COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (May 25, 2017) – Kawika Shoji (Honolulu, Hawaii), a 2016 Olympic Games bronze medalist with the U.S. Olympic Men’s Volleyball Team, has been elected to the USA Volleyball Board of Directors representing the indoor male athletes. His term begins July 1 and goes through June 30, 2021.
“I am really excited to represent the U.S. Men’s Indoor National Team on the USAV Board of Directors,” Shoji said. “I am especially excited about the opportunity to work with a diverse group of people within the USA Volleyball family, help improve the indoor athlete experience, and push our company to new heights.”
Shoji, who has been named the captain of the U.S. Men’s National Team for the 2017 FIVB World League, has earned gold medals at the 2015 FIVB World Cup and the 2014 FIVB World League. He also earned bronze at the 2015 FIVB World League. In one of his first tournaments playing at the senior level, Shoji served as captain of the 2011 Pan American Cup that finished second. He served as captain of the U.S. squad that won gold at the 2012 Pan American Cup.
“I’m pleased to welcome Kawika Shoji to the USA Volleyball Board of Directors,” USA Volleyball Board of Directors Chair Lori Okimura said. “Kawika has demonstrated his leadership qualifications on the court as part of our 2016 Rio Olympic bronze-medal team, and by taking on the role of captain as we enter the 2017 FIVB World League. He is a strong communicator and well respected among his peers. I appreciate his commitment to excellence and his inquisitive nature when it comes to the business of USA Volleyball. I respect his desire to become involved in the leadership and governance and I am very much looking forward to involving him in our ongoing discussion of new business opportunities for USA Volleyball in all disciplines. He will be a powerful voice for the athletes of USA Volleyball as their new board representative.”
Shoji graduated from Stanford University in 2010 with a degree in political science. As a senior, he led the Cardinal to the NCAA Men’s National Collegiate Championship title as he was named the AVCA Division I-II Men’s Player of the Year.
Before joining the U.S. Men’s National Team and Stanford, Shoji was entrenched into the USA Volleyball High Performance pipeline. He was the starting setter on the 2006 U.S. Men’s Junior National Team that finished second at the NORCECA Men’s U21 Continental Championship. Shoji then switched to the libero uniform as the libero on the 2007 U.S. Men’s Junior National Team that finished seventh at the FIVB Men’s U21 World Championship. He got his first taste of international competition at the 2004 NORCECA Men’s 19 Continental Championship as he earned Best Setter in leading the U.S. Boys’ Youth National Team to the gold medal.
Volleyball has been part of Shoji’s entire family. He has had the opportunity to play with his younger brother Erik on the U.S. Men’s National Team for several years. Earlier this spring his father, Dave, retired as the head women’s volleyball coach at the University of Hawaii.
In order to be eligible to run and/or vote for the Athlete Board of Director position, athletes must be international athletes, defined accordingly: The Athlete Director must meet the eligibility requirements of having represented the United States in Olympics, Pan American Games, World Championships or an Operation Gold competition (as defined by the USOC) within the preceding ten (10) years as determined at the time of the election. All athletes meeting the criteria requirements shall comprise the electorate.