U.S. Men Finish VNL with 2nd Straight Silver Medal

GDANSK, Poland, July 23, 2023.-  The U.S. Men’s National Team won the silver medal at the Volleyball Nations League for the second straight year on Sunday as it fell to host Poland 3-1 (25-23, 24-26, 25-18, 25-18) in the final in Gdansk.

The U.S. Men finished the 2023 VNL with a 12-3 record and ranked No. 2 in the world. They started the VNL preliminary round ranked sixth.

Setter Micah Christenson and middle blocker David Smith were named to the VNL Dream Team.

Poland led the U.S. Men in kills (59-51), aces (7-3) and held the edge in blocks (9-8). Poland scored 24 points on U.S. errors and gave up 23.

Outside hitter T.J. DeFalco led the U.S. with 14 points on 13 kills (.435 hitting efficiency) and one ace. He led in digs with seven and in successful receptions with six.

Outside hitter Aaron Russell played in his first match of the Final Round after recovering from illness. He came in as a substitute in the second set and started the third and fourth, finishing with 11 points on nine kills and two blocks.

Opposite Matt Anderson finished with 10 points on nine kills and one ace.

Outside hitter Thomas Jaeschke started the match, was replaced by Russell in the second set, then re-entered the match in the fourth set to replace Anderson at opposite. Jaeschke finished with nine points on seven kills and two blocks.

Middle Max Holt scored seven points on four kills and three blocks. Smith finished with six points on six kills (.546 hitting efficiency).

Libero Erik Shoji was credited with six successful receptions and four digs.