# Aaron Russell

Aaron Joseph Russell (born June 4, 1993) is an American professional volleyball player who plays as an outside hitter for Aluron CMC Warta Zawiercie and the U.S. national team. He was a bronze medalist at the Olympic Games Rio 2016, Paris 2024 and the 2018 World Championship.

## Personal life

Aaron Russell grew up in Ellicott City, Maryland, U.S. His parents are Stewart and Marian Russell. Aaron was born the second of five boys. The other brothers are Peter (1992), Samuel (1995), Tim (1999) and Paul (2002). Peter also plays volleyball professionally. Russell was a top soccer player for Centennial High School in Maryland. The school did not have a boys’ volleyball team so he helped the girls’ team train while playing club volleyball at MVP (Maryland Volleyball Program). In 2015, he graduated from Pennsylvania State University. On July 30, 2017, he married former Penn State women's volleyball player Kendall Pierce, his college sweetheart. They have one daughter.

## Career

In 2015, he completed his volleyball career at Penn State, where he was named an AVCA First Team All–American in 2014 and 2015. All four years he helped Penn State reach the NCAA men's championship semifinals. Russell was a member of the Boys’ Youth Team in 2010 and 2011 and a member of the Men's Junior National Team in 2013. He made his debut with the senior national team in 2014.
In 2015, he joined his first professional team, Sir Safety Perugia of Italy.
In 2016, Russell took part in his first Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro as a member of the U.S Olympic team and won a bronze medal when the U.S. beat Russia in five sets. Russell was named one of the Best Outside Spikers of the tournament.
In June 2018, after 3 years spent playing for Perugia, Russell signed for another Italian team, Diatec Trentino. At the 2018 Club World Championship held in Poland, he was named the Most Valuable Player for his contribution to Diatec Trentino's 5th gold medal, the most by any club team in the history of the tournament.
In 2024, Russell took part in his second Olympic Games in Paris as a member of the U.S Olympic team and won a bronze medal when the U.S beat Italy in three sets.

## Honors
### Club

* CEV Champions League
** 2016–17 – with Sir Safety Perugia
* FIVB Club World Championship
** Poland 2018 – with Trentino Volley
* CEV Cup
** 2018–19 – with Diatec Trentino
* Domestic
** 2017–18 Italian SuperCup, with Sir Safety Perugia
** 2017–18 Italian Cup, with Sir Safety Perugia
** 2017–18 Italian Championship, with Sir Safety Perugia
** 2024–25 Polish SuperCup, with Aluron CMC Warta Zawiercie

### Individual awards

* 2016: Olympic Games – Best outside spiker
* 2017: NORCECA Championship – Best outside spiker
* 2017: Italian SuperCup – Most valuable player
* 2018: FIVB Club World Championship – Most valuable player
* 2023: V.League Division 1 – Best server
* 2024: Polish SuperCup – Most valuable player

### College

* AVCA First Team All–American – 2014, 2015
* NCAA Championship All–Tournament Team – 2015
* Uvaldo Acosta Memorial EIVA Player of the Year – 2013, 2014, 2015
* EIVA First Team All–Conference – 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015
* EIVA Championship Most Outstanding Player – 2013, 2015
* EIVA Championship All–Tournament Team – 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015