U.S. Men's Sitting Takes Fifth at 2026 Worlds; Zach Upp Scores 37 Points in Win over Germany

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (July 17, 2026) – The U.S. Men’s Sitting National Team finished fifth at the 2026 World ParaVolley World Championship in Hangzhou, China, with a 3-2 (25-22, 27-25, 20-25, 20-25, 15-10) victory over Germany on Friday behind a 37-point performance from outside hitter Zach Upp. The fifth-place finish marks the best U.S. finish at the championship.

“We love playing Germany. They have always been a top-ranked team, and they are just a tough, gritty team. This was a grudge match from our last world championship. I’m just really happy about how we competed for five sets. We knew it would be a dogfight. It is an amazing thing to see they can do that,” said U.S. head coach Greg Walker. “I truly believe that from where we started to where we are going, I think that this is a generational team. They are able to accomplish so much and their commitment, not an overnight success, but to this long journey has been unparalleled. We have had our challenges and our growing pains, but for them to come in here and stay on their mission is just great to see in our development. We have consistently been doing what we say we are going to do and that was not always the case, so for us to get to the next competitive level, this shows how we can be on the podium at LA and we are on trajectory.”

Germany recorded 10 more kills than the U.S. (66-56) and blocks (13-11), but the U.S. nearly doubled Germany in aces (15-8)

Upp led all players with 25 kills and served 10 aces, two more than Germany. Eric Duda scored 19 points on 14 kills, two aces and two blocks. Roderick Green scored nine points on seven kills and two blocks, and James Stuck added eight points on six kills and a pair of blocks.

Robbie Onusko scored three points with a kill, block and ace. Dan Regan (one kill, one block), and Ben Aman and Jason Roberts (one kill, one ace each) all contributed two points.

The U.S. took an early 5-2 lead in the first set before Germany used a 10-4 run to take a three-point advantage. The lead was still three, 14-11, when the U.S. ran off four points in a row to retake the lead and start an 8-2 run. Germany pulled within a point twice (21-20 and 23-22), but the U.S. scored the final two points to take the set. Upp scored eight points on six kills, a block and an ace, and Duda totaled seven points on five kills and two aces.

Germany scored the first three points of the second set before the U.S. scored eight consecutive points. The lead remained five points, 14-9, when Germany used a 7-3 run to cut the deficit to one point, 17-16. Trailing 20-18, Germany scored the next four points to take a 22-20 lead, forcing the U.S. to take its second timeout in a three-point stretch. Each team saved a set point before the U.S. scored the final three points to take a 2-0 lead in the match. Upp scored nine points on seven kills, a block and an ace.

Neither team led by more than a point in the third set until Germany went up 11-9 and the lead grew to five points, 16-11. The U.S. scored the next four points to pull within one. The U.S. still trailed by only one, 20-19, when Germany finished the set on a 5-1 run. Duda (three kills, one block) and Upp (two kills, two aces) each scored four points.

The fourth set was even at 10 apiece when Germany went on a decisive 7-1 run. The U.S. was unable to get any closer than four points the rest of the way. Upp scored seven points on six kills and an ace.

The fifth set was even 4-4 when the U.S. ran off six consecutive points behind Upp’s serving. Germany got as close as four points, 11-7, but the U.S. earned match point by scoring the next three points. Germany saved three match points before the U.S. clinched its fifth-place finish. Upp saved his best for last with nine points on five aces and four kills.

U.S. Men’s Sitting Team Roster for World Championship

No. Name (Position, Height, Hometown)
1 Travis Ricks (L, 5-7, San Diego, Calif.)
2 Dan Regan (OH, 6-0, St. Louis, Mo.)
3 Nick Dadgostar (L, 6-0, Sidney, Neb.)
4 Ben Aman (OH, 6-5, Edmond, Okla.)
5 Eric Duda (S/OH, 6-5, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)
6 Alex Wilson (OPP/OH, 6-6, Saugerties, N.Y.)
8 James Stuck (S/OH, 6-5, New Kensington, Pa.)
10 Robbie Onusko (OH, 6-0, Daytona Beach, Fla.)
11 Roderick Green (MB, 6-3, West Monroe, La.)
17 Zach Upp (OH, 6-5, Bartlett, Ill.)
18 Jason Roberts (OH, 6-3, Moncks Corner, S.C.)
19 Danny Alvarez Rivadeneira (L/DS, 5-8, West Jordan, Utah, Intermountain)
49 Sam Surowiec (OH, 6-2, Everett, Wash.)

Head Coach: Greg Walker
Assistant Coach: Ladislav Lelkes
Assistant Coach: Julie Allen
Performance Analyst: Sydnie Mabry
Sport Psychologist: Taylor Gabler
Athletic Trainer: Whitney Padgett
Team Leader: Connor Martin
Consultant: Dave Dantes

Schedule

July 10: USA def. Ukraine, 3-2 (25-23, 25-21, 15-25, 20-25, 15-12)
July 11: Egypt def. USA, 3-1 (24-26, 25-15, 25-18, 25-8)
July 12: USA def. Rwanda, 3-0 (25-13, 25-17, 25-20)
July 13: Round of 16: USA def. Canada, 3-0 (25-22, 25-16, 25-23)
July 14: Quarterfinals, Iran def. USA, 3-0 (25-21, 25-15, 25-16)
July 15: USA def. Rwanda, 3-1 (23-25, 25-10, 25-15, 25-15)
July 16: Fifth-Place Match: USA def. Germany, 3-2 (25-22, 27-25, 20-25, 20-25, 15-10)