"It's a chance to lead the boys. Captaining last year was a really enjoyable experience and a good challenge."
He said team chemistry was important because players had to work together in volleyball.
"For me personally, I've played with a few of the others who have been in the team before so I kind of already have that chemistry.
"I think what you find is that the boys gel really quickly in the training camps during the lead-up to the championships.
"We know all the guys who are going, we've played them all before and we know who they are," Billy said.
Hemaia said it was valuable to have a player with Billy's experience helping him and Jalen out.
"We get to represent our country and our school together which is fun.
"Last year we represented the North Island at the Australian state champs, which was a good experience," Hemaia said.
Jalen was excited and nervous about the championships.
"I'm hoping to get my name out there - there's the possibility of getting a scholarship to play in the US, the championships are a good opportunity to get scouted."
Jalen said the championships would be a step up from what he was used to and he would need to prepare mentally and physically.
"Not having a strong mentality can affect your game."
Billy said there were usually a lot of US coaches at the championships looking for players.
"I've been in the college process for a while now, this year is a chance to meet some of the coaches I've been talking to."
The boys leave for Florida on Friday.
Meanwhile, Leah Tegan Ngatai, 17, has been selected to play for the New Zealand Junior Women's Development team in the Australian Junior Volleyball Championships in September.
Leah was excited to play in a New Zealand side for the first time and it was something she had been aiming for since she started playing volleyball.
"We got selected to trial from the national secondary school champs in March ... 12 were selected for the squad."
Leah has been playing volleyball since Year 9 and said she was "quite passionate" about it.
"I'm a competitive person, winning is important."
The Australian championships will be played at the Coomera Indoor Sports Centre on the Gold Coast.
The $40 million, eight-court facility was opened in August last year and will also host the 2018 Commonwealth Games entire gymnastics competition and netball finals.
Leah said her goals for the tournament were to get on as starting setter and to win.
While volleyball is her number one focus, she is a strong hockey player and also does CrossFit for extra fitness.
She was selected in the North Island tournament team at junior volleyball nationals in 2014 and has played in representative hockey teams.
Western Heights teacher Dan Vaka said Leah was an "all-rounder".
"She excels academically, she has passed NCEA Level 1 and 2 with excellence, and she is always involved in cultural performances - she's an integral part of our school kapa haka," Vaka said.
