This is Blair Lambert’s VolleyballMag.com men’s professional volleyball report, featuring Americans around the world. Got a note about a player or a comment for Blair? Email him at blairlambert2@gmail.com
After a marathon summer for the USA in which the Americans won the FIVB World Cup and NORCECA Championship, took a silver medal at Volleyball Nations League and then qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics in Paris, players dispersed to their respective professional clubs.
As is the case with pro volleyball, a new year means a new team for some, but many are returning to their same clubs.
The biggest news in the transfer market is that Matt Anderson left Zenit Saint Petersburg for Ziraat Bankasi, the Turkish champions in 2023. He still had a year left on this contract in Russia, and the front office was not keen on seeing him depart early. They made the claim that his contract was still worth 950,000 Euros, and they needed to receive compensation before he could suit up in Turkey. The FIVB ruled that due to the Russian conflict, players would be able to put their current contracts with Russian clubs on hold to pursue opportunities in other leagues.
Erik Shoji and David Smith stayed at ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle in Poland, where they will try to win a fourth consecutive CEV Champions League title.
TJ DeFalco is back with Asseco Resovia Rzeszów.
Aaron Rusell is going back to the JT Thunders in Hiroshima, Japan.
The three setters who saw time with the national team this summer are all remaining with the same clubs, Micah Christenson with Zenit Kazan in Russia, Micah Ma’a in Turkey with Halkbank Ankara, and Josh Tuaniga in Poland with Indykpol AZS Olsztyn. Kyle Ensing and Pat Gasman stayed with their respective French clubs, Saint Nazaire and Chaumont. Tim McIntosh returned to Hypo Tirol Innsbruck, an Austrian club that will be in the Champions League this year.
Thomas Jaeschke left Ma’a and Halkbank to play in Japan with the Panasonic Panthers. Taylor Averill is said to be playing in China this season with Shanghai. Jake Hanes remains in Poland, but has made the move to Cuprum Lubin. Kyle Russell and Jeff Jendryk are both playing in Italy for the first times in both of their careers, both with Gioelle Prisma Taranto. Gabi Garcia remains in Italy, but moved from Lube Civitanova to Pallavollo Padova. Kyle Dagostino will still play in France, but he…
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