Editor’s note: Blair Lambert covers international men’s volleyball for VolleyballMag.com, focusing on Americans playing abroad. He will have updates throughout the professional 2022-23 season. This report gets a handle on who’s where.
Got a note about a player or a comment? Email blairlambert2@gmail.com
With the FIVB World Championships in the rear-view mirror, focus on the world of men’s volleyball has now transferred to the upcoming professional season. As always, each year brings forth a myriad of changes, and very few players are remaining at the same clubs from the previous season. Here are some notable signings and transfers as most leagues start within the next two to three weeks.
Italy: The biggest surprise is the lack of American players signed with clubs in the Italian SuperLega. Matt Anderson, Aaron Russell, Max Holt, and Thomas Jaeschke have all left their respective clubs. The only American player who remains on an Italian roster is Gabi Garcia, the backup opposite at Lube Civitanova. Garcia, who changed his sport nationality from Puerto Rico to compete for the USA this past spring, played in every match but five last year. He also finished the season as the league’s best server (which was given to the player with the best ace efficiency). Garcia will be joined by Alex Nikolov, the Bulgarian international who played one spectacular season at Long Beach State before signing a deal with Lube.
Poland: David Smith and Erik Shoji, both mainstays in the Team USA lineup this summer, are back with ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle. ZAKSA has won the CEV Champions League the last two seasons, with Smith starting on both of those teams. Shoji joined the squad last season where he and Smith won the Polish PlusLiga title (after losing in the final in 2021). ZAKSA was dealt a huge blow to its lineup with the loss of Kamil Semeniuk to Sir Safety Perugia of Italy. The defending Polish champions had a difficult time finding someone to fill that role, being turned down by Garret Muagututia and Thomas Jaeschke, before landing on Denis Karyagin from Bulgaria.
Taylor Averill is staying at Indykpol AZS Olsztyn. He will be joined by Josh Tuaniga. The setter from Long Beach State comes to the club after spending the last three seasons at Ślepsk Malow Suwałki.
Olsztyn loses TJ DeFalco to Asseco Resovia Rzeszów….
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