COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – USA Volleyball announced the 12-player men's team that will compete for the U.S. at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, which includes Penn State volleyball alumni Matt Anderson and Max Holt, with Aaron Russell named to the roster as an alternate.
Eight players return from the 2016 squad that won the bronze medal in Rio de Janeiro, including Anderson, who is making his third Olympic appearance, and middle blocker Max Holt, headed to his second Olympic Games. Russell, named the Best Outside Hitter of the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, was named one of the seven alternates.
"Congratulations to our three Nittany Lions as they continue to represent the USA in Olympic competition," said Penn State men's volleyball head coach Mark Pavlik. "Watching them hone their competitiveness, drive and skills at the pinnacle of our sport makes all of Nittany Nation 'Penn State Proud!' Good luck to them and Team USA!"
The U.S. Men are ranked No. 3 in the world and currently competing at the FIVB Volleyball Nations League in Rimini, Italy. Since 2016, the Men's Team has finished third at the FIVB World Championship and at the World Cup.
Anderson, who has played professionally most recently in Russia, was named Best Opposite five times in international play, including honors as the FIVB Nations League Best Opposite Spiker in 2018 and 2019. He was selected the 2019 FIVB Nations League MVP. Holt was tabbed the Best Middle Blocker of the 2016 Olympic Games and was honored with the Best Middle Blocker mantle following the 2019 FIVB Nations League and 2019 FIVB World Cup competitions.
Holt and Anderson helped lead the Nittany Lions to the program's 2008 National Championship, Penn State's second men's volleyball title. Russell was a member of the Penn State teams that made back-to-back appearances in the NCAA Tournament semifinals.
The team will briefly return to its Anaheim training center before heading to Japan. Prior to its arrival in Tokyo, the team will train in the Japanese city of Mishima and play two matches against Japan's men's team.
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 men's volleyball tournament will commence on July 24.
The roster is pending approval from United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee.
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 T.J. 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.)
Alternates
2 Aaron Russell (OH, 6-9, Ellicott City, Md., Penn State Univ.)
4 Jeff Jendryk (MB, 6-10, Wheaton, Ill., Loyola Univ. Chicago)
13 Ben Patch (OPP, 6-8, Layton, Utah, Brigham Young Univ.)
15 Brenden Sander (OH, 6-4, Huntington Beach, Calif., Brigham Young Univ.)
16 Josh Tuaniga (S, 6-3, Long Beach, Calif., Long Beach State Univ.)
19 Taylor Averill (MB, 6-7, San Jose, Calif., Univ. of Hawaii)
21 Dustin Watten (L, 6-0, Long Beach, Calif., Long Beach State Univ.)
25 Kyle Russell (OPP, 6-9, Sacramento, Calif., Univ. of California Irvine)
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