HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. (Aug. 18, 2017) – The return of Olympic medalists Matt Anderson, Max Holt and Aaron Russell highlights the U.S. Men’s National Team roster for the USA Volleyball Cup matches on Aug. 18 and 19 at the Sears Centre Arena in Hoffman Estates.
Opposite Anderson and middle blocker Holt did not compete in the 2017 FIVB World League to get some much-needed rest after the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro and their winter professional seasons overseas.
Outside hitter Russell was injured during a practice with his professional season in Italy and had to recover from ankle surgery.
Outside hitter Thomas Jaeschke and middle blocker Jeff Jendryk will also be fan favorites, as both grew up near Hoffman Estates.
The United States and Brazil played two matches in Brazil in the week before the USAV Cup. Brazil won the first match in Sao Paulo, 25-21, 26-24, 25-21 and the second match in Manaus, 25-22, 19-25, 25-11, 16-25, 15-8.
U.S. Roster for USAV Cup Matches
No. Name (Position, Height, Hometown, College)
1. Matt Anderson (Opp, 6-9, West Seneca, N.Y., Penn State)
2. Aaron Russell (OH, 6-9, Ellicott City, Md., Penn State)
4. Jeff Jendryk (MB, 6-10, Wheaton, Ill., Loyola of Chicago)
7. Kawika Shoji (S, 6-3, Honolulu, Hawaii, Stanford)
10. Thomas Jaeschke (OH, 6-6, Wheaton, Ill., Loyola of Chicago)
11. Micah Christenson (S, 6-6, Honolulu, Southern California)
12. TJ DeFalco (OH, 6-5, Huntington Beach, Calif., Long Beach State)
13. Dan McDonnell (MB, 6-6, Glendale, Ariz., UC Irvine)
14. Ben Patch (Opp, 6-8, Provo, Utah, BYU)
17. Max Holt (MB, 6-10, Cincinnati, Ohio, Penn State)
18. Garrett Muagututia (OH, 6-5, Oceanside, Calif., UCLA)
20C. David Smith (MB, 6-7, Saugus, Calif., UC Irvine)
21. Dustin Watten (L, 6-0, Long Beach, Calif., Long Beach State)
22. Erik Shoji (L, 6-0, Honolulu, Hawaii, Stanford)
Head Coach: John Speraw
Assistant Coach: Brian Thornton
Technical Coordinator: Nate Ngo
Athletic Trainer: Aaron Brock
Athletic Trainer: Tim Pelot
Brazil Roster for USAV Cup Matches
No. Name (Position, Height, Shirt Name)
1. Bruno Mossa de Rezende (S, 6-3, BRUNO)
2. Isac Viana Santos (MB, 6-10, ISAC)
5. Lucas Eduardo Loh (OH, 6-5, LUCAS LOH)
6. Tiago Brendle (L, 6-10, T. BRENDLE)
7. Murilo Radke (S, 6-6, M. RADKE)
10. Otavio Henrique Rodrigues Pinto (MB, 6-7, OTAVIO)
12. Joᾶo Rafael de Barros Ferreira (OH, 6-3, JOÃO RAFAEL)
13. Mauricio Luiz de Souza (MB, 6-10, M. SOUZA)
16. Lucas Saatkamp (MB, 6-11, LUCAS)
17. Thales Gustavo Hoss (L, 6-2, THALES)
18. Ricardo Lucarelli Santos de Souza (OH, 6-5, LUCARELLI)
19. Mauricio Borges Almeida Silva (OH, 6-10, MAURICIO)
20. Renan Zanatta Buiatti (Opp, 7-0, RENAN)
21. Rafael Rodrigues de Araujo (Opp, 6-9, ARAUJO)
Head Coach: Renan Dos Santos
Assistant Coach: Marcelo Fronckowiak
Assistant Coach: Ricardo Tabach
Doctor: Felipe Serrᾶo
Therapist: Matheus Cardoso Dos Santos
Physical Trainer: Renato Sergio Bacchi
Massage Therapist: Kleevansostins Albuquerque
Statistician: Henrique Modenesi