Setter Micah Ma'a (UCLA 2016-19), middle blocker Mitch Stahl (UCLA 2014-17) and outside hitter Garrett Muagututia (UCLA 2007-10) will join head coach John Speraw in heading up the U.S. Men's National Volleyball team in its quest to qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics during competition this weekend in the Netherlands.
The U.S. men are coming off a strong Volleyball Nation's League performance. After starting out with just one win in their first five games in preliminary VNL play, Team USA went 8-2 the rest of the way and then made a run to the silver medal. Now ranked No. 2 in the world, the U.S. will face No. 12 Belgium, No. 15 the Netherlands and No. 24 South Korea in a tournament that runs Aug. 9-11 in Rotterdam, Netherlands.
The U.S. men have participated 11 times in the Olympic Games, including in each of the last nine editions (1984-2016), and have won the gold medal in the competition in 1984, 1988 and 2008. The United States also finished on the podium in 1992 and 2016 with bronze medals.
Coach Speraw's National Team squad is coming off bronze medal finishes at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games and 2018 world championships. The winner of this weekend's Intercontinental Qualifying pool will advance to the Tokyo Olympics. There will also be a chance for the U.S. Men to qualify at the Continental Qualification Tournament in January which will feature the top four teams from the NORCECA zone.
U.S. Men's National Team Schedule for Olympic Qualifying – Rotterdam, Netherlands
August 9 – live at 10:30 a.m. PT on the Olympic Channel and NBCSports.com/live -- a same day replay will be shown on NBCSN that evening
August 10 – live at 10:30 a.m. PT on the Olympic Channel and NBCSports.com/live -- a same day replay will be aired on NBCSN that evening
August 11 – live at 9 a.m. PT on the Olympic Channel and NBCSports.com/live -- a same day replay will be aired on NBCSN that evening
ABOUT THE COMPETITION
BELGIUM: The U.S. Men last played Belgium during the 2017 FIVB World League and lost to the European side, 3-1. The two teams also played at the 2014 FIVB World Championships, where the U.S. won 3-2. Belgium is led by team captain and outside hitter Sam Deroo and opposite Bran Van Den Dries. It is coached by Brecht Van Kerckhove.
NETHERLANDS: The U.S. Men went 3-1 against Netherlands in 2009 when they shared the same FIVB World League pool. Netherlands won silver at the 1992 Olympic Games and gold in 1996. Roberto Piazza is Netherlands' head coach.
SOUTH KOREA: The U.S. Men last played South Korea in 2012 when the U.S. went 4-0 against the Asian team. South Korea's top player is Jiseok Jung, in the 2018 VNL, he scored 141 points in 15 matches. South Korea's head coach is Im Do Hun
The U.S. men are coming off a strong Volleyball Nation's League performance. After starting out with just one win in their first five games in preliminary VNL play, Team USA went 8-2 the rest of the way and then made a run to the silver medal. Now ranked No. 2 in the world, the U.S. will face No. 12 Belgium, No. 15 the Netherlands and No. 24 South Korea in a tournament that runs Aug. 9-11 in Rotterdam, Netherlands.
The U.S. men have participated 11 times in the Olympic Games, including in each of the last nine editions (1984-2016), and have won the gold medal in the competition in 1984, 1988 and 2008. The United States also finished on the podium in 1992 and 2016 with bronze medals.
Coach Speraw's National Team squad is coming off bronze medal finishes at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games and 2018 world championships. The winner of this weekend's Intercontinental Qualifying pool will advance to the Tokyo Olympics. There will also be a chance for the U.S. Men to qualify at the Continental Qualification Tournament in January which will feature the top four teams from the NORCECA zone.
U.S. Men's National Team Schedule for Olympic Qualifying – Rotterdam, Netherlands
August 9 – live at 10:30 a.m. PT on the Olympic Channel and NBCSports.com/live -- a same day replay will be shown on NBCSN that evening
August 10 – live at 10:30 a.m. PT on the Olympic Channel and NBCSports.com/live -- a same day replay will be aired on NBCSN that evening
August 11 – live at 9 a.m. PT on the Olympic Channel and NBCSports.com/live -- a same day replay will be aired on NBCSN that evening
ABOUT THE COMPETITION
BELGIUM: The U.S. Men last played Belgium during the 2017 FIVB World League and lost to the European side, 3-1. The two teams also played at the 2014 FIVB World Championships, where the U.S. won 3-2. Belgium is led by team captain and outside hitter Sam Deroo and opposite Bran Van Den Dries. It is coached by Brecht Van Kerckhove.
NETHERLANDS: The U.S. Men went 3-1 against Netherlands in 2009 when they shared the same FIVB World League pool. Netherlands won silver at the 1992 Olympic Games and gold in 1996. Roberto Piazza is Netherlands' head coach.
SOUTH KOREA: The U.S. Men last played South Korea in 2012 when the U.S. went 4-0 against the Asian team. South Korea's top player is Jiseok Jung, in the 2018 VNL, he scored 141 points in 15 matches. South Korea's head coach is Im Do Hun