MNT Update: Jaeschke and Panthers Beat Russell and Thunder

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Jan. 9, 2024) – This week we are catching up from the holidays with U.S. Men’s National Teams players competing around the world.

JAPAN

Outside hitter Thomas Jaeschke and the Panasonic Panthers lead the league at 15-1.

On Jan. 6, the Panthers beat the JT Hiroshima Thunder (13-5) with outside hitter Aaron Russell 3-2 (19-25, 23-25, 25-18, 25-23, 15-10). Jaeschke scored 29 points on 27 kills, one block and one ace. Russell scored 30 points on 26 kills, three aces and one block.

TÜRKIYE

Setter Micah Ma’a and Halkbank (14-0) remained undefeated by beating opposite Matt Anderson and Ziraat Bankkart (11-3) on Jan. 6, 3-2 (21-25, 25-21, 25-17, 14-25, 15-10). Ma’a scored three points on a kill, a block and an ace. He set Halkbank to .485 hitting efficiency. Anderson led his team with 23 points on a match-high 19 kills (.417 hitting efficiency), three blocks and one ace.

Ma’a and Halkbank (13-0) celebrated Christmas Eve by handing Fenerbahce Parolapara its first loss of the season 3-0 (25-20, 26-24, 25-19). Ma’a did not score but set his team to a .479 hitting efficiency.

On Dec. 23, Anderson scored 21 points as Ziraat Bankkart (11-2) beat Galatasaray HDI Sigorta 3-2 (25-21, 25-27, 25-17, 26-28, 15-9). Anderson scored on 18 kills, one block and two aces.

ITALY

Rana Verona Volley with outside hitter Francesco Sani improved to 7-6 with three wins in their last three matches. On Dec. 26, Sani and Verona beat Cucine Lube Civitanova 3-2 (22-25, 18-25, 25-16, 25-23, 15-12). Sani started sets 3, 4 and 5 and scored 12 points on 10 kills, one block and one ace.

On Dec. 30, Verona beat Prisma Taranto Volley (1-12) with middle blocker Jeff Jendryk and opposite Kyle Russell 3-1 (26-24, 25-12, 20-25, 25-15).

Sani played as a substitute and scored two points with a kill and a block. Jendryk scored six points with a kill and a team-high five blocks. Russell started the first two sets and scored four points on three kills and an ace.

On Jan. 7, Verona beat Vasa Group Modena 3-0 (25-21, 25-18, 25-13). Sani played as a substitute.

Taranto got its first win of the season on Dec. 26 when it beat Farmitalia Catania 3-1 (25-19, 25-23, 17-25, 25-23). Russell scored 15 points on 12 kills, one block and two aces. Jendryk scored eight points on three kills and a match-high five blocks.

On Jan. 7, Taranto fell to Itas Trentino 3-0 (25-24, 25-20, 25-20). Russell started the first two sets and scored five points on four kills and an ace. Jendryk scored four points on three kills and a block.

Pallavolo Padova (4-9) with opposite Gabi Garcia Fernandez lost its last three matches. Most recently, on Jan. 7, Padova fell to Cucino Lube Civitanova 3-0 (25-19, 25-17, 25-23). Garcia scored six points on six kills.

POLAND

Asseco Resovia Rzeszów and outside hitter TJ DeFalco went 3-1 in late December and early January.

In the CEV Champions League on Dec. 21, Rzeszów beat Slovenian champion ACH Volley Ljublana 3-0 (25-16, 25-16, 25-19). DeFalco played as a substitute.

Back in league play, Rzeszów (12-3) followed up with a 3-1 victory over KGHM Cuprum Lubin (2-12) and opposite Jake Hanes (27-25, 25-17, 16-25, 25-22). Hanes scored 20 points on 16 kills, three aces and a block in the loss, while DeFalco scored four on three kills and a block.

DeFalco had a fantastic match in a 3-2 (24-26, 22-25, 26-24, 30-28, 15-9) win against BOGDANKA LUK Lublin on Jan. 3. He led Rzeszów with 24 points on 19 kills, four blocks and one ace.

On Jan. 6, Defalco and Rzeszów fell to Trefl Gdańsk 3-1 (25-20, 25-23, 31-33, 25-19). DeFalco started the first three sets and scored three points on three kills.

Hanes and KGHM Cuprum Lubin (3-12) faced GKS Katowice on Jan. 4, dropping the match 3-0 (25-22, 25-23, 25-22). Hanes again led his team with 19 points on 15 kills, three blocks and one ace.

On Jan. 8, Hanes led all scorers with 21 points and was named match MVP as Lubin beat Enea Czarni Radom 3-0 (25-22, 25-24, 25-15). Hanes scored on 18 kills (.533) and three aces.

Grupa Azoty ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle (7-8) with libero Erik Shoji and middle blocker David Smith went 1-2 in their most recent matches.

On Dec. 22, Grupa Azoty ZAKSA Kędzierzyn defeated Ślepsk Malow Suwałki 3-0 (25-23, 32-30, 25-22). Shoji collected eight digs and was credited with 11 receptions. Smith did not play.

Aluron CMC Warta Zawiercie def. Grupa Azoty ZAKSA Kędzierzyn on Jan. 3, 3-1 (28-25, 17-25, 25-21, 28-2). Shoji was credited with 20 receptions and eight digs in the loss. Smith did not play.

On Jan. 6, Jastrzębski Węgiel beat Kędzierzyn 3-1 (23-25, 25-22, 25-22, 26-24). Shoji was credited with 22 receptions, 50 percent positive. Smith did not play.

Indykpol AZS Olsztyn (7-6) with setter Josh Tuaniga and U.S. Men’s Assistant Coach Javier Weber (who is Olsztyn’s head coach) went 2-1 in their last three matches. On Dec. 23, Trefl Gdańsk won against Indykpol 3-0 (29-27, 25-22, 25-21). Tuaniga played as a substitute.

On Jan. 2, Tuaniga led his team to a .420 hitting efficiency in a 3-0 (27-25, 25-19, 25-19) win over Projekt Warszawa (13-2) and middle blocker Taylor Averill. Tuaniga added two points on a kill and a block, along with six digs. For Projekt Warszawa, Averill had two points on two kills.

Ślepsk Malow Suwałki beat Olsztyn on Jan. 7, 3-1 (25-23, 27-25, 18-25, 26-24). Tuaniga started the first two sets and did not score.

Averill scored four points on two kills, an ace and a block on Dec. 9 when Projekt Warszawa defeated PSG Stal Nysa, 3-0 (25-19, 25-15, 25-2).

On Jan. 5, Projekt Warszawa beat Exact Systems Hemarpol Częstochowa 3-1 (25-21, 23-25, 25-19, 25-21). Averill scored nine points on five kills, two blocks and two aces.

FRANCE

Chaumont Volley-Ball 52 (12-3) with middle blockers Patrick Gasman and Michael Marshman went 2-1 in their last three matches, all of which went five sets and still leads the league.

On Dec. 30, Chaumont beat Toulouse 3-2 (25-19, 22-25, 25-22, 21-25, 17-15), Marshman started the final three sets and scored six points on six kills. Gasman started the first two sets and scored three points on two kills and one block. U.S. setter Joe Worsley scored one point on a kill and set the team to a .467 hitting efficiency. U.S. middle blocker Dan McDonnell scored nine points on four kills and a match-high five blocks.

On Jan. 3, Chaumont beat Narbonne (2-13) with libero Kyle Dagostino 3-2 (23-25, 19-25, 25-17, 25-13, 16-14). Mashman scored 10 points on six kills and four blocks. Gasman added nine points on five kills, two blocks and two aces. Worsley scored four points on two kills and two blocks. He set the team to a .382 hitting efficiency. For Narbonne, Dagostino was credited with 24 receptions, 67 percent positive.

On Jan. 6, Chaumont fell to Tours 3-2 (17-25, 37-35, 25-22, 20-25, 15-13). Marshman scored 11 points on seven kills, two blocks and two aces. Gasman started sets 4 and 5 and scored two points on two kills. McDonnell started the first three sets and score two points on a kill and a block. Worsley scored four points on three kills and a block and set Chaumont to a .461 hitting efficiency.

St-Nazaire (10-5) with opposite Kyle Ensing and outside hitter Jordan Ewert went 3-0 in its last three matches.

On Dec. 30, St-Nazaire beat Saint-Jean d’Illac 3-0 (25-21, 25-15, 25-15). Ewert led all scorers with 18 points on a match-high 15 kills (.435), one block and two aces. Ensing added 11 points on 11 kills. U.S. setter Quinn Isaacson scored three points on two blocks and one kill. He set the team to a .549 hitting efficiency.

On Jan. 3, St-Nazaire defeated Nice 3-0 (25-12, 25-20, 25-20). Ensing led all scorers with 15 points on 10 kills, two blocks and a match-high three aces. Ewert added seven points on five kills and two blocks. Isaacson scored one point on a block and set the team to a .571 hitting efficiency.

St-Nazaire beat Narbonne 3-1 (21-25, 25-18, 25-21, 25-21) on Jan. 6. Ensing led all scorers with 23 points on 20 kills (.487), one block and two aces. Ewert totaled 16 points on 14 kills, one block and one ace. Isaacson scored two points on two kills and set the team to a .434 hitting efficiency. For Narbonne, Dagostino was credited with 12 receptions 67 percent positive.

CHINA

Middle blocker Max Holt is playing for Beijing BAIC (10-2) in the Chinese League. On Dec. 31, Beijing beat the Nanjing Radio and Television Cats, 3-0 (25-22, 25-16, 25-21). Holt scored three points on two blocks and a kill. Holt has not played in either of Beijing’s matches in January.

RUSSIA

Setter Micah Christenson and Zenit Kazan finished 2023 by winning Kazan’s 12^th Russian Cup. In the final, Kazan beat Dynamo Moscow 3-1 (26-24, 30-32, 25-17, 25-20) on Dec. 24. Christenson scored two points.

Zenit Kazan (13-2) went 3-0 in their three matches after winning the Cup. Christenson played in one match before joining his family for a break. On Dec. 29, Kazan beat Orenburg 3-0 (25-20, 25-19, 25-13). Christenson started the first two sets and helped the team to a .533 hitting efficiency.

GERMANY

The Berlin Recycling Volleys with outside hitter Cody Kessel lead the league at 12-0. On Dec. 23, Berlin beat SVG Lüneburg (10-3) and middle blocker Matthew Knigge 3-2 (22-25, 21-25, 25-17, 25-21, 17-15). Kessel played as a substitute and scored one points with a kill. Knigge scored 10 points on eight kills and two aces. U.S. libero Gage Worsley was credited with 15 receptions, 33 percent positive for Lünburg, which is in third place in the league.

Most recently, Berlin beat Netzhoppers KW Bestensee 3-2 (25-14, 25-16, 20-25, 25-15) on Jan. 5. Kessel started and led all scorers with 14 points on 10 kills and a match-high four blocks.

On Jan. 6, Lüneburg beat Herrsching 3-0 (25-17, 25-20, 25-22). Knigge scored 13 points on nine kills (1.00 hitting efficiency) and three blocks. U.S. middle Blake Leeson added four points on four kills. Worsley was credited with 14 receptions, 50 percent positive.

AUSTRIA

Hypo Tirol (12-0) and libero Tim McIntosh continue their league unbeaten streak. On Dec. 18, Hypo Tirol beat UVC Holding Graz 3-0 (25-18. 25-17, 25-19). McIntosh was credited with 19 receptions, 53 percent positive.

On Jan. 6, Hypo Tirol beat SK Zadruga Aich/Dob 3-0 (25-20, 25-17, 27-15). McIntosh was credited with 16 receptions, 50 percent positive.

Unfortunately Hypo Tirol did not advance to the final of the Austrian Volley Cup after losing to TSV Raiffeisen in the semifinal 3-1 on Dec. 22.

FINLAND

Hurrikaani Loimaa with libero Troy Gooch sits in second place in the league at 12-3. On Jan. 6, Loimaa beat Ability-Betset 3-1 (25-23, 18-25, 21-25, 25-22, 20-18. Gooch was credited with 19 receptions, 53 percent positive. U.S. outside hitter Greg Petty scored 28 points on 26 kills, one block and one ace.

For Ability-Betset, middle Colin Lovejoy scored 11 points on 11 kills.

NETHERLANDS

Nova Tech Lycurgus HS 1 (9-4) and outside hitter Kyle McCauley fell to VoCASA HS 1 on Jan. 6, 3-2 (19-25, 16-25, 25-21, 25-23, 15-13). McCauley scored 13 points on 10 kills, two blocks and one ace. Setter Cole Bogner scored six points on five aces and one kill. Outside Cole Gillis scored two points on two aces.

Lycurgus closed 2023 by advancing to the quarterfinals of the league’s cup tournament, sweeping Physiotherapy Rosier/Jokers VC HS 1 (25-19, 25-16, 25-17) on Dec. 22.