# United States men's national volleyball team

The United States men's national volleyball team represents the country in international competitions and friendly matches. The team is governed by USA Volleyball, and it has won six Olympic medals, with three of them gold.

## History

As the birthplace of volleyball, the United States founded the first association to regulate the sport. The United States Volleyball Association was formed in 1927, and was the founding member of FIVB in 1947.
However, by the time of volleyball's international growth in the 1940s, the U.S. was no longer a major power. They competed in the inaugural volleyball Olympic tournament in 1964. The U.S. returned to the elite in the 1980s, winning the FIVB World Championship in 1986 in Paris, as well as four golds at the Pan American Games and eight at the NORCECA Championships. Of the nine times that the U.S. have competed at the World Cup, they have finished fourth five times, most recently in 2007. They won the event in 1985, and last time out in 2011 they finished in sixth place, eight points away from the medal positions. The team was a bronze medalist at the World Championships in 1994. Four years prior, in Italy, they finished sixth. Of the 14 times the United States have qualified for this competition, they have finished in the top 10 on eight occasions.
The U.S. won the World Cup in 1985 and the World Championship in 1986. The U.S. team clinched its first Olympic gold medal in 20 years when they defeated Brazil 3–1 to take gold at Beijing 2008. The team failed to defend their title in 2012, losing 3–0 to Italy in the quarterfinals for an equal-fifth finish. The U.S. won the 2015 World Cup title, where they got the first Rio 2016 Olympic qualification ticket. In September 2015 U.S. national team took part in 2015 World Cup. American players won 10 of 11 matches (the same result as Poland and Italy) and lost only to Poland (1–3). On September 23, 2015 they played their last game at the World Cup and defeated Argentina (3–1). The U.S. won the World Cup on a points tie-breaker and qualified for the 2016 Summer Olympics. It was their second victory in World Cup tournament (previous in 1985).
In the 2018 FIVB Volleyball Men's Nations League, the inaugural edition replacing the World League, the U.S. national team defeated the reigning Olympic champions and 9-time World League winners Brazil in straight sets for the bronze medal.

## Tournament record
### Olympic Games

| Year | Position | Squad |
| 1964 Tokyo | 9th place | Bright, Brown, Erickson, Murray, Hill, Griebenow, Hammer, Highland, Lang, Nelson, O'Hara, Ernie Suwara, Taylor and Velasco. Head Coach: Wilson |
| 1968 Mexico | 7th place | Alstrom, Bright, Davenport, Duke, Haine, Henn, May, Patterson, Rundle, Stanley, Suwara and Velasco. Head Coach: Coleman |
| 1984 Los Angeles | Gold medal | Berzins, Buck, Duwelius, Dvorak, Kiraly, Marlowe, Powers, Salmons, Saunders, Sunderland, Timmons and Waldie. Head Coach: Beal. |
| 1988 Seoul | Gold medal | Buck, Ctvrtlik, Fortune, Kiraly, Luyties, Partie, Root, Sato, Saunders, Stork, Tanner and Timmons. Head Coach: Dunphy |
| 1992 Barcelona | Bronze medal | Becker, Briceno, Ctvrtlik, Fortune, Greenbaum, Hilliard, Ivie, Partie, Samuelson, Sato, Stork and Timmons. Head Coach: Sturm |
| 1996 Atlanta | 9th place | Ball, Ctvrtlik, Fortune, Hyden, Ivie, Lambert, Landry, Nygaard, Sorensen, Stork, Watts and Winslow. Head Coach: Sturm |
| 2000 Sydney | 11th place | Ball, Barnett, Hoff, Hyden, Lambert, Landry, McCaw, Millar, Nygaard, Roumain, Sullivan and Witt. Head Coach: Beal |
| 2004 Athens | 4th place | Ball (C), Barnett, Billings, Eatherton, Gardner, Hoff, Millar, Priddy, Salmon, Stanley, Sullivan and Suxho. Head Coach: Beal |
| 2008 Beijing | Gold medal | Ball, Gardner, Hansen, Hoff (C), Lambourne, Lee, Millar, Priddy, Rooney, Salmon, Stanley and Touzinsky. Head Coach: McCutcheon |
| 2012 London | 5th place | Anderson, Holmes, Lambourne, Lee, Lotman, McKienzie, Priddy, Rooney, Smith, Stanley (C), Suxho and Thornton. Head Coach: Knipe |
| 2016 Rio de Janeiro | Bronze medal | Anderson, Russell, Sander, Lee (C), K. Shoji, Priddy, Troy, Jaeschke, Christenson, Holt, Smith and E. Shoji. Head Coach: Speraw |
| 2020 Tokyo | 10th place | Anderson, Sander, Ensing, Stahl, K. Shoji (C), DeFalco, Christenson, Holt, Jaeschke, Muagututia, Smith, E. Shoji. Head Coach: Speraw |
| 2024 Paris | Bronze medal | Anderson, Russell, Jendryk, DeFalco, Christenson, Holt, Maʻa, Jaeschke, Muagututia, Averill, Smith, E. Shoji. Head Coach: Speraw |
| Total | 3 Titles | 3 Titles |

### FIVB World Championship

| Year | Position | Squad |
| 1956 France | 6th place | — |
| 1960 Brazil | 7th place | — |
| 1966 Czechoslovakia | 11th place | — |
| 1970 Bulgaria | 18th place | — |
| 1974 Mexico | 14th place | — |
| 1978 Italy | 19th place | — |
| 1982 Argentina | 13th place | — |
| 1986 France | Gold medal | Dvorak, Saunders, Salmons, Ctvrtlik, Partie, Timmons, Buck, Stork, Sato, Powers, Kiraly. Head Coach: Dunphy |
| 1990 Brazil | 13th place | — |
| 1994 Greece | Bronze medal | — |
| 1998 Japan | 9th place | — |
| 2002 Argentina | 9th place | Ball, Seiffert, McKienzie, Sullivan, Bunker, Priddy, Millar, Salmon, Billings, Stanley, Polster, Naeve. Head coach: Beal |
| 2006 Japan | 10th place | Polster, Lambourne, Eatherton, Suxho, Priddy, Millar, Salmon, Hoff, Stanley, Gardner, McKienzie, Taliaferro. Head coach: McCutcheon |
| 2010 Italy | 6th place | Anderson, Rooney, Lee, Lambourne, Lotman, Winder, Priddy, Stanley, Hansen, Holmes, Clark, Holt. Head coach: Knipe |
| 2014 Poland | 7th place | Anderson, Sander, Lee, Lotman, K. Shoji, Ciarelli, Christenson, Clark, Holt, Reft, Smith, E. Shoji. Head coach: Speraw |
| 2018 Italy/Bulgaria | Bronze medal | Anderson, Russell, Sander, Jendryk, Mcdonnell, K. Shoji, Patch, Christenson, Langlois, Holt, Averill, Smith, Watten, E. Shoji. Head coach: Speraw |
| 2022 Poland/Slovenia | 6th place | Anderson, A. Russell, Jendryk, Ensing, DeFalco, Christenson, K. Russell, Tuaniga, Muagututia, Averill, Smith, Briggs, Shoji, Kessel. Head coach: Speraw |
| 2025 Philippines | Qualified | |
| Total | 1 Title | 1 Title |

### FIVB World Cup

| Year | Position | Squad |
| 1977 | 10th place | — |
| 1985 | Gold medal | — |
| 1989 | 4th place | — |
| 1991 | Bronze medal | — |
| 1995 | 4th place | — |
| 1999 | 4th place | — |
| 2003 | 4th place | Ball, Sullivan, Suxho, Priddy, Millar, Salmon, Billings, Hoff, Stanley, Gardner, Polster, Naeve. Head coach: Beal |
| 2007 | 4th place | Ball, Rooney, Polster, Lee, Lambourne, Priddy, Millar, Salmon, Hoff, Stanley, Hansen, Gardner. Head coach: McCutcheon |
| 2011 | 6th place | Anderson, Rooney, Patak, Lee, Lotman, Priddy, Salmon, Holmes, Hansen, Thornton, Holt. Head coach: Knipe |
| 2015 | Gold medal | Anderson, Russell, Sander, Lee (C), Lotman, K. Shoji, Troy, Christenson, Holmes, Jablonsky, Holt, Smith, Watten, E. Shoji. Head Coach: Speraw |
| 2019 | Bronze medal | Anderson, Russell, Jendryk, Stahl, DeFalco, Saeta, Christenson (C), Holt, Patch, Maʻa, Tuaniga, Muagututia, Smith, E. Shoji. Head Coach: Speraw |
| 2023 Japan World Cup | Gold medal | Anderson, Russell, Jendryk, Ensing, DeFalco, Dagostino, Christenson (C), Holt, Maʻa, Jaeschke, Muguatutia, Averill, Smith, E. Shoji. Head Coach: Speraw |
| Total | 2 Titles | 2 Titles |

### FIVB World Grand Champions Cup

| Year | Position | Squad |
| 1993 Japan | 5th place | — |
| 2005 Japan | Silver medal | Eatherton, Polster, Lambourne, Hoff, McKienzie, Millar, Priddy, Salmon, Stanley, Suxho, Tamas, Olree. Head Coach: McCutcheon |
| 2013 Japan | 5th place | Anderson, Rooney, Lee, K. Shoji, Priddy, Troy, Christenson, Tavana, Menzel, Clark, Holt, E. Shoji. Head coach: Speraw |
| 2017 Japan | 4th place | Anderson, Russell, Sander, Jendryk, K. Shoji, Jaeschke, Christenson, Patch, Clark, Holt, Averill, Smith, Watten, E. Shoji. Head coach: Speraw |
| Total | 0 Title | 0 Title |

### FIVB Volleyball World League

| Year | Position | Squad |
| 1990 Osaka | 7th place | — |
| 1991 Milan | 6th place | — |
| 1992 Genoa | Bronze medal | — |
| 1993 São Paulo | 9th place | — |
| 1994 Milan | 12th place | — |
| 1995 Rio de Janeiro | 10th place | — |
| 2000 Rotterdam | 6th place | — |
| 2001 Katowice | 9th place | — |
| 2006 Moscow | T-10th place | — |
| 2007 Katowice | Bronze medal | Polster, Taliaferro, Lambourne, Lee, Priddy, Millar, Salmon, Hoff, Stanley, Hansen, Gardner. Head Coach: McCutcheon |
| 2008 Rio de Janeiro | Gold medal | Ball, Rooney, Lambourne, Priddy, Millar, Salmon, Hoff, Stanley, Hansen, Gardner, Lee, Touzinsky. Head Coach: McCutcheon |
| 2009 Belgrade | 6th place | Rooney, Patak, Lee, Lambourne, Lotman, Suxho, Hein, Smith, Hoff (C), Stanley, Hansen, Jablonsky, Touzinsky, Reft. Head Coach: Knipe |
| 2010 Córdoba | 8th place | Anderson, Rooney, Patak, Lee, Lotman, Priddy, Hildebrand, Stanley, Hansen, Holmes, Holt, Reft. Head Coach: Knipe |
| 2011 Gdańsk | 7th place | Anderson, Rooney, Patak, Lee (C), Lambourne, Lotman, Thornton, Holmes, Stanley, Hansen, Holt, Touzinsky. Head Coach: Knipe |
| 2012 Sofia | Silver medal | Anderson, Rooney, Lee, Lambourne, Lotman, Suxho, Priddy, Thornton, Holmes, Stanley (C), Smith, McKienzie. Head Coach: Knipe |
| 2013 Mar del Plata | 12th place | Anderson (C), Lee, Lambourne, Lotman, K. Shoji, Caldwell, Troy, Clark, Jablonsky, Holt, Smith, E. Shoji. Head Coach: Speraw |
| 2014 Florence | Gold medal | Anderson, Rooney (C), Sander, Lee, Lotman, K. Shoji, Christenson, Holmes, Clark, Holt, Muagututia, E. Shoji. Head Coach: Speraw |
| 2015 Rio de Janeiro | Bronze medal | Anderson, Russell, Sander, Lee (C), Lotman, K. Shoji, Priddy, Troy, Jaeschke, Christenson, Holmes, Holt, Smith, Watten, E. Shoji. Head Coach: Speraw |
| 2016 Kraków | 5th place | Anderson, Russell, Sander, Lee (C), K. Shoji, Priddy, Troy, Jaeschke, Christenson, Holt, Smith, E. Shoji. Head Coach: Speraw |
| 2017 Curitiba | 4th place | Sander, Jendryk, K. Shoji (C), Jaeschke, Christenson, Mcdonnell, Patch, Clark, DeFalco, Muagututia, Averill, Smith, Watten, E. Shoji. Head Coach: Speraw |
| Total | 2 Titles | 2 Titles |

### FIVB Volleyball Nations League

| Year | Position | Squad |
| 2018 | Bronze medal | Anderson, Russell, Sander, Jendryk, Shaw, Stahl, K. Shoji, DeFalco, McDonnell, Christenson, Holt, Patch, Sander, Jaeschke, Langlois, Averill, Smith (C), Watten, E. Shoji, Seif, Ensing. Head coach: Speraw |
| 2019 | Silver medal | Anderson, Russell, Sander (C), Jendryk, Shaw, Stahl, K. Shoji, DeFalco, McDonnell, Christenson, Holt, Patch, Sander, Jaeschke, Langlois, Averill, Smith, Watten, E. Shoji, Muagututia, Ensing. Head coach: Speraw |
| 2021 | 7th place | Anderson, Sander (C), Jendryk, Ensing, Stahl, K. Shoji, DeFalco, Hanes, Christenson, Holt, Patch, Sander, Tuaniga, Jaeschke, Muagututia, Averill, Smith, Watten, E. Shoji. Head coach: Speraw |
| 2022 | Silver medal | Smith (C), Jendryk, Ensing, Stahl, DeFalco, A. Russell, Christenson, K. Russell, Dagostino, Kessel, Tuaniga, Mitchem, Muagututia, Shoji. Head coach: Speraw |
| 2023 | Silver medal | Anderson, A. Russell, Jendryk, DeFalco, Hanes, Dagostino, Christenson (C), Holt, Ma'a, Jaeschke, Muagututia, Averill, Smith, Shoji. Head coach: Speraw |
| 2024 | 12th place | Anderson, Jendryk, Ensing, DeFalco, Hanes, Dagostino, Christenson (C), Holt, Ma'a, Muagututia, Averill, Shoji, Smith, Kessel, Ewert. Head coach: Speraw |
| Total | 0 Title | 0 Title |

### NORCECA Championship

| Year | Position | Squad |
| 1969 | Bronze medal | — |
| 1971 | Silver medal | — |
| 1973 | Gold medal | — |
| 1975 | Bronze medal | — |
| 1977 | Bronze medal | — |
| 1979 | 5th place | — |
| 1981 | Silver medal | — |
| 1983 | Gold medal | — |
| 1985 | Gold medal | — |
| 1987 | Silver medal | — |
| 1989 | Bronze medal | — |
| 1991 | Silver medal | — |
| 1993 | Silver medal | — |
| 1995 | Silver medal | — |
| 1997 | Silver medal | — |
| 1999 | Gold medal | — |
| 2001 | Silver medal | — |
| 2003 | Gold medal | — |
| 2005 | Gold medal | Olree, Polster, Tamas, Lambourne, Eatherton, Suxho, Millar, Salmon, Billings, Hoff, Stanley, McKienzie. Head Coach: McCutcheon |
| 2007 | Gold medal | Ball, Polster, Lambourne, Lee, Hoff, Millar, Priddy, Salmon, Stanley, Hansen, Gardner, Touzinsky. Head Coach: McCutcheon |
| 2009 | Silver medal | Anderson, Rooney, Patak, Lee, Lambourne, Lotman, Millar, Stanley, Hansen, Thorton, Jablonsky, Holt. Head coach: Knipe |
| 2011 | Silver medal | Anderson, Rooney, Patak, Lee, Lambourne, Lotman, Millar, Stanley (C), Hansen, Thorton, Jablonsky, Holt. Head coach: Knipe |
| 2013 | Gold medal | Anderson, Rooney (C), Caldwell, Lee, Priddy, Troy, Christenson, Menzel, Clark, Holt, Tavana, E. Shoji. Head coach: Speraw |
| 2015 | Did not participate | — |
| 2017 | Gold medal | Anderson, Russell, Sander, Stahl, K. Shoji, Jaeschke, Christenson (C), McDonnell, Patch, Clark, Holt, Smith, Watten, E. Shoji. Head coach: Speraw |
| 2019 | Silver medal | Jendryk, Ensing, Stahl, DeFalco, J. Worsley, Carmody, Maʻa (C), B. Sander, Kessel, Wieczorek, Huhmann, G. Worsley, Dagostino, K. Russell. Head Coach: Hawks |
| 2021 | 5th place | — |
| 2023 | Gold medal | — |
| Total | 10 Titles | 10 Titles |

### Pan American Games

| Year | Position | Squad |
| 1955 | Gold medal | — |
| 1959 | Gold medal |
| 1963 | Silver medal |
| 1967 | Gold medal |
| 1971 | Silver medal |
| 1987 | Gold medal |
| 1995 | Silver medal |
| 1999 | Bronze medal |
| 2007 | Silver medal |
| 2011 | 5th place |
| 2015 | 6th place |
| 2019 | 6th place |
| 2023 | Did not participate |
| Total | 4 Titles | 4 Titles |

### Pan American Cup

| Year | Position | Squad |
| 2006 | Gold medal | — |
| 2008 | Gold medal | Anderson, Patak, Tarr, Proper, Meerstein, Jablonsky, Winder, Hildebrand, Hein, Scheftic, Lotman, Reft. Head coach: Knipe |
| 2009 | Gold medal | Vance, Bittner, McKinney, Kneubuhl, Hildebrand, Tarr, Meerstein, Nielsen, Thornton, Holt, Zahn, Watten. Head coach: McLaughlin |
| 2010 | Gold medal | Watten, Tarr, McKinney, Thornton, Bittner, Lipsitz, Smith, Hildebrand, Clark, Brunner, Jablonsky, McGuire. Head coach: McLaughlin |
| 2011 | Silver medal | Menzel, Muagututia, Troy, Winder, Hein, Meehan, Shoji, Smith, Tarr, Price, Jablonsky, Watten. Head coach: Mayforth |
| 2012 | Gold medal | Davis, Rawson, Clark, Muagututia, Troy, DuFault, McDonnell, Ciarelli, Ammerman, Watten, Sander, Shoji. Head coach: Patchell |
| 2013 | 5th place | Olbright, Taylor, Owens, Sunder, Brinkley, McDonnell, Price, Ammerman, Sangrey, Ratajczak, Lavaja, Sander. Head coach: Patchell |
| 2014 | Silver medal | Rowe, Crabb, Mcllvaine, Brinkley, Kevorken, Page, Averill, Dejno, La Cavera, Nally, Boldog, Olson. Head coach: Sullivan |
| 2015 | 6th place | Kessel, Jendryk, Benesh, Brinkley, Langlois, Mcllvaine, Nally |
| 2016 | 5th place | Langlois, Petty, Sander, Taylor, Tuaniga, Hutz, Johnson, Clark, Jendryk, Averill, DeFalco, Brinkley. Head coach: Larsen |
| 2017 | 5th place | Jarman, Stahl, Jendryk, Greene, Sander, Langlois, Arnitz, Ensing, Seif, Wieczorek, Stadick, Saeta, Tuileta, Enriques. Head coach: Neilson |
| 2018 | 7th place | — |
| 2019 | 5th place | — |
| 2021 | Bronze medal | Holdaway, Kauling, Gillis, Pasteur, Mitchem, Lietzke, Sani, McHenry, Champlin, Wetter, Sloane, McCauley, Palma, Dagostino. Head coach: Read |
| 2022 | Bronze medal | Jenness, Shaw, Pasteur, Hanes, Sani, Gasman, Isaacson, Omene, Ezeonu, Worsley, Briggs, McCauley, Wildman, McHenry. Head coach: Read |
| 2023 | 5th place | — |
| 2024 | Silver medal | Robinson, Garcia, McHenry, Isaacson, Pasteur, Flexen, Gasman, Briggs, McIntosh, Wildman, Champlin, Marshman, Slight, Wetter. Head coach: Read |
| Total | 5 Titles | 5 Titles |

### Volleyball America's Cup

| Year | Position | Squad |
| 1998 | 14th place | — |
| 1999 | Silver medal | — |
| 2000 | Bronze medal | — |
| 2001 | 4th place | — |
| 2005 | Gold medal | Lee, Robinson, Polster, Lambourne, Eatherton, Suxho, Seiffert, Salmon, Olree, Hoff, Toppel, McKienzie. Head coach: McCutcheon |
| 2007 | Gold medal | Ball, Billings, Eatherton, Hansen, Hoff, Lambourne, Millar, Polster, Priddy, Rooney, Salmon, Stanley. Head Coach: McCutcheon |
| 2008 | 5th place | Anderson, Nielson, Eatherton, Lambourne, Jablonsky, Winder, Billings, Hein, Taliaferro, Thomas, Touzinsky. Head Coach: Larsen |
| Total | 2 Titles | 2 Titles |

### Goodwill Games

| Year | Position | Squad |
| 1986 | Silver medal | Ctvrtlik, Dvorak, Kiraly, Luyties, Miller, Partie, Powers, Salmons, Saunders, Tanner, Stork, Timmons |
| 1990 | 4th place | — |
| Total | 0 Title | 0 Title |

## Team
### Current squad

The American roster for the 2024 Summer Olympics was announced on May 10, 2024.
Head coach: John Speraw
| No. | Name | Date of birth | Position | Height | 2023–24 club |
| 1 | Matt Anderson | April 18, 1987 | Opposite | 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) | Ziraat Bank Ankara |
| 2 | Aaron Russell | June 4, 1993 | Outside hitter | 6 ft 9 in (2.05 m) | Warta Zawiercie |
| 4 | Jeffrey Jendryk | September 15, 1995 | Middle blocker | 6 ft 9 in (2.05 m) | |
| 8 | Torey DeFalco | April 10, 1997 | Outside hitter | 6 ft 5 in (1.95 m) | JTEKT Stings Aichi |
| 11 | Micah Christenson | May 8, 1993 | Setter | 6 ft 5 in (1.95 m) | Zenit Kazan |
| 12 | Maxwell Holt | March 12, 1987 | Middle blocker | 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) | Shanghai Bright |
| 14 | Micah Maʻa | April 16, 1997 | Setter | 6 ft 4 in (1.92 m) | Halkbank Ankara |
| 17 | Thomas Jaeschke | September 4, 1993 | Outside hitter | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | Panasonic Panthers |
| 18 | Garrett Muagututia | February 23, 1988 | Outside hitter | 6 ft 5 in (1.95 m) | Spor Toto |
| 19 | Taylor Averill | March 5, 1992 | Middle blocker | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) | Vero Volley Monza |
| 20 | David Smith | May 15, 1985 | Middle blocker | 6 ft 7 in (2.00 m) | ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle |
| 22 | Erik Shoji | August 24, 1989 | Libero | 6 ft 0 in (1.82 m) | ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle |

## Kit providers

The table below shows the history of kit providers for the United States national volleyball team.
| Period | Kit provider |
| 2000–2017 | Nike Mizuno |
| 2017–2022 | Adidas |
| 2022–present | Mizuno |

### Sponsorship

Primary sponsors include: main sponsors like Liberty Mutual, Mizuno Corporation and Commerce Bancorp, other sponsors: Molten Corporation, Almond Breeze, Arirweave, National Car, CoSport, Oppiaperformance, Alamo and Muscleaidtape.