COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Sept. 1, 2020) – After a long summer off from volleyball, U.S. National Team players are heading back to their club teams overseas.
USA Volleyball has already processed more than 150 transfers since the portal opened on Aug. 17.
KOREA
Kyle Russell and his Korean team Suwon KEPCO Vixtorm won the 2020 KOVO Cup, defeating the Incheon Korean Air Jumbos in the final on Aug. 29, 3-2 (25-18, 19-25, 25-20, 23-25, 20-18). Russell, who is playing outside hitter instead of opposite in Korea, led his team in scoring with 27 points and was voted the most valuable player.
ITALY
Women’s professional volleyball returned to Italy for the first time since March 7 with the women’s SuperCup.
In the quarterfinals on Sept. 1, Unet E-Work Busto Arxizio, with U.S. setter Jordyn Poulter, defeated Reale Mutua Fenera Chieri, 25-22, 25-27, 25-20, 25-17. Poulter finished with five points on four blocks and one kill.
In another quarterfinal match, Igor Gorgonzola Novara, including U.S. setter Micha Hancock and middle blocker Haleigh Washington, beat Il Bisonte Firenze, 23-25, 25-16, 20-25, 25-18, 15-12.
Washington finished with eight points on six kills and two blocks. Hancock scored four points on three aces and one kill.
The semifinals and final of the SuperCup will be played Sept. 5-6 outdoors at the Piazza dei Signori in Vicenza.
In a men’s friendly match, Itas Trentino defeated Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza, 25-23, 25-17, 25-13, 22-25). Outside hitter Aaron Russell scored nine points for Piacenza.
TURKEY
Jordan Thompson and her Turkish team Eczacıbaşı won the friendly tournament it hosted on Aug. 14-16.
In the final, Eczacıbaşı defeated Turkish Airlines, including U.S. setter Lauren Carlini and outside hitter Madi Kingdon Rishel, 3-0 (25-20, 25-19, 25-21).
POLAND
Four men’s teams in Poland will play in the Super Cup of Polish Champions on Sept. 5-6 in Arłamów, Poland.
The U.S. men who will play in the tournament are David Smith (Grupa Azoty ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle), Taylor Sander (PGE Skra Bełchatów) and Jeff Jendryk (Asseco Resovia Rzeszów). The fourth team competing is Jastrzębski Węgiel.
CONGRATULATIONS!
Congratulations to U.S. opposite Matt Anderson and Jackie Gillum who were married on Aug. 29 in Indiana.
The two are parents of son Jamie, who was born in January.
2012 Olympian Paul Lotman was part of the wedding party.