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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (March 14, 2024) – Setter Micah Ma’a and Halkbank are still undefeated in Türkiye. Outside hitter T.J. DeFalco and Asseco Resovia Rzeszów look strong in Poland. Thomas Jaeschke and the Panasonic Panthers lead the league in Japan.
TÜRKIYE
Micah Ma’a and Halkbank improved to 24-0 with two wins over the last week and still lead the league.
On March 6, Halkbank beat Brand Group Alanya Belediyespor, 3-1 (22-25, 25-19, 25-22, 25-18). Ma’a scored four points on two kills and two aces and set Halkbank to a .526 hitting efficiency. On March 9, Halkbank defeated Hatay Büyükşehir Belediyesi, 3-0 (25-11, 25-20, 25-17). Ma’a did not play.
Outside hitter/opposite Matt Anderson and Ziraat Bankkart (18-6) went 2-0 in their last two matches. Anderson did not play in either match. They are in third place in the league.
CEV CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
In the first of two semifinal matches, Poland’s Jastrzębski Węgiel beat Matt Anderson and Türkiye’s Ziraat Bankkart Ankara, 3-0 (25-13, 25-18, 30-28). Anderson did not play.
POLAND
Asseco Resovia Rzeszów is now 18-7 after winning its last two matches. On March 6, Rzeszów defeated PGE GiEK Skra Bełchatów 3-0 (25-22, 25-23, 26-24), and T.J. DeFalco had 12 points on eight kills, two blocks and two aces. On March 9, DeFalco played the first two sets in a 3-2 (21-25, 20-25, 25-20, 27-25, 15-9) win. He had five points on five kills.
Grupa Azoty Kędzierzyn-Koźle (13-12) has also won its last two PlusLiga matches, starting with a 3-0 win over KGHM Cuprum Lubin (25-14, 25-20, 25-20) on March 5. For Kędzierzyn-Koźlemm, David Smith had six points on four kills, a block and an ace. Erik Shoji had six digs. Jake Hanes did not play for Lubin.
On March 10, Kędzierzyn-Koźlemm shut down Bogdanka Luk Lublin 3-0 (25-16, 25-21, 25-21). Smith had seven points on five kills, one block and an ace. Shoji had six digs.
Before falling to Kędzierzyn-Koźlemm on March 5, Lublin (5-20) dropped a 3-1 (21-25, 25-11, 25-16, 25-20) match to Jastrzębski Węgiel on Feb. 24. Hanes had 16 points on 14 kills and two blocks. On March 9, Lublin lost to PSG Stal Nysa 3-2 (25-19, 17-25, 18-25, 25-23, 15-6). Hanes led all scorers with 19 points, collecting 16 kills, two blocks and an ace. He also had seven digs.
Projekt Warszawa and Taylor Averill (18-4) picked up 3-1 wins against Ślepsk Malow Suwałki (March 7) and Alurun CMC Warta (March 10). Averill did not play in the first match but had one kill in the second.
Indykpol (11-14) split its two most recent matches. Against Enea Czarni Radom on March 5, Josh Tuaniga had 50 assists, a kill, an ace and a block in a 3-1 (23-25, 25-22, 25-17, 25-19) win. He set the team to a .495 hitting percentage.
Indypol then lost to Barkom Każany Lviv 3-0 (25-19, 25-17, 26-24) on March 9. Tuaniga had 18 assists and a kill while playing in two of the three sets.
JAPAN
Outside hitter Thomas Jaeschke and the Panasonic Panthers (30-4) went 2-2 in their last four matches and still lead the league.
On March 2-3, the Panthers lost two five-set matches to the Suntory Sunbirds. On March 2, the Panthers lost 20-25, 24-26, 25-22, 25-22, 18-16. Jaeschke scored 18 points on 16 kills and two blocks. On March 3, the Panthers lost 18-25, 25-20, 25-21, 27-29, 22-20. Jaeschke did not play.
Jaeschke did play as a substitute on March 10 when the Panthers swept Voleas Hokkaido (25-16, 25-16, 25-23).
Outside hitter Aaron Russell and JT Thunders Hiroshima (22-12) went 2-2 in their last four matches and are in fourth place in the league.
On March 2, Hiroshima beat the Nagoya Wolfdogs 3-2 (25-21, 26-24, 21-25, 19-25, 15-12). Russell scored 23 points on 18 kills, two blocks and three aces. On March 3, Nagoya came back to beat Hiroshima, 3-1 (25-27, 26-24, 36-34, 25-17). Russell scored 16 points on 15 kills and one block.
On March 9-10, Hiroshima went 1-1 against the Nippon Steel Sakai Blazers. Russell did not play in either match.
FRANCE
Chaumont Volley-Ball 52 (19-5) with middle blockers Patrick Gasman and Michael Marshman leads the league with victories in its last two matches.
On March 2, Chaumont beat Poitiers, 3-0 (25-21, 25-21, 25-20). Gasman scored nine points on four kills, two blocks and three aces. U.S. middle Dan McDonnell scored eight points on six kills and two aces. Setter Joe Worsley scored three points on one kill and two aces. He set the team to a .530 hitting efficiency.
On March 9, Chaumont beat Paris, 3-2 (25-20, 21-25, 26-24, 19-25, 16-14). Gasman scored eight points on four kills, two blocks and two aces. Marshman scored eight points on five kills, two blocks and one ace. Worsley scored one point with a block. He set the team to a .321 hitting efficiency.
St-Nazaire (11-13) with opposite Kyle Ensing, outside hitter Jordan Ewert and setter Quinn Isaacson lost their last two matches. On March 2. St-Nazaire fell to Saint-Jean d’Illac, 3-2 (18-25, 18-25, 25-19, 25-19, 15-10). Ensing did not play. Ewert scored 14 points on 10 kills, one block and three aces. Isaacson scored two points on blocks and set St-Nazaire to a .387 hitting efficiency.
On March 8, St-Nazaire fell to Tourcoing, 3-2 (25-22, 25-22, 15-25, 21-25, 15-12). Ensing scored 19 points on 17 kills and two blocks. Isaacson scored three points on one kill and two blocks. He set the team to a .411 hitting efficiency. Ewert started the first set and scored two points on a kill and a block.
Libero Kyle Dagostino and Narbonne (3-21) fell to Toulouse, 3-2 (25-21, 23-25, 18-25, 29-27, 15-12) on March 2. Dagostino was credited with 21 receptions, 67 percent positive. On March 9, Narbonne fell to Montpellier, 3-1 (25-17, 26-24, 22-25, 25-18). Dagostino was credited with 18 receptions, 67 percent positive.
RUSSIA
With one match left in the regular season, setter Micah Christenson and Zenit Kazan (26-3) have won their last three matches in sweeps. Christenson last played on May 8 when Kazan beat Neftyanik Orenburg (25-17, 25-16, 25-26). Christenson did not score and set Kazan to a .429 hitting efficiency.
CHINA
In the playoff quarterfinals, Beijing BAIC with middle blocker Max Holt beat Fujian, 3-0 (25-22, 27-25, 25-20) on March 10.
GERMANY
Cody Kessel and the Berlin Recycling Volleys (20-2) won their last match of the regular season, beating Düren. 3-0 (25-20, 25-23, 25-23), and finished first in the league. Kessel played as a substitute. Berlin will play Karlsruhe in the first round of the playoffs.
ITALY
The Italian league regular season finished March 3. Pallavolo Padova with opposite Gabi Garcia finished in 10th place at 8-14 and Prisma Taranto Volley (3-19) with middle blocker Jeff Jendryk and opposite Kyle Russell finished in 11th. Neither team qualified for the playoffs.
Rana Verona (13-9) with opposite Francesco Sani finished seventh and qualified for the playoffs where it is facing Sir Susa Vim Perugia.
On March 6, Verona fell to Perugia, 3-1 (23-25, 25-26, 25-21, 25-19). Sani played as a substitute and scored two points on two kills. On March 10, Verona again fell to Perugia, 3-1 (21-25, 25-21, 25-16, 25-15). Sani did not play.
AUSTRIA
Libero Tim McIntosh and Hypo Tirol have reached the league semifinals and are tied 1-1 with SK Zadruga Aich/Dob. On March 13, Hypo Tirol won 3-1 (25-23, 25-18, 24-26, 26-24) to tie the best-of-five series. McIntosh was credited with 13 receptions, 54 percent positive.
NETHERLANDS
Nova Tech Lycurgus with outside hitter Kyle McCauley has gone 1-1 in its last two playoff matches. On March 3, Lycurgus beat Numidia VC Limax, 3-1 (20-25, 25-23, 30-28, 25-20). McCauley scored 11 points on 11 kills. U.S. outside hitter Cole Gillis totaled 19 points on 16 kills, two blocks and one ace. Setter Cole Bogner scored one point on a block. He set Lycurgus to a .436 hitting efficiency.
On March 9, Lycurgus fell to Draisma Dynamo, 3-2 (16-25, 25-21, 23-25, 25-23, 15-11). McCauley led all scorers with 22 points on 20 kills, one block and one ace. Gillis added nine points on eight kills and one block. Bogner scored three points on two kills and one ace.
FINLAND
Libero Troy Gooch and Hurrikaani-Loimaa have qualified for the playoff quarterfinals where they will play TUTO Volley beginning on March 16. The team won the regular season standings with a 22-5 record.
ROMANIA
Outside hitter Brett Wildman and CSA Steaua Bucuresti (14-8) are in sixth place in the league. On March 9, Steaua Bucuresti beat CSM Constanta, 3-0 (31-29, 25-16, 25-21). Wildman played as a substitute.
Matt Anderson and Türkiye’s Ziraat Bankkart Ankara have advanced to the semifinals of the CEV Champions League. TJ DeFalco and Poland’s Asseco Resovia Rzeszów will play Matthew Knigge and Germany’s SVG Lüneburg in the finals of the CEV Cup. Taylor Averill and Poland’s Projekt Warszawa won the CEV Challenge Cup.
With a break from the CEV tournaments, athletes from the U.S. Men’s National Team keep competing for clubs around the world. Leagues in Germany and Netherlands have finished their regular season and are moving toward the playoffs
U.S. Men’s National Team players squared off in the CEV Champions League playoffs and competition continued in leagues around the world
David Smith and Erik Shoji square off against Josh Tuaniga in Poland as U.S. Men’s National Team athletes compete for clubs around the world
The men’s CEV Champions League pool play has finished and four teams with U.S. players are moving on. Plus updates on U.S. Men’s National Team players competing around the world.
Setter, 6-3
Opposite/Outside Hitter, 6-10
Outside Hitter, 6-5
Middle Blocker, 6-7
Libero, 6-0 (184 cm)
Opposite, 6-10
Middle Blocker, 6-7
Setter, 6-3
Outside Hitter, 6-6
Outside Hitter, 6-9
Middle Blocker, 6-10
Middle Blocker, 6-7
Opposite, 6-7
Outside Hitter, 6-5
Setter, 6-2
Libero, 5-9
Setter, 6-5
Middle Blocker, 6-10
Outside Hitter, 6-5
Middle Blocker, 6-10
Opposite, 6-9
Libero, 6-0
Outside Hitter, 6-4
Setter, 6-3
Libero, 6-0
Outside Hitter, 6-5
