U.S. Men Take Poland to 5 in Friendly Match

PARIS, France (July 21, 2024) – The U.S. Men’s National Team went five sets with world No. 1 Poland before falling (18-25, 23-25, 28-26, 25-22, 15-8) in a pre-Olympic friendly match on Sunday in Gdansk, Poland.

It was the last competitive match for the U.S. Men before they open the Olympic Games against Argentina at noon PT on July 27.

MATCH STATISTICS

Poland held an edge in kills (62-61) and a bigger lead in blocks (15-9). The U.S. Men held the lead in aces (7-6).

Opposite Matt Anderson led the U.S. Men with 21 points on a match-high 21 kills (.377 hitting efficiency).

Outside hitter Aaron Russell started the first four sets and added 15 points on 11 kills (.357) and a match-high four aces.

Outside hitter T.J. DeFalco started the first four sets and totaled 12 points on 12 kills (.435). Middle blocker Taylor Averill scored 12 points on seven kills, three blocks and two aces.

Setter Micah Christenson scored three points on three block and set the U.S. to a .391 hitting efficiency.

Libero Erik Shoji was credited with 19 receptions (53 percent positive). Russell led the team in receptions with 24 (33 percent positive).

Middle Max Holt started the first four sets and scored seven points on five kills and two blocks.

Middle Jeff Jendryk started the fifth set and scored three points on one kill and two blocks.

Outside Thomas Jaeschke started the fifth set and scored three points on three kills.

Outside Garrett Muagututia added one point on one kill.

U.S. Men’s Roster for the Olympic Games Paris 2024

No. Player (Position, Height, Hometown, College, USAV Region)
1 Matt Anderson (Opp, 6-10, West Seneca, N.Y., Penn State, Western Empire)
2 Aaron Russell (OH, 6-9, Ellicott City, Md., Penn State, Chesapeake)
4 Jeff Jendryk (MB, 6-10, Wheaton, Ill., Loyola Univ. Chicago, Great Lakes)
8 T.J. DeFalco (OH, 6-5, Huntington Beach, Calif., Long Beach State Univ., Southern California)
11 Micah Christenson (S, 6-5, Honolulu, Hawaii, Univ. of Southern California, Aloha)
12 Max Holt (MB, 6-10, Cincinnati, Ohio, Penn State, Ohio Valley)
14 Micah Ma’a (S, 6-3, Kaneohe, Hawaii, UCLA, Aloha)
17 Thomas Jaeschke (OH, 6-6, Wheaton, Ill., Loyola Univ. Chicago, Great Lakes)
18 Garrett Muagututia (OH, 6-5, Oceanside, Calif., UCLA, Southern California)
19 Taylor Averill (MB, 6-7, San Jose, Calif., Univ. of Hawaii, Northern California)
20 David Smith (MB, 6-7, Saugus, Calif., Univ. of California Irvine, Southern California)
22 Erik Shoji (L, 6-0, Honolulu, Hawaii, Stanford Univ., Aloha)

Official Alternate: 5 Kyle Ensing (Opp, 6-7, Valencia, Calif., Long Beach State Univ., Southern California)

Head Coach: John Speraw
Assistant Coaches: Matt Fuerbringer, Javier Weber and Mike Wall
Athletic Trainer: Aaron Brock
Performance Analyst and Technical Coordinator: Nate Ngo
Team Leader: Erik Sullivan
Mental Performance Coaches: Andrea Becker and Peter Naschak
Technical Coordinator: David Dantes
Team Doctor: Lori Boyajian-O’Neill

U.S. Men’s Schedule at the Olympic Game Paris 2024.

July 27 at 12 p.m. USA vs Argentina
July 30 at 4 a.m. USA vs Germany
Aug. 1 at 12 p.m. USA vs Japan
Aug. 5 Quarterfinals
Aug. 7 Semifinals
Aug. 9 at 8 a.m. Bronze medal
Aug. 10 at 4 a.m. Gold medal