VNL 2021

USA name 19-man VNL roster

The most popular American players will be in Rimini

Published 05:21, 18 May 2021

After stepping on the podium of the first two editions of the FIVB Volleyball Nations League, the United States men’s national team will be back to try and win gold for the first time in 2021 with an experienced roster.

Head coach John Speraw named a 19-player roster to represent the country from May 25-June 27 in the secure ‘bubble’ in Rimini, Italy, and the list includes several veterans who will try to continue improving on bronze in 2018 and silver in 2019.

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“We are coming into this Olympic summer with much more experience than we did going into Rio,” Speraw reflected about the roster selection. “So that’s a big strength and we also have some newer faces that weren’t with us last quad and I think that will have a positive impact on our VNL experience.”

Eight members of the team that won bronze at the Rio 2016 Olympics remain on the roster five years later. They are setters Micah Christenson and Kawika Shoji, opposite Matt Anderson, outside hitter Taylor Sander and Thomas Jaeschke, middle blockers Max Holt and David Smith and libero Erik Shoji.

Taylor Sander will be Taylor Crabb's partner in Itapema

Named as the team captain, the 30-year-old Sander will reappear in the USA squad for the first time since the 2019 VNL as he had to have surgery on his right shoulder after the event and missed the 2019 FIVB Volleyball World Cup.

The major absence in the list is 27-year-old outside hitter Aaron Russell, a Rio 2016 Olympic medallist. He had surgery in April due to a hip injury and is still recovering from it.

“VNL is always important, particularly this year when the team hasn’t had the opportunity to compete with each other in over a year,” Speraw added. “Every match the team gets to play with each other is crucial to maximizing how we are playing going into Tokyo this summer.”

The Americans will face Canada, Brazil and Argentina in their first three matches in the event, which will take place on May 28, 29 and 30, respectively.