The National Collegiate Men’s Volleyball Championships are underway, and the competition is heating up. Let’s take a look at the teams and players involved in the tournament.
USC, Pepperdine, Hawaii, and Long Beach State: The Contenders
On April 30, USC will face off against Lewis, while Pepperdine takes on Princeton. The winners of these matches will move on to the semifinals, with USC potentially facing off against No. 1 ranked Hawaii, and Pepperdine going up against No. 2 ranked Long Beach State. The finals will be held on May 4 and will be televised on ESPN2.
Bạn đang xem: U.S. Men’s Update: The HP Connection
Both Hawaii and Long Beach State have a rich history with the USA Volleyball High Performance Program, with several players on each team having been involved. Let’s take a closer look at some of the standout players:
Hawaii
- Patrick Gasman: A redshirt junior middle blocker who has represented the U.S. Youth National Team and competed in the FIVB Under-21 World Championship.
- Devon Johnson: A freshman outside hitter who has participated in the High Performance Championships and the Beach High Performance Program.
- Brett Rosennmeier: A senior outside hitter who has won gold at the NORCECA Championship and competed alongside Hawaii’s Colton Cowell at the FISU Beach Volleyball World University Championships.
- Brett Sheward: A freshman setter who was a runner-up at the USAV Beach High Performance Championships.
- Jackson Van Eekeren: A redshirt sophomore who has competed at the High Performance Championships.
- Gage Worsley: A sophomore libero who has played in the FIVB Under-21 World Championship.
- Joe Worsley: A senior setter who has represented the U.S. in various international competitions, including the NORCECA Championship.
Long Beach State
- T.J. DeFalco: A senior outside hitter who has played for the U.S. Men’s National Team and competed in international tournaments such as the FIVB World League and the Pan American Cup.
- Kyle Ensing: A senior opposite who has also represented the U.S. Men’s National Team and participated in the Volleyball Nations League and the Pan American Cup.
- Spencer Olivier: A redshirt freshman outside hitter who has been a part of the Men’s Junior National Team.
- Louis Richard: A senior outside hitter who has competed in international beach volleyball tournaments.
- Josh Tuaniga: A senior setter who has represented the U.S. in the Men’s Pan American Cup and played for the Boys Youth National Team and the Men’s Junior National Team.
2019 FIVB Volleyball Nations League
Aside from the collegiate championships, there are other exciting events coming up for the U.S. Men’s National Team. The team will be hosting Canada, China, and Japan in the FIVB Volleyball Nations League preliminary weekend on June 21-23 in Hoffman Estates, Ill. They will also host the VNL Final Round on July 10-14 at Credit Union 1 Arena at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC).
International Updates
Our U.S. players are making waves internationally as well:
Italy
Matt Anderson, Micah Christenson, and Max Holt have been playing in the Italian League. Matt Anderson recently announced that he will be joining his U.S. teammates in Modena next season. In the Italian League playoffs, Azimut Leo Shoes Modena is tied in the semifinals with Sir Safety Conad Perugia, which includes U.S. setter Jonah Seif. The teams will play a tie-breaking match to determine who advances to the finals.
Russia
Xem thêm : Take a Lap: Alternatives to Exercise as Punishment in Youth Sports
Matt Anderson and the Russian team Zenit Kazan have advanced to the finals of the CEV Champions League, where they will face Italy’s Cucine Lube Civitanova. Zenit Kazan is aiming for their fifth consecutive title in the competition.
Brazil, France, Germany, and Poland
Taylor Sander and Sada Cruzeiro Volei fell in the playoff semifinals, while Mitch Stahl and Tours have advanced to the semifinals in the French League. Michael Saeta and Chaumont will also be competing in the French League semifinals. The Berlin Recycling Volleys, featuring Jeff Jendryk, Ben Patch, Kyle Russell, and Dustin Watten, won their semifinal playoff series in the German League and will face Friedrichshafen in the finals. Kawika Shoji and David Smith have returned from Poland after their team finished seventh in the league.
FAQs
Q: When and where will the National Collegiate Men’s Volleyball Championships finals be held?
The finals will be held on May 4 and will be televised on ESPN2.
Q: Which teams are considered the top contenders in the tournament?
USC, Pepperdine, Hawaii, and Long Beach State are the top contenders in the tournament.
Xem thêm : Men’s College Volleyball Roundup: A Look Ahead to the Tournament
Q: Are there any upcoming events for the U.S. Men’s National Team?
Yes, the team will be hosting the FIVB Volleyball Nations League preliminary weekend on June 21-23 and the VNL Final Round on July 10-14 in Chicago.
Q: Are there any U.S. players playing internationally?
Yes, there are several U.S. players playing in leagues all over the world, including Italy, Russia, Brazil, France, Germany, and Poland.
Conclusion
The National Collegiate Men’s Volleyball Championships are in full swing, and the competition is fierce. USC, Pepperdine, Hawaii, and Long Beach State are the teams to watch, with their players showcasing their skills and representing the USA Volleyball High Performance Program. Additionally, the U.S. Men’s National Team has exciting events coming up, including the FIVB Volleyball Nations League. Our U.S. players are also making their mark internationally, competing in leagues across Europe and South America. It’s an exciting time for men’s volleyball, and we can’t wait to see what the future holds for these talented athletes.
For more information on men’s volleyball and the latest updates, visit Alpinetgheep.
Nguồn: https://alpinetgheep.com
Danh mục: Volleyball
