TOKYO: U.S. Men Look to Reach Another Podium

TOKYO (July 24, 2021) – In 2016, the U.S. Men’s National Team had eight players in Rio de Janeiro competing in their first Olympic Games. Even with such a young team, the U.S. Men fought back from an 0-2 pool-play start and a crushing semifinal loss to Italy to earn the bronze medal.

While proud of its medal, the team left Rio with a feeling of unfinished business.

Heading into the Tokyo Olympic Games, the No. 5-ranked U.S. Men are in Pool B with France (No. 4), Russian Olympic Committee (No. 3), Tunisia (No. 16), Brazil (No. 1) and Argentina (No. 8).

Men’s Indoor Tokyo Media Guide

Eight Olympic veterans are on the U.S. roster. Opposite Matt Anderson and middle blocker David Smith have each competed in two Games. Making their second Olympic berth are setters Micah Christenson and Kawika Shoji, outside hitters Thomas Jaeschke and Taylor Sander, middle blocker Max Holt and libero Erik Shoji.

Competing in their first Olympics will be opposite Kyle Ensing, outside hitters TJ DeFalco and Garrett Muagututia and middle blocker Mitch Stahl.

Ensing and DeFalco, both 24, are the youngest players on the team. David Smith, 36, is the oldest. The average age of the roster is 29.9.

“The past year has been challenging for all of us,” Head Coach John Speraw said. “We are grateful we have the opportunity to compete at an Olympic Games. There have been a lot of people who have dealt with significant stress and loss. No matter what this tourney throws our way, we will continue to be resilient and adapt and be grateful to represent the United States.”

Speraw will be looking for his team to take advantage of all its experience to reach another podium in Tokyo.

Last time the team was in Tokyo for an official competition was in October 2019 for the FIVB World Cup. It finished that tournament with a 9-2 record and a bronze medal. It also took bronze at the 2018 FIVB Volleyball Nations League and the World Championship. It won silver at the 2019 VNL.

U.S. Men’s Roster for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020

No. Player (Position, Height, Hometown, College)
1 Matt Anderson (OPP, 6-10, West Seneca, N.Y., Penn State Univ.)
3 Taylor Sander (OH, 6-4, Huntington Beach, Calif., Brigham Young Univ.)
5 Kyle Ensing (OPP, 6-7, Valencia, Calif., Long Beach State Univ.)
6 Mitch Stahl (MB, 6-8, Chambersburg, Pa., Univ. of California Los Angeles)
7 Kawika Shoji (S, 6-3, Honolulu, Hawaii, Stanford Univ.)
8 TJ DeFalco (OH, 6-5, Huntington Beach, Calif., Long Beach State Univ.)
11 Micah Christenson (S, 6-5, Honolulu, Hawaii, Univ. of Southern California)
12 Max Holt (MB, 6-10, Cincinnati, Ohio, Penn State Univ.)
17 Thomas Jaeschke (OH, 6-6, Wheaton, Ill., Loyola Univ. Chicago)
18 Garrett Muagututia (OH, 6-5, Oceanside, Calif., Univ. of California Los Angeles)
20 David Smith (MB, 6-7, Saugus, Calif., Univ. of California Irvine)
22 Erik Shoji (L, 6-0, Honolulu, Hawaii, Stanford Univ.)

Head Coach John Speraw
Asst. Coach Brian Thornton
Asst. Coach Matthew Fuerbringer
Asst. Coach Mike Wall
Team Manager Erik Sullivan
Technical Coordinator Nate Ngo
Athletic Trainer Aaron Brock
Strength Coach Timothy Pelot
Doctor Chris Lee
Statistician/Scout Andrew Strick
Massage Therapist Jennifer Holt