MNT Update: Overseas Season Keeps Rolling Along

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Jan. 30, 2024) – 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.

POLAND

Middle blocker David Smith was back in action after the break and helped lead Grupa Azoty ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle (9-9) to a 3-0 (25-21, 25-17, 25-22) win over PSG Stal Nysa on Jan. 20. Smith scored two points on two kills. Erik Shoji had 12 digs and was credited with 15 receptions for Kędzierzyn-Koźle.

On Jan. 25, Kędzierzyn-Koźle defeated Indykpol AZS Olsztyn and setter Josh Tuaniga, 3-2 (19-25, 25-20, 27-29, 25-23, 15-13). Smith scored 12 points on six kills, two blocks and four aces. Shoji had eight digs and 22 receptions. For Indykpol (7-12), Tuaniga had one kill and help set the team to a .444 hitting efficiency in the loss. U.S. Men’s Assistant Coach Javier Weber coaches for Indykpol.

On Jan. 20, Indykpol lost to Jastrzębski Węgiel 3-0 (25-22, 25-20, 25-22) on Jan. 20. Tuaniga had two points on an ace and a block. He had three digs and 33 assists.

PSG Stal Nysa defeated Indykpol 3-2 (16-25, 30-28, 25-22, 23-25, 15-10) on Jan. 29. Tuaniga had an ace and seven digs. He shared setting duties in the match and helped lead the team to a .395 hitting efficiency.

Asseco Resovia Rzeszów (14-5) defeated Slepsk Malow Suwalki 3-1 (25-14, 21-25, 25-15, 25-22) on Jan. 21. Outside hitter TJ DeFalco scored 17 points with 13 kills, three blocks and one ace. He also had five digs.

Aluron CMC Warta Zawiercie defeated Rzeszów 3-1 (21-25, 25-18, 29-27, 25-23) on Jan. 25. DeFalco had 17 points on 14 kills, one block and two aces.

On Jan. 28, Jastrzębski Węgiel defeated Rzeszów 3-1 (25-21, 22-25, 25-21, 25-14). DeFalco had 15 points on 12 kills, two blocks and an ace.

Project Warszawa (16-3) and middle blocker Taylor Averill made quick work of GKS Katowice on Jan. 19, winning 3-0 (25-18 25-14, 25-21). On Jan. 24, Warszawa defeated Enea Czarni Radom, 3-0 (25-17, 25-12, 25-22). Project Warszawa finished its run with a 3-0 (25-17, 25-13, 25-19) win over Barkom Kaźany Lwów. Averill did not play in the matches.

KGHM Cuprum Lubin (4-14) and Jake Hanes lost to PGE GiEK Skra Belchatow 3-1 (20-25, 25-22, 25-19, 25-18) on Jan. 18. Hanes had 17 points on 14 kills, two blocks and an ace. On Jan. 23, Hanes scored 16 points (14 kills, one block, one ace) in a 3-2 (25-13, 16-25, 25-23, 17-25, 15-4) loss to Bogdanka LUK Lublin. KGHM got back in the win column on Jan. 30 with a 3-2 (25-21, 20-25, 21-25, 25-21, 15-10) win over Trefl Gdańsk. Hanes led all scorers with 29 points on 22 kills, three blocks and four aces.

TÜRKIYE

Micah Ma’a and Halkbank (17-0) remained undefeated with two wins over the last 10 days.

On Jan. 21, Halkbank beat Arkas Spor, 3-2 (22-25, 25-22, 18-25, 25-18, 23-21). Ma’a scored six points on two kills and four blocks. He set Halkbank to a .488 hitting efficiency. On Jan. 27, Halkbank beat Türşad, 3-0 (25-19, 25-17, 25-18).

Matt Anderson and Ziraat Bankkart (13-4) also went 2-0 in the last 10 days.

On Jan. 20, Ziraat Bankkart beat Rams Global Cizre Belediyesi Spor Kulübü, 3-0 (25-18, 25-13, 25-21). Anderson scored 17 points on 11 kills (.611), a match-high five aces and one block. On Jan. 28, Ziraat Bankkart beat Kuşgöz İzmir Vinç Akkuş Bld., 3-0 (25-16, 25-16, 25-20). Anderson led all scorers with 17 points on 12 kills, three blocks and two aces.

ITALY

Prisma Taranto Volley (2-14) with middle blocker Jeff Jendryk and opposite Kyle Russell lost to Vero Volley Monza, 3-1 (25-20, 21-25, 25-22, 25-22) on Jan. 21. Russell recorded 17 points on 16 kills and one ace. Jendryk added seven points on five kills and two aces.

Pallavolo Padova (5-11) with Gabi Garcia lost to Cisterna Volley, 3-1 (21-25, 25-18, 25-20, 25-14). Garcia scored on 10 kills.

Rana Verona (9-7) with Francesco Sani defeated Farmitalia Catina, 3-1 (25-22, 25-15, 19-25, 25-21). Sani played as a substitute and did not score.

On Jan. 25, Garcia of Pallova Padova played a key role in the team’s 3-1 victory (25-22, 25-23, 22-25, 25-23) against Valsa Group Modena, scoring 13 points on 11 kills and two aces.

On Jan. 24, Jendryk, Russell and Prisma Taranto Volley fell 3-0 (25-18, 25-23, 25-20) to Sir Susa Vim Perugia. Jendryk recorded seven points on six kills and one ace. Russell played the first set and subbed in the third and scored seven points on four kills and three aces.

Rana Verona with Francesco Sani defeated Vero Volley Monza 3-2 (23-25, 24-26, 25-23, 25-22, 15-11) on Jan. 25. Sani did not play in the match.

JAPAN

Outside hitter Thomas Jaeschke and the Panasonic Panthers won their last four matches to improve to 21-1. On Jan. 20, Jaeschke scored 18 points on 14 kills, three blocks and one ace as the Panthers beat the Toray Rose 3-1 (25-18, 25-18, 21-25, 25-21). On Jan. 21, Panasonic beat Toray 3-0 (25-13, 25-21, 25-19). Jaeschke scored 14 points on 13 kills and one block.

Next, Panasonic won two matches over the JTEKT Stings. On Jan. 27, Panasonic beat the Stings, 3-0 (25-20, 25-21, 25-17). Jaeschke scored 10 points on nine kills and one block. On Jan. 28, Panasonic won 3-0 (25-22, 25-21, 25-17). Jaeschke scored 16 points on 13 kills, one block and two aces.

Outside hitter Aaron Russell and JT Thunders Hiroshima (17-7) also won their last four matches. On Dec. 20, Hiroshima beat the JTEKT Stings, 3-1 (24-26, 25-21, 25-16, 25-16). Russell scored 29 points on 27 kills, one block and one ace. On Dec. 21, Hiroshima won 3-1 (25-20, 21-25, 25-22, 25-16). Russell scored 22 points on 20 kills, one block and one ace.

Hiroshima won its next two matches over Voleas Hokkaido. On Jan. 27, Hiroshima won 3-0 (25-19, 25-16, 25-14). Russell scored 11 points on nine kills, one block and one ace. On Jan. 28, Hiroshima won 3-0 (25-19, 33-31, 25-16). Russell scored 18 points on 15 kills, one block and two aces.

RUSSIA

Setter Micah Christenson and Zenit Kazan (18-2) won their last two matches and has taken the lead in the league. On Jan. 21, Kazan beat Lokomotiv Novosibirsk, 3-1 (25-23, 25-23, 27-29, 28-26). Christenson scored four points on two kills and two blocks and set Kazan to a .368 hitting efficiency.

On Jan. 28, Kazan beat Zenit St. Petersburg, 3-2 (25-14, 25-17, 22-25, 23-25, 15-9). Christenson scored four points on three blocks and a kill. He set Kazan to a .425 hitting efficiency.

FRANCE

Chaumont Volley-Ball 52 (14-4) with middle blockers Patrick Gasman and Michael Marshman went 1-1 in their last two matches. On Jan. 20, it fell to Plessis-Robinson, 3-2 (20-25, 25-21, 25-17, 15-25, 15-7). Gasman scored 14 points on nine kills, three blocks and two aces. Marshman scored five points on five kills. U.S. setter Joe Worsley scored one point with a block. He set the team to a .383 hitting efficiency.

Chaumont came back to sweep Nantes Rezé on Jan. 17 (25-22, 25-20, 25-19). Marshman scored 10 points on seven kills, two blocks and one ace. Gasman added five points on four kills and one block. Worsley scored two points on two blocks and set the team to a .487 hitting efficiency. He was named match MVP.

St-Nazaire (10-8) with opposite Kyle Ensing, outside hitter Jordan Ewert and setter Quinn Isaacson lost their last two matches. On Jan. 19, St-Nazaire fell to Nantes Rezé, 3-2 (19-25, 23-25, 25-18, 25-22, 15-12). Ewert scored 21 points on 17 kills (.412), one block and three aces. Ensing added 20 points on 18 kills, one block and one ace. Isaacson scored two points on a kill and a block and set the team to a .383 hitting efficiency.

On Jan. 27, Paris beat St-Nazaire, 3-0 (25-18, 25-16, 25-19). Ewert scored 10 points on 10 kills. Ensing scored four points on four kills. Isaacson scored one point on a block and set the team to a .364 hitting efficiency.

GERMANY

Outside hitter Cody Kessel and the Berlin Recycling Volleys (15-1) went 2-1 in their last three matches. On Jan. 21, Berlin beat VfB Friedrichshafen, 3-0 (25-21, 25-12, 25-18). Kessel played as a substitute and scored one point on a block.

On Jan. 24, the Helios Grizzlys Giesen beat Berlin, 3-0 (29-27, 25-23, 25-23). Kessel played as a substitute and started the third set but did not score. On Jan. 26, Berlin beat VC Bitterfeld-Wolfen, 3-0 (25-22, 25-17, 25-19). Kessel scored seven points on seven kills.

AUSTRIA

Hypo Tirol (15-0) and libero Tim McIntosh won their last two matches. On Jan. 20 Hypo Tirol beat Union Raiffeisen Waldviertel, 3-1 (25-15, 22-25, 25-18, 25-15). McIntosh was credited with 30 receptions, 63 percent positive.

On Jan. 27, Hypo Tirol defeated TJ Sokol/Post SV Wien, 3-2 (22-25, 22-25, 25-18, 26-24, 15-13). McIntosh was credited with 18 receptions, 50 percent positive.

FINLAND

Hurrikaani Loimaa (12-4) with libero Troy Gooch continues to lead the league. On Jan. 27, Loimaa beat VaLePa 3-1 (25-20, 25-14, 22-25, 13-25, 15-8). Gooch was credited with 34 receptions, 76 percent positive. U.S. outside hitter Greg Petty scored 16 points on 14 kills, one block and one ace.

On Jan. 29, Loimaa beat Savo Volley 3-2 (22-25, 25-16, 25-20, 27-29, 15-11). Gooch had 13 receptions; 69 percent positive. Petty scored 30 points on 29 kills (.718) and one ace and was named MVP.

NETHERLANDS

Nova Tech Lycurgus HS 1 (12-5) and outside hitter Kyle McCauley have gone 2-1 in their last three matches. On Jan. 20, Lycurgus fell to NUMIDIA VC LIMAX HS 1, 3-2 (22-25, 25-18, 20-25, 25-15, 17-15). McCauley scored 13 points on 11 kills and two aces. U.S. outside Cole Gillis scored 19 points in 15 kills, three blocks and one ace. Setter Cole Bogner scored four points on two blocks and two aces. He set the team to a .317 hitting efficiency.

On Jan. 26, Lycurgus came back to beat Prima Donna Kaas Huizen HS 1, 3-0 (25-19, 25-13, 25-21). McCauley did not play. On Jan. 28, Lycurgus beat Talentteam Papendal HS 1, 3-0 (25-22, 25-15, 25-19). McCauley did not play.

ROMANIA

CSA Steaua Bucuresti (9-6) and outside hitter Brett Wildman fell to CSM Corona Brasov on Jan. 28, 3-1 (25-22, 25-22, 23-25, 25-18). Wildman played as a substitute and scored one point with a kill.