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Photo by Bryce Lloyd Photography

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (April 27, 2026) — USA Volleyball announces the full athlete roster for the 2026 Girls Indoor NTDP Spring Training Series, scheduled for May 15-18 at the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Training Center in Colorado Springs.

This immersive training experience brings together 120 of the country’s top young female volleyball athletes, representing 31 states and 27 USA Volleyball regions. Athletes have been identified and invited based on recommendations from the Indoor NTDP Scouting Network, which includes trusted coaches and experts from across the nation. The scouting network serves as the foundation of the NTDP’s comprehensive talent identification process. The NTDP Spring Training Series is designed to elevate the next generation of elite athletes through world-class coaching, development and mentorship aligned with USA Volleyball’s National Team philosophies. Each training session emphasizes the five core pillars of the NTDP Development Model: Craft, Mind, Body, Heart and Team.

View the rosters.

Participants will train in two competitive age-group sections: U15/U16/U17 (birth years 2012/2011/2010) and U18/U19 (birth years 2009/2008). Kristen Kelsay (Michigan State) will be the head coach for the younger age groups, and Alex Dunphy (LOVB) and Tama Miyashiro (LOVB) will lead U18/U19.

Visit our NTDP home page to learn more about USA Volleyball’s ongoing athlete development initiatives.

2023 Girls U19 National Team
The 2023 U.S. U19 Women's National Team

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (April 3, 2024) – Twenty talented players from around the country have been selected for the 2024 U.S. Women’s U21 National Team roster.

The team will train June 14-22 in Anaheim, California. During that time, 12 athletes out of the 20 will be selected to represent the United States at the 2024 Women’s U21 NORCECA Continental Championship on June 23-July 1 in Toronto, Canada.

In 2023, 13 players trained or competed with U.S. age group national teams.

U.S. U19 National Team Members included Lizzy Andrew, Favor Anyanwu, Jaela Auguste, Blaire Bayless, Julia Blyashov, Brooklyn DeLeye, Campbell Flynn, Taylor Harvey, Olivia Mauch, Abigail Mullen, Logan Parks, Teraya Sigler and Abby Vander Wal.

Of this group, Andrew, Auguste, Bayless, Blyashov, Parks, Sigler and Vander Wal competed on the team that won the 2023 Pan American Cup in Puerto Rico.

Anyanwu, Auguste, Flynn, Mauch, Mullen, Sigler, and Vander Wal competed on the team that won gold at the 2023 World Championship in Croatia.

Due to the NCAA season preventing many U21 athletes from competing at the 2023 Women’s U21 World Championship in Mexico, Andrew, Flynn, Harvey, Mullen, and Vander Wal stepped up to the challenge and were part of the team that placed sixth.

Kennedy Martin was a part of the 2023 Women’s U21 Team training for the Pan American Cup in Mexico where the team took home gold.

Other players on the team with previous age group national team experience are Laney Choboy, Andi Jackson and Bergen Reilly.

Taylor Anderson, Ramsey Gary and Kamryn Gibadlo are newcomers to U.S. age group national teams.

Heather Olmstead, head coach of the BYU women’s volleyball team, will be the Women’s U21 head coach assisted by Jaylen Reyes (Nebraska) and Alex Dunphy (Stanford).

“Coaching for USA Volleyball is one of the highest honors in our sport,” Olmstead said. “It’s a humbling opportunity for me to learn from some of the best coaches and players in the United States. (U.S. Women’s Head Coach) Karch Kiraly and his staff have done an incredible job with the culture and performance of USA Volleyball. The chance to lead any U.S. team is an honor. I’m very grateful and excited to have this opportunity to work with this talented group of athletes and staff.”

2024 U.S. Women’s U21 National Team
Name (Pos., Ht., Hometown, School, USAV Region)
Taylor Anderson (S, 6-1, 2005, San Antonio Texas, Purdue University, Lone Star)
Lizzy Andrew (MB, 6-5, 2005, Ridgefield, Wash., Ridgefield HS, Columbia Empire)
Favor Anyanwu (MB, 6-2, 2006, Rowlett, Texas, Sachse HS, North Texas)
Jaela Auguste (MB, 6-2, 2006, Spring, Texas, Grand Oaks HS, Lonestar)
Blaire Bayless (OH, 6-2, 2005, Plano, Texas, University of Pittsburgh, North Texas)
Julia Blyashov (OH, 6-3, 2005, San Diego, Calif., Stanford University, Southern California)
Laney Choboy (L, 5-3, 2005, Raleigh, N.C., University of Nebraska, Carolina)
Brooklyn DeLeye (OH, 6-2, 2005, Auburn, Kan., University of Kentucky, Heart of America)
Campbell Flynn (S, 6-3, 2006, Rochester Hills, MI, Mercy HS, Lakeshore)
Ramsey Gary (L, 5-7, 2005, Pendelton, Ind., Indiana University, Hoosier)
Kamryn Gibadlo (OH, 6-1, 2005, Cave Creek, Ariz., University of Utah, Arizona)
Taylor Harvey (MB, 6-3, 2006, Bountiful, Utah, Bountiful HS, Intermountain)
Andi Jackson (MB, 6-3, 2005, Brighton, Colo., University of Nebraska, Rocky Mountain)
Kennedy Martin (OPP, 6-6, 2005, Fort Mill, S.C., University of Florida, Badger)
Olivia Mauch (L, 5-6, 2005, Bennington, Neb., University of Nebraska, Great Plains)
Abigail Mullen (OPP, 6-3, 2006, Kansas City, Mo., Liberty HS, Heart of America)
Logan Parks (OPP,5-11,2006, Overland Park, Kan., Blue Valley North HS, Heart of America)
Bergen Reilly (S, 6-1, 2005, Sioux Falls, S.D., University of Nebraska, North Country)
Teraya Sigler (OH, 6-2, 2006, Horizon HS, Scottsdale, Ariz., Arizona)
Abby Vander Wal (OH, 6-3, 2006, Elmhurst, Ill., Timothy Christian HS, Great Lakes)

Head Coach: Heather Olmstead (BYU)
Assistant Coach: Jaylen Reyes (Nebraska)
Assistant Coach: Alex Dunphy (Stanford)
Performance Analyst: Virginia Pham (USC)
Athletic Trainer: Rachel Menze (CSUN)
Team Lead: Courtney Smith (USAV NTDP)

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The 2024 girls u19 team wins worlds and celebrates
The 2023 Girls U19 National Team won the World title.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado (March 27, 2024) – USA Volleyball has announced the coaches and support staff for 2024 U.S. girls and women’s age-group national teams.

Each NORCECA competition listed below will serve as a qualifier for the 2025 FIVB World Championship in that respective age group. Additionally, USA Volleyball’s National Team Development Program (NTDP) has confirmed training blocks and coaching staffs for each continental championship and the Collegiate National Team program.

The Women’s Collegiate National Team will train in Anaheim, California, alongside members of the U.S. Women’s National Team as they prepare for the Paris Olympic Games.

2024 U21 NORCECA Women’s Continental Championship

Team: Women’s U21 National Team (Born in 2005 or younger)
Competition Dates: June 23-July 1 in Toronto, Canada
Training Dates: June 14-22 in Anaheim, California

Head Coach: Heather Olmstead, BYU
Assistant Coach: Alex Dunphy, Stanford
Assistant Coach: Jaylen Reyes, Nebraska
Performance Analyst: Virginia Pham, USC
Athletic Trainer: Rachel Menze, CSUN
Team Leader: Courtney Smith

2024 U19 NORCECA Girls Continental Championship

Team: Girls U19 National Team (Born in 2007 or younger)
Competition Dates: July 12-20 in Honduras
Training Dates for 20 athletes: June 8-13 in Anaheim, California
Training Dates for 12 athletes selected for competition: July 8-11 in Colorado Springs, Colorado

Head Coach: Jamie Morrison, Texas A&M
Assistant Coach: Michelle Chatman, LOVB
Assistant Coach: Keegan Cook, Minnesota
Performance Analyst: Margaret Eppright, LOVB
Athletic Trainer: Cherryl Bueno
Team Leader: Kyle Thompson, Maryland

Women’s Collegiate National Team

Training Dates: June 30-July 6 in Anaheim, California

Head Coach: Chris McGown, Gold Medal Squared
Assistant Coach: Suzie Fritz, LOVB
Assistant Coach: Danielle Scott, LOVB
Assistant Coach: TBD
Performance Analyst: Michael Bouril, Purdue
Athletic Trainer: Cherryl Bueno
Team Leader: Alex Purvey

The mission of the National Team Development Program (NTDP) is to identify, recruit and accelerate the development of high-potential junior volleyball players for the ultimate purpose of strengthening our national team programs to achieve sustained competitive excellence.

For more information on the NTDP, please visit our FAQ page.

2023 U.S. Boys U19 Team
The 2023 Boys U19 National Team

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado (March 18, 2024) – USA Volleyball has announced the coaches and support staff for 2024 U.S. boys and men’s age group national teams.

Each NORCECA competition listed below will serve as a qualifier for the 2025 FIVB World Championship in that respective age group. Additionally, USA Volleyball’s National Team Development Program (NTDP) has confirmed training blocks and coaching staffs for each continental championship and the Collegiate National Team program.

The Men’s Collegiate National Team will train in Anaheim, California, alongside members of the U.S. Men’s National Team.

Competition and training details for girls and women’s age group teams will be released once confirmed.

2024 U19 NORCECA Boys Continental Championship
Team: U19 Boys National Team (Born in 2007 or later)
Competition Dates: May 12-20 in Ponce, Puerto Rico
Training Dates: May 3-11 in Anaheim, California

Head Coach: Charlie Sullivan, Springfield College
Assistant Coach: Pat Shawaryn, Penn State
Assistant Coach: Chris Seiffert, Concordia Irvine
Performance Analyst: Evan Metzger
Athletic Trainer: Chris Cornell
Team Leader: Sean Byron, Marist College

2024 U21 NORCECA Men’s Continental Championship
Team: U21 Men’s National Team (Born in 2005 or later)
Competition Dates: June 9-17 in Nogales, Mexico
Training Dates: June 1-8 in Colorado Springs, Colorado

Head Coach: John Hawks, Loyola Chicago
Assistant Coach: Donan Cruz, Ball State
Assistant Coach: Matthew Pollock, Pepperdine
Performance Analyst: AJ Ruttenberg, UCLA
Athletic Trainer: Chris Cornell
Team Leader: Donovan Martinez

Men’s Collegiate National Team

Training Dates: June 23-29 in Anaheim, California

Head Coach: Theo Edwards, CSUN
Assistant Coach: Nickie Sanlin, McKendree
Assistant Coach: Luke Reynolds, Charleston
Assistant Coach: Andy Read, LBSU
Performance Analyst: Alex Hurlburt, The Volleyball Institute
Athletic Trainer: Jacob Melgar
Team Leader: Kyle Thompson, Maryland

The mission of the National Team Development Program (NTDP) is to identify, recruit and accelerate the development of high-potential junior volleyball players for the ultimate purpose of strengthening our national team programs to achieve sustained competitive excellence.

For more information on the NTDP, please visit our FAQ page.

GJNC 11-13

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Dec. 4, 2023) – As volleyball continues to grow in popularity around the country, USA Volleyball announces two pilot divisions for the 2024 Girls Junior National Championship (11-13) in Dallas, Texas.

The 2024 Girls Junior National Championship (11-13) is set to take place June 21-24 at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center.

USA Volleyball will test the 10 Patriot and 12 Patriot divisions in 2024 to gauge interest and participation at the younger levels in hopes of expanding the national championship to more teams.

Teams in the Patriot Division do not have to qualify for the national championship through a regional or national tournament.

The pilot 10 Patriot Division will be open to 16 teams and contested on June 21-23. The 12 Patriot Division will be open to 24 teams and will take place June 21-24.

The GJNC (11-13) is the United States’ premier junior girls club tournament for those age divisions and attracts top teams from around the country.

More information is available at usavolleyball.org/event/2024-usa-volleyball-girls-junior-national-championship-11-13s/.

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Jordan Thompson attacks
Jordan Thompson attacks during the 2019 Women's Open Tryout (now the Open Program)

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Feb. 9, 2022) – A coaching staff of almost 50 will work at the 2022 Women’s National Team Open Program on Feb. 25-27 at the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Center in Colorado Springs.

The staff will be led by U.S. Women’s Head Coach Karch Kiraly, who led his team to the gold medal at the 2020 Olympic Games. His assistants Erin Virtue, Tama Miyashiro and Alfee Reft will help oversee the program along with Brian Hurler and Nate Ngo, who are performance analysts for the Women’s and Men’s national teams.

The Open Program will offer professional development opportunities for attending coaches through classroom sessions with the National Team staff. Throughout the program, coaches will help facilitate court activity, evaluate athletes and collect performance analytics.

“We are so grateful to have this wonderful lineup of coaches to help run our 2022 Open Program,” Kiraly said. “As good as this event has been in the past, we’re aiming to make 2022 the best one yet, and the skills and enthusiasm these coaches bring is critical to that effort.”

Opposite Jordan Thompson, who won a gold medal with the U.S. Women at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo and participated in the 2019 Women’s Open Tryout (now the Open Program), will also help at the program.

OPEN PROGRAM COACHES
Becca Acevedo (Maryland)
Jason Allen (Northern Iowa)
Jessica Aschenbrenner (Santa Clara)
Ben Bahr (Baylor)
Noel Carpio (Oral Roberts)
OJ Catalan (Florida)
Katie Cawley (Penn State)
Todd Chamberlain (Louisville)
Fred Chao (Old Dominion)
Michelle Chatman-Smith
Julie Dennis (Mississippi State)
Lindsey Devine
Macey Donathan (Arkansas)
Brittnay Estes (Lipscomb)
Taylor Filzen (Dayton)
Steve Florio (Fort Wayne)
Ray Gooden (NIU)
Jen Greeny (Washington State)
Jeff Grove (Kansas State)
Andy Halaz (Missouri S&T)
Annemarie Hickey (Wisconsin)
Jeffery Hicks (USA Sitting)
Tom Hogan (Denver)
Jennifer Houk (Minnesota)
Cullen Irons
Trent Kersten (San Jose State)
Beth Launiere (Utah)
Beau Lawler
Cursty Le Roux (Long Beach State)
Cody Liner (NTDP Staff/Tampa)
Jeff Liu (Grand Canyon)
Skylar Lopas (Florida)
Brian Magbitang (Nebraska)
Jason Mansfield (Washington)
Jon Newman Gonchar (New Mexico)
Steve Pike (Brockport)
TJ Read (UCF)
Salima Rockwell (Notre Dame)
April Sanchez (New Mexico)
Luka Slabe (NC State)
Andrew Strick (Tennessee)
Jason Williams (TCU)
Jon Wong (Texas Tech)
Peter Wong (Halton VC)
Brian Wright (Ohio State)

Women's National Team

The wait is over and we’re ready! Proudly wear our spirit gear to cheer on the USA Volleyball National Teams! http://go.usav.org/shoptokyo

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (June 7, 2021) – USA Volleyball is proud to announce the 12 women who will compete for the U.S. at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, pending approval from the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee.

The team includes four Olympic veterans and eight newcomers.

Making their third Olympic appearances will be two-time medalists Jordan Larson at outside hitter and Foluke Akinradewo Gunderson at middle blocker. Both won silver in London in 2012 and bronze in Rio de Janeiro in 2016.

Making their second Olympic appearances will be outside hitters Kim Hill and Kelsey Robinson who both won bronze medals in Rio.

The Olympic newcomers on the roster are outside hitter Michelle Bartsch-Hackley, opposites Annie Drews and Jordan Thompson, setters Micha Hancock and Jordyn Poulter, middles Chiaka Ogbogu and Haleigh Washington and libero Justine Wong Orantes.

The six Olympic alternates are setter Lauren Carlini, outside hitters Kathryn Plummer and Sarah Wilhite Parsons, middle blockers Tori Dixon and Hannah Tapp and libero Megan Courtney.

“We’re extremely grateful for the extra time that the Olympic postponement provided,” U.S. Head Coach Karch Kiraly said. “Our core group of 23 Women’s National Teamers has done amazing work in the last 14 months, setting us up for phenomenal trust, connection, purpose and performance.

“This roster announcement is a bittersweet moment, as we face a stark reminder that we cannot travel all 23 to Tokyo for battle, though they’ll all be there in our hearts and minds.”

Kiraly, a three-time Olympic medalist, has served as head coach for the U.S. Women since 2012 and will be an Olympic head coach for the second time. He helped the team to the Olympic bronze medal in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro. His assistant coaches, Erin Virtue, Tama Miyashiro and Luka Slabe, will all be coaching at the Olympics for the first time. Miyashiro won a silver medal with the U.S. as a player at the 2012 London Olympic Games.

“Ultimately, we coaches are elated for this Olympic roster selection, and for our program,” Kiraly said. “Each one of the 12 contributes unique skills and qualities that make her the right person for the job.  This collection of special people who are elite volleyball players is poised to make a fierce Olympic run. We can’t wait to watch them ‘Let It Rip’ in Tokyo.”

The average age of the roster is 25 with more than a decade span between Jordan Larson, 34, and Jordyn Poulter, 23.

The roster is youthful but experienced internationally. All have competed internationally for the U.S. Women’s National Team and all have played for professional teams in other countries during the offseason from USAV.

The U.S. Women’s National Team is ranked No. 1 in the world and currently pursuing its third straight FIVB Volleyball Nations League title in Rimini, Italy.

The 2020 Olympic Games, which were postponed for a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, are scheduled to begin on July 23 with the Opening Ceremony. The women’s volleyball tournament will commence on July 25.

All team nominations are subject to USOPC approval.

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

1 Micha Hancock (S, 5-11, Edmond, Okla., Penn State Univ.)
2 Jordyn Poulter (S, 6-2, Aurora, Colo., Univ. of Illinois)
4 Justine Wong Orantes (L, 5-6, Cypress, Calif., Univ. of Nebraska)
10 Jordan Larson (OH, 6-2, Hooper, Neb., Univ. of Nebraska)
11 Annie Drews (OPP, 6-4, Elkhart, Ind., Purdue Univ.)
12 Jordan Thompson (OPP, 6-4, Edina, Minn., Univ. of Cincinnati)
14 Michelle Bartsch-Hackley (OH, 6-3, Champaign, Ill., Univ. of Illinois)
15 Kim Hill (OH, 6-4, Portland, Ore., Pepperdine, Univ.)
16 Foluke Akinradewo Gunderson (M, 6-3, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Stanford Univ.)
22 Haleigh Washington (M, 6-3, Colorado Springs, Colo., Penn State Univ.)
23 Kelsey Robinson (OH, 6-2, Manhattan Beach, Calif., Univ. of Nebraska)
24 Chiaka Ogbogu (M, 6-2, Coppell, Texas, Univ. of Texas)

Alternates

3 Kathryn Plummer (OH, 6-6, Aliso Viejo, Calif., Stanford Univ.)
6 Tori Dixon (M, 6-3, Burnsville, Minn., Univ. of Minnesota)
7 Lauren Carlini (S, 6-2, Aurora, Ill., Univ. of Wisconsin)
8 Hannah Tapp (M, 6-3, Stewartville, Minn., Univ. of Minnesota)
13 Sarah Wilhite Parsons (OH, 6-2, Eden Prairie, Minn., Univ. of Minnesota)
17 Megan Courtney (L, 6-1, Dayton, Ohio, Penn State Univ.)

Head Coach Karch Kiraly
Asst. Coach Erin Virtue
Asst. Coach Tama Miyashiro
Asst. Coach Luka Slabe
Performance Analyst Jeff Liu
Sport Physiologist & Team Leader Jimmy Stitz
Physical Therapist & ATC Kara Kessans
Consultant Coach Sue Enquist
Consultant Coach Marv Dunphy
Team Doctor Dr. Chris Lee
Second Scout Justin Chang

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Related Athletes

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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (June 1, 2020) – USA Volleyball announces the 22 athletes selected for the 2020 Boys Youth National Training Team (BYNTT).

Plans for the team are on hold due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The team includes Klistan Lawrence, the only returner from the 2019 Boys Youth National Training Team, which includes athletes under age 19.

The team has eight players from the Southern California region, three from Northern California, three from Great Lakes, two each from Florida, Arizona and Ohio Valley and one each from Lone Star and Iowa.

Nick Macrae, associated head coach for the Long Beach State men’s volleyball team, will serve as the team’s head coach. The assistant coaches are two-time Olympian, gold medalist and head coach at the University of Jamestown Riley Salmon and Ben Duckworth, assistant coach at Lindenwood.

Jon Parry of Long Beach State will handle statistics and Jordan Kelly of USA Volleyball will serve as team leader.

“Within this group of players, we have individuals who have great arms, the physicality, the size and great volleyball IQ,” Macrae said.

“One trait all the players share, and this has been the foundation of our current Youth National Team, is that they are willing to compete as hard as they can for as long as they can. The 22 players we have selected have shown they understand the importance of every single rep, point, set and match.”

Name (Position, Height, Hometown, Region)

Aiden Benson (MB, 6-7, Wheaton, Ill., Great Lakes)
Owen Birg (Opp, 6-7.5, Thousand Oaks, Calif., Southern Calif.)
Christopher Connelly (L, 5-9.5, Naples, Fla., Florida)
Gabriel Dyer (S, 6-5, San Clemente, Calif., Southern Calif.)
Anthony Forbes (MB, 6-3, Anthem, Ariz., Arizona)
Jonah Gilbert (Opp, 6-5, Hilliard, Ohio, Ohio Valley)
Callahan Hefner (OH, 6-6, Austin, Texas, Lone Star)
Dane Hillis (OH, 6-3.5, San Clemente, Calif., Southern Calif.)
Noah Keelin (OH, 6-5.5, San Clemente, Calif., Southern Calif.)
Dillon Klein (OH, 6-5, Pacific Palisades, Calif., Southern Calif.)
Klistan Lawrence (Opp, 6-9, Ocala, Fla., Florida)
Lucas Little (MB, 6-7, Galena, Ohio, Ohio Valley)
Jordan Lucas (OH, 6-2.5, Hacienda Heights, Calif., Southern Calif.)
Luke McFall (MB, 6-8, Pleasanton, Calif., Northern Calif.)
Tyler Morgan (S, 6-8, Dike, Iowa, Iowa)
Markus Olsson (MB, 6-6, Cupertino, Calif., Northern Calif.)
Zachary Rama (OH, 6-7, Phoenix , Ariz., Arizona)
Andrew Rowan (S, 6-7, Trabuco Canyon, Calif., Southern Calif.)
Klaudiusz Rydzy (MB, 6-6, Northbrook, Ill., Great Lakes)
Theo Snoey (OH, 6-6.5, Berkeley, Calif., Northern Calif.)
Austin Stuard (L, 6-0, Manhattan Beach, Calif., Southern Calif.)
Kyle Teune (OH, 6-7.5, Downers Grove, Ill., Great Lakes)

Head Coach: Nick Macrae (Long Beach State)
Assistant Coach: Riley Salmon (University of Jamestown)
Assistant Coach: Ben Duckworth (Lindenwood)
Statistics: Jon Parry (Long Beach State)
Team Leader: Jordan Kelly

ANAHEIM, Calif. (May 7, 2018) – The U.S. Men’s National Team has chosen its 26-man preliminary roster for the inaugural 2018 FIVB Volleyball Nations League (VNL).

The roster will be cut to 21 by May 15. Coaches can choose the 14-man travel team each weekend from the pool of 21.

This is the first year of the Volleyball Nations League, which will include 12 core teams and four challenger teams battling for five weekends in a round robin format. The top five teams and the host country of France will compete in the Final Round on July 4-8 in Lille, France.

Nine Olympians return for the 2018 VNL: Opposite Matt Anderson, outside hitters Taylor Sander, Aaron Russell and Thomas Jaeschke, setters Micah Christenson and Kawika Shoji, middle blockers Max Holt and David Smith and libero Erik Shoji.

There are two sets of brothers on the preliminary roster: Olympians Erik and Kawika Shoji and Taylor and Brenden Sander. Taylor Sander is a 2016 Olympian. Brenden Sander recently graduated from BYU.

Three players on the roster have another year of college volleyball to play: T.J. DeFalco, Kyle Ensing and David Wieczorek. DeFalco and Ensing recently won the NCAA Men’s National Championship with Long Beach State. Wieczorek plays for Pepperdine.

The U.S. Men are ranked No. 2 in the world and will host the VNL on June 15-17 at the Sears Centre Arena in Hoffman Estates, Ill. – BUY TICKETS – The U.S. Men will play Serbia on June 15, Poland on June 16 and Iran on June 17. Three players on the preliminary roster are from the Chicago area: Jaeschke and Jeff Jendryk are from Wheaton, Ill. Wieczorek is from Chicago.

2018 FIVB Volleyball Nations League

U.S. Men’s Preliminary Roster

1. Matt Anderson (Opp, 6-9, West Seneca, N.Y., Penn State)
2. Aaron Russell (OH, 6-9, Ellicott City, Md., Penn State)
3. Taylor Sander (OH, 6-4, Huntington Beach, Calif., BYU)
4. Jeff Jendryk (MB, 6-10, Wheaton, Ill., Loyola of Chicago)
5. James Shaw (S, 6-8, Woodside, Calif., Stanford)
6. Mitch Stahl (MB, 6-8, Chambersburg, Pa., UCLA)
7. Kawika Shoji (S, 6-3, Honolulu, Hawaii, Stanford)
8. T.J. DeFalco (OH, 6-5, Huntington Beach, Calif., Long Beach State)
9. Carson Clark (Opp, 6-6, Santa Barbara, Calif., UC Irvine)
10. Dan McDonnell (MB, 6-6, Phoenix, Ariz., UC Irvine)
11. Micah Christenson (S, 6-6, Honolulu, Southern California)
12. Max Holt (MB, 6-10, Cincinnati, Ohio, Penn State)
13. Ben Patch (Opp, 6-8, Provo, Utah, BYU)
14. David Wieczorek (Opp, 6-8, Chicago, Ill., Pepperdine)
15. Brenden Sander (OH, 6-4, Huntington Beach, Calif., BYU)
16. Jayson Jablonsky (OH, 6-6, Yorba Linda, Calif., UC Irvine)
17. Thomas Jaeschke (OH, 6-6, Wheaton, Ill., Loyola)
18. Jake Langlois (OH, 6-10, San Jose, Calif., BYU)
19. Taylor Averill (MB, 6-7, San Jose, Calif., Hawaii)
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)
23. Jonah Seif (S, 6-6, Thousand Oaks, Calif., UC Santa Barbara)
24. Michael Brinkley (L, 5-10, Huntington Beach, Calif., UC Irvine)
25. Miles Johnson (Opp, 6-6, Carlsbad, Calif., Ohio State)
26. Kyle Ensing (Opp, 6-7, Valencia, Calif., Long Beach State)

Head Coach: John Speraw
Team Manager: Andrea Becker
Assistant Coaches: Rob Neilson and Brian Thornton
Technical Coordinator: Nate Ngo
Athletic Trainer: Aaron Brock
Team Doctor: William Stetson

Schedule
May 25-27: China, Bulgaria, Argentina in China
June 1-3: Brazil, Japan Korea in Brazil
June 8-10: Canada, Germany, Australia in Canada
June 15-17: Serbia, Poland, Iran – TICKETS in Hoffman Estates, Ill.
June 22-24: Italy, Russia, France in Italy

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – USA Volleyball announces the 12-player roster that will represent the United States at the 2017 FIVB Girls U18 World Championship, Aug. 18-27, in Rosario and Santa Fe, Argentina.

The U.S. Girls Youth National Team has been preparing for the past two weeks at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. The players are all products of the USAV High Performance pipeline.

At A Glance

Libero: Brooke Nuneviller
Setters: Mica Allison, Nicklin Hames, Selina Xu
Middles: Holly Campbell, Madison Horin, Kendall Kipp,
Outside Hitters: Logan Eggleston, Skylar Fields, Madi Kubik, Taylor Landfair, Madison Williams

“They’re always the best in the gym,” said Head Coach Jim Stone, “and I tell them all the time, ‘you’re big and tall and made of steel, but now you get to play other players that are also big and tall and made of steel.’ Watching just how teams can accept that challenge and learn and grow as a player and as a person; I think that’s the thing I find most intriguing and most enjoyable about the whole process.

“I think everybody’s looking forward to what’s in front of us.”

Stone is leading his fifth U.S. team at the FIVB World Championships over the past 10 years.

In 2013, the U.S. Girls Youth National Team made history, becoming the first U.S. volleyball team of either gender to win a world championship medal at the youth or junior level, taking the silver after losing to China in the final in Thailand. In 2015, the U.S. earned another silver in the World Championship final against Italy.

The U.S., ranked No. 1 in the world, will compete in Pool B along with Russia, the 2017 European U18 champions; Brazil, the 2017 South American champions, plus, Belarus and Mexico.

Pool Matches

Date … Matches
Aug. 19 … USA v. Russia
Aug. 20 … USA v. Belarus
Aug. 21 … USA v. Brazil
Aug. 22 … USA v. Mexico

“I think we have a lot of work to do,” libero Brooke Nuneviller said. “We have a lot to get to if we want to end up with our goal of getting a gold medal. We’ve never done that as a youth team. So I think that we need to work really, really hard if we want to get that goal, but I think we can do it if we push ourselves hard enough.”

Outside hitter Madi Kubik is looking forward to the opportunity.

“Not that many 16-year-olds can say they’ve been to South America to go compete for their country,” she said. “That’s an exciting experience for anyone to have. I think the playing level in our gym is very eye opening coming from our club and our high school teams. I’d say that my goals are to go compete, represent our country well and go win that gold medal.”

Scrimmages

The team has left for Brazil for additional practice and scrimmage with the U18 national teams from Italy (Aug. 12), Japan (Aug. 13) and Brazil (Aug. 15).

“You know, the scariest part as a coach is when you’re sending your team out on the floor for the first international match and it’s the first round of the world championship,” Stone said. “So we’ll get to play three matches in Brazil against Brazil, Japan, and Italy, who are always some of the top five, six teams in the world, so I think it will be good experience for our players before we actually start the World Championship.

“Then we open up with Russia, the European champions, so yeah, we have our work cut out for us.”

Regions

The players represent nine USAV Regions, including three from Great Lakes, two from Southern and Lone Star, and one from Arizona, Iowa, North Texas, Northern California and Southern California.

Four players earned gold medals at the 2016 NORCECA U18 Continental Championship in Puerto Rico, including Eggleston, Fields, Kipp and Nuneviller.

2017 U.S. Girls Youth National Team

# — Name (Position, Ht., Hometown, Club, Region)
3 – Brooke Nuneviller* (L, 5-11, Chandler, Ariz., Aspire, Arizona)
4 – Mica Allison (S/Opp, 6-0, White Heath, Ill., Illini Elite, Great Lakes)
5 – Nicklin Hames (S, 5-11, Maryville, Tenn., K2 Volleyball, Southern)
6 – Selina Xu (S, 6-0, San Carlos, Calif., Vision Volleyball, Northern California)
8 – Madison Williams (OH, 6-1, Mansfield, Texas, Texas Advantage, North Texas)
9 – Logan Eggleston* (OH, 6-3, Franklin, Tenn., Alliance, Southern)
11 – Skylar Fields* (OH, 6-2, Missouri City, Texas, Houston Juniors, Lone Star)
14 – Madi Kubik (OH, 6-2, West Des Moines, Iowa, Central Iowa Select, Iowa)
15 – Kendall Kipp* (M/Opp, 6-5, Newport Beach, Calif., Laguna Beach, Southern California)
16 – Madison Horin (M, 6-3, Munster, Ind., First Alliance, Great Lakes)
17 – Holly Campbell (M, 6-3, Austin, Texas, Austin Juniors, Lone Star)
19 – Taylor Landfair (OH, 6-4, Plainfield, Ill., Elite Sports Performance, Great Lakes)

* Member of the 2016 U.S. Girls Youth National Team

Coaching Staff 
Head Coach: Jim Stone
Asst. Coach: Michelle Chatman-Smith
Asst. Coach: Michael Gee
Head of Delegation: Lizzy Briones
Technical Coordinator: Herb Summer

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – At the 2016 Olympic Games, volleyball coach Jim Stone recognized a few familiar faces on the podium when China was receiving its gold medals.

“I looked at the China team win the Olympics last summer and I saw what was the Youth National Team of China from six years ago,” said Stone, who has coached the U.S. Girls Youth National Team for 10 years.

So Stone knows the challenge and opportunity ahead for this year’s Youth National Team.

“The Youth National Team is extremely important to the development of top players in this country,” said Stone. “It provides team members the opportunity to play with and against the best players in the world.  We train for two weeks, most other teams are together for months.  Can we find a way to compete and win?

“So, this is a great competitive challenge for the USA players.”

Training Roster

Today, USA Volleyball announces the 20 athletes who have made the U.S. Youth National Training Team. The team will prepare for two weeks, July 27 – Aug. 17, at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs.

At the end of the camp, the final 12 players will be selected and depart first for Brazil for practice and matches with the U18 teams from Brazil, Japan, and Italy. And then they will travel to 2017 FIVB Girls U18 World Championship, Aug. 18-27, in Rosario and Santa Fe, Argentina.

“The hope for any national team is to, of course, win gold,” said Lizzy Briones, Head of Delegation. “This is a talented group of athletes with an experienced coaching staff. We’ll set our team goals and create a strong foundation by achieving them for this age group moving into the future. We want to make it out of pool play on top and come home with a medal.”

The U.S., ranked No. 1 in the world, will compete in Pool B along with Russia, the 2017 European U18 champions; Brazil, the 2017 South American champions, plus, Belarus and Mexico.

In 2013, the U.S. Girls’ Youth National Team made history becoming the first U.S. volleyball team of either gender to win a World Championship medal at the youth or junior level, taking the silver versus China in Thailand. In 2015, the U.S. earned another silver at World Championships against Italy.

With the 2017 squad, the U.S. returns the majority of the lineup that earned a silver medal in the 2016 NORCECA Girls’ Youth Continental Championship in Puerto Rico.

Can they find a way to compete and win?

The Seven Returners

Outside hitters Haley Warner and Logan Eggleston scored 50 and 48 points, respectively, in the final three matches, including the medal match, semifinals and a pivotal pool play match against the defending champs, the Dominican Republic. Both were outstanding with blocks. Eggleston had six aces in the championship match.

Middle Kendall Kipp was a reliable double-digit scorer on the block and Brooklyn Schirmer started at outside hitter, scoring 10 with eight kills and two blocks against Puerto Rico in the semifinals.

Ella May Powell was the team’s starting setter, Brooke Nuneviller, the starting libero, and Skylar Fields was used in the team’s double-sub at opposite.

2017 USAV Girls Junior National Training Team

# — Name (Position, Ht., Hometown, Club, Region)
1 – Brooklyn Schirmer* – OH, 6-1, Long Beach, Calif., Long Beach Mizuno, Southern California
2 – Macka Cole – L, 5-9, Oakdale, N.Y., Island Volleyball Academy, Garden Empire
3 – Brooke Nuneviller* – 5-11, Chandler, Ariz., Aspire, Arizona
4 – Mica Allison – S, 6-0, White Heath, Ill., Illini Elite, Great Lakes
5 – Nicklin Hames – S, 5-11, Maryville, Tenn., K2 Volleyball, Southern
6 – Selina Xu – S, 6-0, San Carlos, Calif., Vision Volleyball, Northern California
7 – Ella May Powell* – S, 6-0, Fayetteville, Ark., Ozark Juniors, Delta
8 – Madison Williams – OH, 6-1, Texas Advantage, North Texas
9 – Logan Eggleston* – OH, 6-3, Franklin, Tenn., Alliance, Southern
10 – Annabelle Smith – MB, 6-2, South Lake, Texas, Texas Advantage, North Texas
11 – Skylar Fields* – OH, 6-2, Missouri City, Texas, Houston Juniors, Lone Star
12 – McKenna Vicini – MB, 6-2, Lexington, Ky., Lexington United, Pioneer
13 – Haley Warner* – OH, 6-2, Fayetteville, Ark., Ozark Juniors, Delta
14 – Madi Kubik – OH, 6-2, West Des Moines, Iowa, Central Iowa Select, Iowa
15 – Kendall Kipp* – MB, 6-5, Newport Beach, Calif., Laguna Beach, Southern California
16 – Madison Horin – MB, 6-3, Munster, Ind., First Alliance, Great Lakes
17 – Holly Campbell – MB, 6-3, Austin, Texas, Austin Juniors, Lone Star
18 – Riley Zuhn – OH, 6-5, Fort Collins, Colo., NORCO, Rocky Mountain
19 – Taylor Landfair – OH, 6-4, Plainfield, Ill., Elite Sports Performance, Great Lakes
20 – Kaitlyn Hord – MB, 6-4, Lexington, Ky., Lexington United, Pioneer

* Member of the 2016 U.S. Girls Youth National Team

Coaching Staff

Head Coach: Jim Stone
Asst. Coach: Michelle Chatman-Smith
Asst. Coach: Michael Gee
Head of Delegation: Lizzy Briones

Head Coach Jim Stone began coaching the GYNT following a stellar career as the head coach at Ohio State University. In addition to the two World silver medals, Stone has led the team to three gold and a silver at the NORCECA Girls Youth Continental Championships.

“I’ve enjoyed my coaching involvement with the Youth National Team,” said Stone. “I find it challenging to bring players together, train for a short time, then see if we can compete successfully on the world stage. I love to learn and coaching at this level allows me the opportunity to continue to grow as a coach.

“I also find it great to witness so much growth in the players in such a short time.  They learn so much about themselves and the game.  It is a wonderful life experience for all involved.”

In 2015, Stone and Assistant Coach Michelle Chatman-Smith led the squad to a silver with the 2015 FIVB U18 World Championships in Peru. This year they are joined by Mike Gee as assistant coach. He has also served as the Youth A2 assistant coach and lead tryout coach for the USAV Girls High Performance Program since 2005.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (April 20, 2017) – USA Volleyball is pleased to announce its partnership with Active Ankle, Inc., which becomes the “Official Ankle Brace Supplier of USA Volleyball” through 2020.

Active Ankle provides a full range of ankle braces and sleeves to help athletes minimize pain, reduce injury and perform with confidence. The braces and sleeves are developed through extensive field research and trials with athletes of all skill levels ranging from professional to youth sports.

“Active Ankle is the industry leader with a proven track record in developing and producing ankle braces for all age and skill levels,” USA Volleyball Secretary General Kerry Klostermann said. “USA Volleyball and Active Ankle had previously worked together in 2001 through 2008 and we are thrilled to renew our partnership and look forward to a mutually beneficial relationship over the next four years.”

“We’re honored to renew this strategic partnership between Active Ankle and USA Volleyball,” Active Ankle Senior Brand and Category Director Tim Dunphy said. “There’s an incredibly strong alignment between our two organizations’ commitments to promoting performance, health and safety to all athletes, especially those performing at levels of such high intensity and competitive standards. USA Volleyball is a world-class program, and we could not have asked for a better partner.”

Active Ankle is committed to the philosophy that the needs of every athlete are different. Some players need a brace that offers the most protection, some need a brace that offers the most mobility, and others are somewhere in between. Whatever an athlete’s ankle state, preferences and position, Active Ankle has a brace for their needs.

Active Ankle’s product line has a brace for every athlete including the Eclipse II Dual Upright Ankle Brace, Eclipse I Single Upright Ankle Brace, T2 Rigid Ankle Brace, AS1 Pro Lace-Up Brace and 329 Ankle Sleeve. For a full description for the entire Active Ankle product line, visit www.activeankle.com.

About USA Volleyball
Founded in 1928, USA Volleyball is a Colorado incorporated non-profit organization recognized by the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) and the Federation International de Volleyball (FIVB) as the National Governing Body for the disciplines of beach volleyball, indoor volleyball and sitting volleyball in the United States. USA Volleyball has over 325,000 registered members, 12,000 teams and 5,300 clubs nationwide. With an annual budget in excess of $31 million dollars, USA Volleyball supports the USA men’s and women’s senior national team programs for beach, indoor and sitting volleyball; youth and junior national teams, national championship events, coaching education, certification programs and grassroots development across all disciplines. USA Volleyball has a rich tradition of success as evidenced by winning an Olympic medal in every Olympic Games since 1984, four Paralympic medals since 2004 and capturing numerous World Cup, World Championship and Continental Championship titles. USA Volleyball is committed to and works toward opportunity for all to participate. It is an advocate for all Americans endeavoring to assure universal access to opportunities at all levels of the game. For more information on USA Volleyball, visit usavolleyball.org.

About Active Ankle
Leading the ankle brace category for more than 25 years, Active Ankle has continued to revolutionize the ankle protection market. Since the development of the original Trainer Rigid Ankle Brace, Active Ankle has been at the forefront of innovation in the ankle brace category. These products serve athletes and allow them to perform their best while providing unmatched support and design. www.activeankle.com.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Feb. 27, 2017) – USA Volleyball has entered a women’s youth sitting volleyball team into the 2017 Youth Parapan American Games set to be played March 20-25 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

U.S. athletes competing in the event are Alyssa Cleland (Edmond, Oklahoma), Annie Flood (Salem, Oregon), Autum Reagan (Wellington, Kansas) and Nina McVay (Mooresville, North Carolina). Elliot Blake, manager of sitting volleyball teams for USA Volleyball, will serve as the head coach for the team.

Unlike the sitting volleyball game played at the Paralympics utilizing six players on the court per team, the Youth Parapan American Games will use a modified version with a 3 versus 3 format. This year marks the first Youth Parapan American Games featuring sitting volleyball.

“Being that this is the first youth sitting volleyball event being held, and our first youth team, our number-one priority is to develop an appropriate system of play in this 3 versus 3 format,” Blake said. “With the reduced size of the court, we will have to be smarter about our attack shots and serving since we are losing a full meter of court depth, and two meters crosscourt. Ball control and team chemistry will be our second priority in our list of things to focus on.”

Cleland, who at age 19 is the oldest among the four-person squad, has been a resident athlete of the Sitting Volleyball Resident Athlete Training program since August 2015. Flood, McVay and Reagan are all relatively new to the U.S. Women’s Sitting Volleyball A2 developmental program. Flood, the youngest at age 13, has attended two sitting team training camps since being identified last July. Reagan was identified last June and has been to three training camps. McVay contacted the U.S. National Sitting Team program last spring and has attended two camps.

The 3v3 format will be played on a court eights meters long and four meters wide. According to Elliot, the three-team field will play a double-round robin bracket before reaching the medal round bracket.

“With the uncertainty of who will comprise the other teams, it’s impossible to say what we think our chances are,” Elliot said. “We do though expect to play some great volleyball and challenge our opponents in every match.”

Elliot, who also serves as the technical officer of the ParaVolley Pan American Zone, sees one other objective for the tournament beyond the development of the four U.S. players who will compete in Brazil, and that is to help spur overall growth of sitting volleyball in the Parapan American zone.

“We hope to be good stewards of the game, hoping to encourage other countries to develop their youth programs for the future so that we can have regular youth competition events,” Elliot said.

Around 1,000 athletes, ages 12-21 years old, are expected to compete in the fourth edition of the Youth Parapan American Games, an increase on the 631 youngsters who took part in the 2013 Games in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The Games will be organized by the Brazilian Paralympic Committee and the majority of sport events will be held at their new Paralympic Training Centre in Sao Paulo.

U.S. Roster for Youth Parapan American Games
Alyssa Cleland (Edmond, Oklahoma)
Annie Flood (Salem, Oregon)
Autum Reagan (Wellington, Kansas)
Nina McVay (Mooresville, North Carolina)
Head Coach: Elliot Blake
Athletic Trainer: Lauren Chamness

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (June 27, 2016) – After helping the U.S. win the 2014 NORCECA U19 Continental Championship, four players named to the 2016 U.S. Men’s Junior National Team will try to win a second title for their country.

Joshua Tuaniga, Jordan Ewert, Scott Stadick and Joe Worsley will be joined by George Huhmann, Kyle Ensing, Michael Wexter, Reese Devilbiss, Jack Cole, Matt Douglas, Austin Matautia and Dylan Missry.

The Men’s Junior National Team will compete July 3-11 at the NORCECA U21 Continental Championship in Gatineau, Quebec, Canada.

“I like this team a lot. Having seen them compete for the last week against each other, they work very hard, and do not let the ball drop without a dogfight to get it up. We have some pretty big guys in this gym, but we also have some smaller guys, with huge cannons for arms,” Head Coach Jay Hosack said.

The team’s outside hitters are Devilbiss, Matautia and Missry. Ensing and Wexter have been selected as the opposite hitters.

Middle blockers on the team are Huhmann, Stadick and Cole, while Tuaniga and Worsley have been named the setters. Douglas will anchor the defense at libero.

Huhmann, Ensing, Wexter and Devilbiss joined Tuaniga, Ewert, Stadick and Worsley on the 2015 Boys’ Youth National Team that finished seventh at the FIVB U19 World Championships.

“Some of them have played together on the youth team, and some are new. But all are working together to earn a gold medal at the NORCECA championships. We have guys from all over the country, representing many regions. That says a lot about the quality of the boys club programs, and just how much boys volleyball is increasing its caliber across the country,” Hosack said.

Hosack is the men’s volleyball head coach at George Mason University. Assisting him with the MJNT are Jonah Carson, a coach at Mountain View Volleyball Club, and Matt McCarthy who is the associate head coach for Lewis University’s men’s volleyball team. Virginia Pham, a former graduate assistant at Virginia Commonwealth University, will serve as the team’s statistician.

The selected athletes were chosen from the 19-man Men’s Junior Training Team roster, which was named following nation-wide tryouts held from January through March earlier this year.

Name (Position, Height, College, Hometown, Region)
Jack Cole (Middle Blocker, 6-6, Pepperdine University, Lafayette, California, NCVA)
Reese Devilbiss (Outside Hitter, 6-2, Ohio State University, Mount Wolf, Pennsylvania, Keystone)
Matt Douglas (Libero, 5-10, USC, Pacific Palisades, California, Southern California)
Kyle Ensing (Opposite, 6-7, Long Beach State, Valencia, California, SCVA)
Jordan Ewert (Outside Hitter, 6-5, Stanford University, Antioch, California, NCVA)
George Huhmann (Middle Blocker, 6-10, Princeton University, High Ridge, Missouri, Gateway)
Austin Matautia (Outside Hitter, 6-5, University of Hawaii Manoa, Ewa Beach, Hawaii, Aloha)
Dylan Missry (Outside Hitter, 6-4, UCLA, Holbrook, New York, Garden Empire)
Scott Stadick (Middle Blocker, 7-0, UC Irvine, Watertown, Wisconsin, Badger)
Joshua Tuaniga (Setter, 6-2, CSU Long Beach, Long Beach, California, SCVA)
Michael Wexter (Opposite, 6-6, Pepperdine University, New Lenox, Illinois, Great Lakes)
Joe Worsley (Setter, 6-0, University of Hawaii, Moraga, California, NCVA)

Head Coach: Jay Hosack, George Mason University
Assistant Coach: Jonah Carson, Mountain View Volleyball Club
Assistant Coach: Matt McCarthy, Lewis University
Statistician: Virginia Pham, Virginia Commonwealth University

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (June 21, 2016) – Four Olympic veterans, including two gold medalists, join eight newcomers on the U.S. Olympic Men’s Volleyball Team that will compete at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

Outside hitter Reid Priddy (Richmond, Va.) has been named to his fourth Olympic team while middle blocker David Lee (Alpine, Calif.) will join his third. Both players won gold medals at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.

It will be the second trip to the Games for opposite Matt Anderson (West Seneca, N.Y.), the four-time USAV Men’s Indoor Athlete of the Year and MVP of the 2015 FIVB World Cup, and middle blocker David Smith (Saugus, Calif.).

First-time Olympic team members are setters Micah Christenson (Honolulu, Hawaii) and Kawika Shoji (Honolulu, Hawaii), libero Erik Shoji (Honolulu, Hawaii), outside hitters Thomas Jaeschke (Wheaton, Ill.), Aaron Russell (Ellicott City, Md.) and Taylor Sander (Huntington Beach, Calif.), middle blocker Max Holt (Cincinnati, Ohio) and opposite Murphy Troy (St. Louis, Mo.).

Assembling the team has been a four-year process, U.S. Head Coach John Speraw said.

“I felt the team dynamic we’ve had the entire (Olympic) quadrennial has been great,” he said. “This is a tight-knit group. They are empathetic to the situation of teammates who don’t get to go to the Games. But now we have an opportunity to focus on the task at hand.”

The average age of the team is 27.8 and there are nine players younger than 30 on the roster. Speraw knows a lack of experience will be one of this team’s greatest challenges.

“The goal is to make sure we are the best team we can be in Rio,” Speraw said. “In order for us to achieve our goal, we are going to need one of the greatest collective efforts in USAV history. We don’t have the experience that past teams have had. For us to go through this is going to require all of us to be at our very best.”

At 38, Priddy will be the senior member of the team and only the second U.S. men’s volleyball player to play in four Olympic Games after setter Lloy Ball (Fort Wayne, Ind.). Priddy’s hopes for a fourth Olympics were almost derailed in 2014 when he tore his ACL. But after double knee surgery (doctors used a ligament from his good knee to repair the damaged one) he has worked hard to return to the court in top form.

Speraw brings his own Olympic experience to the table, having served as an assistant coach at the Games in Beijing (2008) and London (2012). Erik Sullivan will serve as team leader. Sullivan is a two-time Olympian who is now an assistant women’s volleyball coach at the University of Texas.

“Erik Sullivan is one of my best friends who also is a great volleyball mind,” Speraw said. “He brings a perspective and thought process that is respected by me and everyone on staff.”

Speraw has built a dedicated staff over the past three years, including assistant coaches Matt Fuerbringer and Mike Wall, technical coordinator Nate Ngo, sports psychologist Andrea Becker and athletic trainer Aaron Brock. Springfield men’s volleyball coach Charlie Sullivan and former U.S. Men’s technical coordinator Anton Brams will serve as scout coaches. David Dantes will provide technical support.

The U.S. Men qualified for the 2016 Olympic Games by winning the 2015 FIVB World Cup.

The U.S. Men have qualified for 10 previous Olympic Games: 1964, ’68, ’84, ’88, ’92, ’96, 2000, ’04, ’08 and ’12. They won the Olympic gold medal in 1984, ’88 and 2008 and won bronze in 1992. The U.S. Men finished tied for fifth at the 2012 Olympic Games.

The U.S. Men will begin play in the 2016 Olympic Games on Aug. 7 against Canada.

The team is playing this weekend (June 24-26) in the FIVB World League in Rome and will be back in the U.S. on July 1-3 to play World League matches in Dallas.

A

ll athlete and staff nominations to the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team are subject to approval by the United States Olympic Committee.

U.S. Olympic Men’s Volleyball Team Roster

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)

3. Taylor Sander (OH, 6-4, Huntington Beach, Calif., BYU)

4. David Lee (MB, 6-8, Alpine, Calif., Long Beach State)

7. Kawika Shoji (S, 6-3, Honolulu, Hawaii, Stanford)

8. Reid Priddy (OH, 6-4, Richmond, Va., Loyola Marymount)

9. Murphy Troy (Opp, 6-8, St. Louis, Mo., Southern California)

10. Thomas Jaeschke (OH, 6-7, Wheaton, Ill., Loyola of Chicago)

11. Micah Christenson (S, 6-6, Honolulu, Southern California)

17. Max Holt (MB, 6-9, Cincinnati, Ohio, Penn State)

20. David Smith (MB, 6-7, Saugus, Calif., UC Irvine)

22. Erik Shoji (L, 6-0, Honolulu, Hawaii, Stanford)

Staff

Head Coach: John Speraw

Team Leader: Erik Sullivan

Assistant Coaches: Matt Fuerbr

inger and Mike Wall

Sports Psychologist: Andrea Becker

Technical Coordinator: Nate Ngo

Athletic Trainer: Aaron Brock

Scout Coach: Anton Brams

Scout Coach: Charlie Sullivan

Technical Support: David Dantes

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (July 8, 2021) – More than 100 top beach athletes have been named to the 2021 Beach National Team Development Program (NTDP) Summer Training Series roster.

The USA Volleyball Beach NTDP Summer Training Series will take place July 26-28 in Fort Lauderdale Florida. It follows the 2021 National Beach Tour Junior Championship (July 10-15) and precedes the Beach High Performance Championship (July 29-31), making Fort Lauderdale the place to be for high-level youth beach athletes this month. The first three days of the Summer Training Series, July 26-28, will be a training camp, and three days of competition at the Beach High Performance Championship will follow.

The roster is comprised of girls ages 14-18 and boys ages 15-18 from around the nation. As of Thursday, July 8, the Southern California Region leads the way with 39 athletes, followed by the Lone Star (14) and Northern California (13) regions. In all, 19 of USA Volleyball’s 40 regions are represented in the 2021 Beach NDTP Summer Training Series. More athletes are expected to join the roster in the following days.

View the Girls Roster
View the Boys Roster

The U.S. Beach U19 and U21 National Teams will also train in Fort Lauderdale at the end of the month. They are preparing for the 2021 FIVB Beach Volleyball U19 and U21 World Championships taking place in September in Roi Et, Thailand. The Beach U19 National Team has already been named, while the Beach U21 National Team will be announced this week.

The Beach Summer Training Series kicks off the Beach NTDP Training Series, a new program designed to have the best beach volleyball athletes in the nation train against top competition year-round.

Beach Summer Training Series Coaching Staff