MNT Update: Club World Championships Begin

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (December 8, 2023) – So many great team and individual outings this week for the U.S. Men overseas including five-set thrillers and 20-plus point performances.

CLUB WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

The 2023 Men’s Club World Champs began this week and will continue through the weekend in Bengaluru, India. Halkbank and setter Micah Ma’a lost their opening match to Japan’s Suntory Sunbirds 3-0 (25-23, 25-23, 25-16) on December 6. Ma’a led the team to a .287 hitting efficiency and added four points on three kills and one block.

On December 8, Halkbank and Ma’a bounced back and beat Brazil’s Sada Cruzeiro Volei 3-0 (26-24, 25-18, 28-26). Ma’a led the team to a .429 hitting efficiency and added three points on one kill and two blocks.

The semifinals will be held on Saturday, December 9 followed by the Finals on Sunday, December 10. Matches are still being played to determine advancing teams.

TÜRKIYE

Halkbank (10-0) and Ma’a swept Brand Group Alanya Belediyespor (25-23, 26-24, 25-22) on December 2. Ma’a led the team to a .462 hitting efficiency.

On December 3, Ziraat Bankasi with opposite Matt Anderson won a five-setter against Develi Bld (19-25, 25-16, 25-12, 23-25, 15-13). Anderson had an outstanding performance with 32 points on 26 kills and six aces.

Ziraat Bankasi (9-2) with Anderson swept Brand Group Alanya Belediyespor (25-23, 25-18, 25-17) on December 6. Anderson had 14 points on 11 kills, one block, and two aces.

POLAND

Setter Josh Tuaniga and Indykpol AZS Olsztyn swept Enea Czarni Radom (25-16, 27-25, 25-17) on December 1. Tuaniga led the team to a .525 hitting efficiency and added one kill and one ace.

Indykpol AZS Olsztyn (5-3) and Tuaniga lost to Barkom Każany Lviv 3-2 (23-25, 26-24, 25-20, 13-25, 16-14) on December 6. Tuaniga led the team to a .466 hitting efficiency and added one ace.

On December 2, Asseco Resovia Rzeszów and outside hitter T.J. DeFalco swept PGE GiEK Skra Bełchatów (25-20, 25-23, 25-21). DeFalco had 14 points on 13 kills and one ace.

DeFalco and Asseco Resovia Rzeszów (8-2) added another sweep this week after they beat GKS Katowice (25-20, 28-26, 32-30) on December 5. DeFalco did not play.

Middle blocker Taylor Averill and Projekt Warszawa swept Ślepsk Malow Suwałki (25-15, 25-22, 25-13) on December 2. Averill had six points on four kills and two blocks.

On December 6, Projekt Warszawa (9-1) and Averill beat Aluron CMC Warta Zawiercie 3-0 (25-19, 25-22, 25-22). Averill did not play.

Grupa Azoty ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle with libero Erik Shoji and middle blocker David Smith beat KGHM Cuprum Lubin and opposite Jake Hanes 3-0 (25-15, 25-17, 25-18) on December 3. Shoji was credited with four digs and six receptions. Smith had seven points on four kills and three blocks. Hanes had 10 points on 10 kills.

On December 6, Grupa Azoty ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle (6-4) Shoji and Smith lost a close five-setter to BOGDANKA LUK Lublin (20-25, 25-17, 20-25, 25-17, 21-19). Shoji was credited with 24 receptions. Smith did not play.

GERMANY

Outside hitter Cody Kessel and Berlin Recycling Volleys (7-0) swept ASV Dachau (25-19, 25-16, 25-22) on December 2. Kessel had 10 points on six kills and four blocks. Kessel took to Instagram to celebrate Berlin punching their ticket to the German Cup Final on March 3.

 

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On December 3, SVG Lüneburg (6-1) and middle blocker Matthew Knigge swept Ft 1844 Freiburg (25-18, 25-15, 25-16). Knigge had six points on five kill and one block.

FRANCE

St-Nazaire with opposite Kyle Ensing and outside hitter Jordan Ewert swept Toulouse (25-21, 25-18, 25-22) on December 1. Ensing had 12 points on 10 kills, one block, and one ace. Ewert had 14 points on nine kills, four blocks, and one ace.

St. Nazaire (6-4) with Ensing and Ewert lost in five to Poitiers (17-25, 25-23, 20-25, 25-15, 15-19) on December 5. Despite the loss, both Ensing and Ewert put up big numbers. Ensing had 25 points on 23 kills and two blocks. Ewert had 25 points on 23 kills, one block, and one ace.

On December 2, Narbonne Volley and libero Kyle Dagostino lost to Tours 3-0 (25-15, 25-22, 25-16). Dagostino was credited with 16 receptions.

Narbonne Volley (0-10) and Dagostino lost to Sète 3-1 (25-21, 20-25, 25-15, 25-20) on December 5. Dagostino was credited with 18 receptions.

Chaumont Volley-Ball 52 with middle blockers Patrick Gasman and Michael Marshman lost a close five-setter to Tourcoing (27-25, 20-25, 23-25, 25-20, 15-11) on December 2. Gasman had five points on 4 kills and one block. Marshman subbed in to serve in the fifth set and did not score.

On December 5, Chaumont Volley-Ball 52 (8-2) with Gasman and Marshman bounced back to sweep Paris (25-21, 25-17, 25-20). Gasman had six points on four kills and two aces. Marshman had seven points on four kills, two blocks, and one ace.

JAPAN

The JT Thunders Hiroshima and outside hitter Aaron Russell beat the Wolfdogs Nagoya 3-1 (20-25, 25-20, 25-18, 29-27) on December 2. Russell had 22 points on 20 kills and two aces.

Despite losing the first two sets, the JT Thunders Hiroshima (12-2) and Russell beat the Wolfdogs Nagoya 3-2 (18-25, 30-32, 25-22, 25-19, 15-5) on December 3. Russell had 26 points on 24 kills, one block, and one ace.

ITALY

Despite going up 2-1 in the match, Prisma Taranto Volley (0-8) with middle blocker Jeff Jendryk and opposite Kyle Russell lost to Modena Volley in five sets (25-22, 20-25, 18-25, 25-17, 15-13) on December 2. Jendryk had 14 points on eight kills, five blocks, and one ace. Russell had 11 points on eight kills, two blocks, and one ace.

On December 3, Pallavolo Padova (4-5) with opposite Gabi Garcia Fernandez beat Farmitalia Catania 3-1 (25-18, 18-25, 25-19, 25-18). Garcia had a great performance with 19 points on 17 kills and two aces.

Verona Volley (2-6) with outside hitter Francesco Sani lost to Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza 3-0 (27-25, 25-23, 25-20) on December 3. Sani had nine points on seven kills, one block, and one ace.

AUSTRIA

On December 2, Hypo Tirol (8-0) and libero Tim McIntosh swept VCA Amstetten (25-18, 25-19, 25-18). McIntosh was credited with nine receptions.

FINLAND

Hurrikaani Loimaa (8-2) with libero Troy Gooch beat Kokkola Tigers 3-1 (25-20, 22-25, 25-21, 25-21) on December 1. Gooch was credited with 14 receptions.

ROMANIA

On December 2, CSA Steaua Bucuresti (6-2) and outside hitter Brett Wildman beat CS Stiinta Explorari Baia Mare 3-0 (25-20, 25-18, 25-20). Brett did not play.

NETHERLANDS

Lycurgus Volleyball and outside hitter Kyle McCauley lost to Active Living Orion 3-1 (18-25, 25-18, 25-20, 25-18) on December 2. McCauley had four points on three kills and one block.

On December 6, Lycurgus Volleyball (7-4) and McCauley lost a close five-setter to Sliedrecht Sport 3-2 (19-25, 25-21, 21-25, 25-22, 15-12). McCauley had 20 points on 15 kills, two blocks, and three aces.