COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Nov. 4, 2021) – We are keeping you up to date on U.S. men competing in professional leagues around the world!
RUSSIA
Setter Micah Christenson and Zenit Kazan lead the Russian league at 5-0 and have yet to lose a set. On Oct. 31, Kazan beat Neftyanik Orenburg, 3-0 (25-16, 25-11, 25-18). Christenson scored two points on a kill and a block and set his team to a .569 hitting efficiency.
ITALY
Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza, with middle blocker Max Holt and outside hitter Aaron Russell, got a 3-2 (16-25, 25-21, 26-24, 20-25, 15-6) win over Allianz Milano with outside hitter Thomas Jaeschke on Oct. 30.
Holt scored 12 points on eight kills and four blocks. Russell played as a substitute and scored one point with a kill. Jaeschke scored 10 points on 10 kills for Milano.
Piacenza improved to 4-0 in league play on Nov. 3 when it beat Leo Shoes PerkinElmer Modena, 3-1 (20-25, 25-21, 25-20, 25-23). Holt scored seven points on three kills and a match-high four blocks. Russell did not play.
Outside hitter Matt Anderson and Sir Safety Conad Perugia lost to Itas Trantino in the semifinals of the Italian SuperCup on Oct. 23, 3-0 (25-21, 25-21, 25-23). Anderson finished with 10 points on 19 kills and was credited with 14 receptions 36 percent positive.
On Nov. 3, Perugia beat Gioiella Prisma Taranto, 3-1 (25-19, 23-25, 25-16, 25-17). Anderson started the first three sets and scored seven points on seven kills. He was credited with 15 receptions, 60 percent positive.
Jaeschke scored 13 points in Milano’s 3-0 (25-20, 31-29, 25-23) win over Tonno Callipo Calabria Vibo Valentia on Nov. 3. Jaeschke scored on 10 kills (.409), two blocks and one ace. He was credited with 17 receptions, 71 percent positive.
POLAND
Grupa Azoty ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle with libero Erik Shoji and middle David Smith continues to lead the Polish league at 5-0. On Oct. 30, Kędzierzyn-Koźle beat PGE Skra Bełchatów, 3-2 (24-26, 27-29, 25-23, 25-19, 15-12). Shoji was credited with 31 receptions, 42 percent positive. Smith did not play.
Outside hitter T.J. DeFalco, middle blocker Taylor Averill and Indykpol AZS Olsztyn (3-2) beat GKS Katowice, 3-0 (25-16, 25-17, 25-20) on Oct. 31. Setter Micah Ma’a plays for Katowice (2-3), but was not on its roster, which only had eight players. A team release said some players and staff have tested positive for COVID and others were held out to be cautious.
DeFalco scored 13 points on seven kills, three aces and three blocks. He was credited with 14 receptions, 57 percent positive. Averill scored eight points on six kills (1.00 hitting efficiency), one block and one ace.
Middle Mitch Stahl and Stal Nysa fell to Trefl Gdańsk on Oct. 30, 3-0 (25-22, 25-19, 25-21). Stahl scored seven points on a match-high four aces along with two kills and one block.
Setter Josh Tuaniga has not been on the roster for Ślepsk Malow Suwałki in its last two matches, although video shows him cheering for the team from the sidelines.
TURKEY
Kawika Shoji and Spor Toto are 3-3 in Turkey’s league after losing to Yeni Kızıltepe Spor Kulübü on Oct. 31, 3-0 (25-22, 25-23, 25-17). Shoji scored four points on four kills and set his team to a .276 hitting efficiency.
ISRAEL
Opposite Kyle Ensing, outside hitter J.T. Hatch, libero Josh Ayzenberg and Maccabi Tel Aviv are 3-0 in Israel’s men’s league after beating Eilabun on Nov. 2, 3-0 (25-16, 25-17, 25-16). Hatch scored 10 points on seven kills, one block and two aces. Ensing finished with nine points on five kills and a match-high four aces. Ayzenberg was credited with nine receptions, 100 percent positive.
GERMANY
Opposite Ben Patch, middle blocker Jeff Jendryk, outside hitter Cody Kessel, setter Matt West and the Berlin Recycling Volleys are undefeated at 7-0. On Oct. 30, Berlin beat the Energiequelle Netzhoppers KW-Bestensee, 3-1 (25-23, 19-25, 25-19, 27-25). Patch led the team with 18 points on 17 kills (.419) and one block. Jendryk scored 14 points on nine kills (.643), a match-high four blocks and one ace. West and Kessel each played as substitutes.
Blocker Blake Leeson started the first three sets for Bestensee and scored five points on five kills.
Berlin beat Frankfurt 3-0 (25-19, 25-22, 25-20) on Nov. 3. Kessel started and scored 16 points as did Patch. Jendryk scored nine points including four blocks.