COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – USA Volleyball announced UC Irvine alums Brian Thornton ('07) and David Smith ('07) are nominated for the U.S. Olympic Men's Volleyball Team that will compete at the 2012 Summer Games in London.
Pending approval from the U.S. Olympic Committee, the nominated athletes and staff will represent the United States at the 2012 Olympic Games on July 29-Aug. 12 in London.
Thornton and Smith, who were key figures in UCI's first national championship team in 2007, become the first UCI student-athletes to be Olympians in the sport of men's volleyball.
Thornton, a setter, earned second team All-America as well as All-Mountain Pacific Sports Federation honors twice and was named to the NCAA All-Tournament in 2007. He is UCI's all-time assists leader (4,662). Thornton was a UCI Scholar-Athlete who graduated with a degree in sociology.
Smith was named first team All-American and first team All-MPSF in 2007 as well as selected to the NCAA All-Tournament Team. As a senior, the middle blocker led the nation with a .559 hitting percentage, which is a UCI season record. He is also UCI's career leader in block assists (471) and total blocks (520). Smith, who graduated with a degree in civil engineering, was an UCI Scholar-Athlete.
Jayson Jablonsky ('07), who was the 2006 National Player of the Year, is a replacement athlete for the team.
The U.S. Men are the defending Olympic champions and ranked No. 6 in the world. The 2012 U.S. Olympic Men's Volleyball Team trains at the American Sports Centers in Anaheim, Calif.
The U.S. Men qualified for the 2012 Olympic Games by winning the NORCECA Men's Continental Olympic Qualification Tournament on May 7-12 in Long Beach, Calif.
The U.S. Men have qualified for nine previous Olympic Games: 1964, '68, '84, '88, '92, '96, 2000, '04 and '08. They have won the gold medal in 1984, '88 and 2008 and won bronze in 1992.
The U.S. Men will begin play in the London Olympic Games on July 29 against Serbia.
2012 Olympic Games Men's Volleyball Schedule
Pool A (World Ranking): Italy (3), Poland (4), Argentina (8), Bulgaria (9), Australia (22), Great Britain (92)
Pool B (World Ranking): Brazil (1), Russia (2), USA (6), Serbia (7), Germany (13), Tunisia (18)
July 29: USA vs. Serbia, 4:45 p.m. (8:45 a.m. PT)
July 31: USA vs. Germany, 4:45 p.m. (8:45 a.m. PT)
Aug. 2: Brazil vs. USA, 8 p.m. (noon PT)
Aug. 4: Russia vs. USA, 4:45 p.m. (8:45 a.m.)
Aug. 6: USA vs. Tunisia, 8 p.m. (noon PT)
Aug. 8: Quarterfinal Matches at 2 p.m., 4 p.m., 7:30 p.m., 9:30 p.m.
Aug. 10: Semifinal Matches at 3 p.m., 7:30 p.m.
Aug. 12: Men's Bronze Medal Match, 9:30 a.m.
Aug. 12: Men's Gold Medal Match, 1 p.m.
Aug. 12: Men's Gold Medal Ceremony, 2:50 p.m.
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