more updates on local athletes in our Volleyball section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Cronkite News.
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