COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Feb. 15, 2023) – It was another busy week for U.S. men’s players competing for professional clubs overseas.
POLAND
Setter Josh Tuaniga ended his professional season with Indykpol AZS Olsztyn early due to an injury. The team has announced that he has re-signed with them for 2023-24.
On February 9, T.J. DeFalco led all scorers with 25 points as he and league-leading Asseco Resovia Rzeszów (19-4) beat his former team, Indykpol AZS Olsztyn (14-9), 3-1 (25-14, 25-22, 22-25, 34-32). DeFalco, who was named match MVP, scored on 21 kills (.571 hitting efficiency), three blocks and one ace. U.S. middle Taylor Averill scored seven points on three kills and four blocks for Olsztyn.
Opposite Jake Hanes led all scorers with 26 points as BBTS Bielsko-Biała (3-21) beat GKS Katowice (8-16), 3-2 (25-18, 22-25, 27-25, 23-25, 15-10) on February 12. Hanes scored on 18 kills, two blocks and a match-high six aces.
Libero Erik Shoji, middle blocker David Smith and Grupa Azoty ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle (17-7) swept Barkom Każany Lwów (6-18) 3-0 (30-28, 25-21, 25-16) on February 11. Smith scored 12 points on five kills, three blocks and a match-high four aces. Shoji was credited with 19 receptions, 37 percent positive.
LUK Lublin (11-9) with middle Jeff Jendryk and libero Dustin Watten fell to Trefl Gdańsk (14-8), 3-0 (25-17, 25-17, 25-22) on February 11. Jendryk scored four points on four kills. Watten was credited with 11 receptions, 45 percent positive.
Setter Matt West and Cerrad Enea Czarni Radom (3-21) lost to Ślepsk Malow Suwałki (12-12), 3-0 (27-25, 25-19, 25-16) on February 10. West played as a substitute.
JAPAN
Outside hitter Aaron Russell and the JT Hiroshima Thunders (13-11) swept the VC Nagano Tridents (1-23), (25-22, 25-21, 25-22) on February 5. Russell finished with 18 points on 15 kills, two aces and one block. He was named the player of the match.
RUSSIA
Setter Micah Christenson and Zenit Kazan (21-2) continue to lead the league. On February 4, they beat opposite Matt Anderson and Zenit St. Petersburg (19-3), 3-0 (25-22, 26-24, 25-19). Christenson scored three points on two aces and one kill and set Kazan to a .443 hitting efficiency. Anderson scored 11 points on eight kills, two blocks and one ace.
FRANCE
Libero Kyle Dagostino and Nice (5-11) beat Middle Tyler Mitchem and Plessis-Robinson (5-10), 3-0 (25-20, 25-15, 22-25, 25-23) on February 11. Dagostino was credited with 15 receptions, 73 percent positive. Mitchem did not play.
Middle Patrick Gasman scored 15 points for Chaumont (13-7) in a loss to Nantes Rezé (15-5), 3-2 (20-25, 26-24, 25-23, 18-25, 15-13) on February 11. Gasman scored on 10 kills and five blocks.
St. Nazaire with opposite Kyle Ensing and setter Quinn Isaacson fell to Tours 3-0 (26-24, 25-23, 25-21) on February 11. Ensing led his team with 13 points on 11 kills, one blocks and one ace. Isaacson set St. Nazaire to a .419 hitting efficiency.
Opposite Kyle Russell and Sète lost to Montpellier 3-1 (32-34, 25-19, 25-18, 25-22) on February 10. Russell led Sète with 22 points on 18 kills, three aces and one block.
TÜRKIYE
All U.S. men’s players competing in Türkiye have said they are OK following the country’s devastating earthquake. USA Volleyball sends its condolences to everyone affected by the earthquake.
Türkiye league play has been suspended.
On February 4, Thomas Jaeschke made his debut on the roster for Halkbank (17-1), although he did not play. Setter Micah Ma’a helped Halkbank to a 3-0 (29-27, 29-27, 25-22) win over Arkas Spor (13-5), which has middle Dan McDonnell on its roster. Ma’a scored a point on a kill and set Halkbank to a .489 hitting efficiency. McDonnell scored eight points on four kills, three blocks and one ace.
GERMANY
In Germany, the top four teams in the regular season are now playing each other at home and away through March 19. The Berlin Recycling Volleys finished the regular season first (14-2) while SVG Lüneburg finished third (11-5).
On February 11, Lüneburg with U.S. libero Gage Worsley, outside hitter Jordan Ewert, setter Joe Worsley and outside hitter Colton Cowell got a 3-0 (25-21, 26-24, 25-21) win over Berlin with outside hitter Cody Kessel.
Ewert scored 11 points on 10 kills and one block. He was credited with 17 receptions, 53 percent positive. Cowell added 10 points on nine kills and one block. He was credited with 27 receptions, 56 percent positive. Joe Worsley scored one point with an ace and set Lüneburg to a .512 hitting efficiency. Gage Worsley was credited with nine receptions, 33 percent positive. Kessel started the third set for Berlin and scored three points on three kills. He was credited with eight receptions, 62 percent positive.
Setter James Shaw and WWK Volleys Herrsching finished the regular season in sixth (8-8). They are playing in the bracket for fifth place through eighth place. On February 2, Herrsching beat Haching München, 3-1 (25-23, 25-15, 22-25, 25-16). Shaw scored seven points on six kills and one block. He set the team to a .390 hitting efficiency.
ITALY
Cucine Lube Civitanova (10-8) with opposite Gabi Garcia is in fourth place in the league. On February 5, it beat Top Volley Cisterna (7-12), 3-1 (20-25, 25-18, 25-23, 27-25). Garcia started the first two sets and scored six points on four kills, one block and one ace.
CEV TOURNAMENTS
Garcia and Civitanova won their pool in the CEV Champions League 6-0 and will play Ma’a, Jaeschke and Halkbank (5-1) in the quarterfinals starting on March 7.
Poland’s Grupa Azoty ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle with Shoji and Smith finished Champions League pool play 4-2 and advanced to the playoffs. The team will advance to the quarterfinals after going 1-1 with Poland’s Aluron CMC Wartą Zawiercie. On February 8, Zaksa beat Zawiercie 3-0 (25-23, 25-19, 25-23). On February 15, Zaksa lost 3-2 to Zawiercie (26-28, 25-21, 23-25, 25-19, 15-11), but will advance thanks to its 5-3 lead in sets won.
Germany’s Berlin Recycling Volleys with Kessel also advanced to the playoffs where they played one winner-takes-all match against Türkiye’s Ziraat Bank Ankara. Berlin won 3-2 (24-26, 25-21, 25-20, 18-25, 15-9) and will play Italy’s Sir Safety Perugia in the quarterfinals.
ALUMNI UPDATE
Three-time Olympic middle blocker David Lee is now a coach in India’s men’s volleyball league. Lee coaches the Bengaluru Torpedoes. Lee played in the league’s inaugural season in 2022.