MNT Update: Teams Under Pressure in Italian League

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Feb. 14, 2024) – 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.

ITALY

With just three weeks left in Italy’s regular season, teams are jockeying to be seeded in the top eight for the playoffs.

On Feb. 11, opposite Gabi Garcia of Pallova Padova (6-12) played the full match in a 3-2 victory (25-23, 22-25, 25-22, 21-25, 18-16) against Allianz Milano (9-9), recording 13 kills and three blocks.

Outside hitter Jeff Jendryk from Prisma Taranto Volley (2-16) played the full match in a 3-1 loss (23-25, 25-22, 25-22, 30-28) against Lube Civitanova (13-5). Jendryk recorded four kills, one error and one ace. Opposite Kyle Russell subbed in on the third set for Taranto and recorded one kill.

Rana Verona (11-7) with Francesco Sani defeated Sir Susa Vim Perugia (13-5), 3-2 (25-20, 21-25, 25-14, 17-25, 15-13). Sani subbed in the third and fourth sets.

POLAND

Indykpol AZS Olsztyn and Josh Tuaniga are now 9-12 after a 3-0 (26-24, 25-22, 25-21) win over Exact Systems Hemarpol Częstochowa on Feb. 7. Tuaniga played as a sub and had five assists.

Asseco Resovia Rzeszów (16-5) and TJ DeFalco defeated PSG Stal Nysa 3-1 (25-13, 25-19, 17-25, 25-16) on Feb. 10. DeFalco did not play.

Grupa Azoty Kędzierzyn-Koźle fell to GKS Katowice 3-0 (25-10, 32-30, 25-19) on Feb. 10. Middle blocker David Smith did not play. Libero Erik Shoji had three digs and 10 receptions.

On Feb. 11, Projekt Warszawa (17-4) and Taylor Averill lost to BOGDANKA LUK Lublin 3-1 (25-19, 25-22, 20-25, 25-22). Averill did not play.

KGHM Cuprum Lubin (5-15) defeated Ślepsk Malow Suwałki 3-1 (25-23, 16-25, 25-23, 25-14) on Feb. 12. Jake Hanes scored 13 points for Lubin, collecting 11 kills, one ace and one block.

TÜRKIYE

With just two matches left in the regular season, Micah Ma’a and Halkbank (19-0) lead the league. On Feb. 10, they beat Develi Bld, 3-1 (25-16, 25-18, 24-26, 25/22). Ma’a scored four points on two aces, one kill and one block. He set the team to a .483 hitting efficiency.

Opposite Matt Anderson and Ziraat Bankkart (15-4) are in third place. They beat Hatay Büyükşehir Belediyesi, 3-1 (25-23, 34-36, 25-13, 25-17) on Feb. 10. Anderson did not play.

JAPAN

Outside hitter Thomas Jaeschke and the Panasonic Panthers (25-1) beat the VC Nagano Tridents on Feb. 10, 3-0 (25-17, 27-25, 25-17). Jaeschke led his team with 16 points on 13 kills, one block and two aces.

Outside hitter Aaron Russell and JT Thunders Hiroshima (18-8) went 1-1 in two matches against the Tokyo GreatBears. On Feb. 7, Hiroshima fell to the GreatBears, 3-1 (25-22, 19-25, 25-20, 25-19). Russell scored 19 points on 13 kills, two blocks and four aces. On Feb. 8, Hiroshima came back to win 3-2 (20-25. 25-17, 25-27, 25-21, 15-12). Russell scored 20 points on 18 kills and two blocks.

RUSSIA

Setter Micah Christenson and Zenit Kazan beat Fakel Novy Urengoy on Feb. 11, 3-0 (25-21, 25-22, 25-22). Christenson played as a substitute.

FRANCE

Chaumont Volley-Ball 52 (15-5) with middle blockers Patrick Gasman and Michael Marshman fell to Toulouse, 3-0 (39-37, 25-19, 26-24) on Feb. 9. Gasman scored 11 points on six kills, four blocks and one ace. Marshman had nine points on five kills and four blocks. U.S. setter Joe Worsley started the first two sets and scored one point with a block. He helped set the team to a .412 hitting efficiency.

St-Nazaire (10-9) with opposite Kyle Ensing, outside hitter Jordan Ewert and setter Quinn Isaacson fell to Sete on Feb. 9, 3-2 (25-18, 10-25, 17-25, 25-20, 17-15). Ensing scored 20 points on 15 kills, two blocks and three aces. Ewert added 13 points on 13 kills. Isaacson did not play.

Libero Kyle Dagostino and Narbonne (3-17) fell to Nice, 3-0 (25-10, 25-23, 25-15). Dagostino was credited with seven receptions, 57 percent positive.

GERMANY

Outside hitter Cody Kessel and the Berlin Recycling Volleys (16-2) fell to ASV Dachau, 3-2 (21-25, 25-21, 14-25, 25-22, 15-13) on Feb. 10. Kessel did not play. Kessel was MVP of his team’s previous match, a 3-0 (25-15, 25-8, 25-11) win over TSV Haching München. Kessel scored seven points on six kills and one block.

AUSTRIA

Libero Tim McIntosh and Hypo Tirol (18-0) beat TSV Raiffeisen Hartberg 3-1 (25-12, 25-20, 22-25, 25-20) on Feb. 11. McIntosh was credited with 15 receptions, 80 percent positive.

NETHERLANDS

Nova Tech Lycurgus (13-7) and outside hitter Kyle McCauley split two matches with Active Living Orion, but then lost a golden set to fall in the semifinals of the National Cup.

On Feb. 9, Lycurgus beat Orion, 3-1 (25-23, 16-25, 25-22, 25-22). On Feb. 10, Orion won 3-1 (25-16, 22-25, 25-22, 30-28). Orion won the golden set 15-8.

In the final league match of the regular season, Draisma Dynamo beat Lycurgus, 3-2 (24-26, 21-25, 25-23, 25-21, 15-13) on Feb. 6. McCauley played as a substitute.

FINLAND

On Feb. 7, libero Troy Gooch and Hurrikaani-Loimaa beat Raision Loimu, 3-0 (25-23, 25-19, 25-16). Gooch was credited with 11 receptions, 73 percent positive. U.S. outside hitter Greg Petty led his team with 14 points on 13 kills and one ace.

On Feb. 12, Hurrikaani-Loimaa fell to Savo Volley 3-2 (25-21, 28-26, 9-25, 23-25, 15-13). Gooch had 15 receptions, 67 percent positive. Petty scored 26 points on 23 kills, two blocks and one ace.