Former All-American David Smith Named To U.S. Olympic Team
June 21, 2016 | Men's Volleyball
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Former UC Irvine All-American David Smith has been selected to the U.S. Men's Volleyball Team that will compete at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
Smith, who is one of four veterans on the squad, made the 12-man team that begins play in the 2016 Olympic Games on Aug. 7 against Canada.
Team USA will play in Pool A with Brazil, Canada, France, Italy and Mexico. The top four teams will advance to the quarterfinals.
The middle blocker is making his second Olympic games, competing in 2012 when the team finished tied for fifth. Smith and Brian Thornton, both 2007 graduates, were the first two UC Irvine players to compete in the Olympics in the sport of men's volleyball.
Smith was a member of UCI's first national championship team in 2007.
The U.S. Men qualified for the 2016 Olympic Games by winning the 2015 FIVB World Cup.
The U.S. Men have qualified for 10 previous Olympic Games: 1964, '68, '84, '88, '92, '96, 2000, '04, '08 and '12. They won the Olympic gold medal in 1984, '88 and 2008 and won bronze in 1992.
Smith joins fellow Anteater Kevin Tillie in Rio. Tillie will be playing for his home country of France.
France is making their return to the Games after competing last in 1996.
Tillie was a two-time first team All-American who helped UCI to back-to-back national championships in 2012 and 2013.
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