Anteaters Around The World

IRVINE, Calif. – Several former men's volleyball players are in action representing their countries around the world.

Anteater All-American and two-time Olympian David Smith is a member of the U.S. Men's National Team who is competing in the Volleyball Nations League (VNL), while Kyle Russell ('16) is a member of the U.S. Pan American Team. Two-time All-American Kevin Tillie ('13) is also donning red, white and blue, but of his home country of France.

On Sunday, Smith and Tillie faced off with the U.S. capturing a 23-25, 25-22, 28-26, 27-25 win in Cannes, France. Smith scored 13 points on a match-high five blocks, two aces and six kills, while Tillie led his team with 16 points, on 14 kills and an ace. France is in fifth place with a 6-3 record.

The U.S. improved its record to 5-4 and sits in sixth place. The Americans, who have former All-American Brian Thornton on the coaching staff, have won four straight heading into its matches on June 21-23 in Hoffman Estates, Ill. The U.S. Men are hosting the VNL Finals on July 10-14 in Chicago and will qualify no matter where they finish.

Russell, who was a member of the 2018 Pan American team that finished seventh, will compete June 16-21 in Colima, Mexico.

The U.S. started with a sweep of Guatemala where Russell added four kills and a block.

Dan McDonnell ('13) and Michael Seata ('17) were on the United State's 25-man preliminary roster. Each week, coaches choose 14 players to compete in the FIVB Volleyball Nations League.

Follow along with USA Volleyball

Here is a round-up of former Anteater players who have been playing professionally:

Carson Clark '12 – INDIA – Blackhawks Hyderabad
- Finished 5^th in its inaugural season.
- Finished 12^th overall in kills in the league
- 14^th in the league in aces
- 15^th in the league for total points

Tamir Hershko '17 – ISRAEL – Maccabi Tel Aviv
- Finished 3^rd in league play and were the runner-up for the Israeli League Cup.
- Was the highest point scorer in the Israeli League.

Hershko said: "It was a fun season, being in Israel with family and friends after five years that I haven't been home for more than a few months at a time since UCI."

He will be playing professionally in Finland next year in Raision Loimu.

Dan McDonnell '12 – FRANCE - Tourcoing Lille Métropole
- Also a USA Men's National Team Member

Kyle Russell '16 – GERMANY – Berlin Recycling Volleys
- BR Volleys finished the 2019 season as German Bundesliga Champions
- Debut with USA in FIVB Volleyball Nations League

Russell said: "The season was an exciting one. Being my second season in Berlin I felt more at home. It was nice to return to all of the fans and crazy atmosphere of our home games. We averaged about 5,000 people per home match. "

He received seven MVP votes for the regular season.

Michael Saeta '16 – FRANCE – Chaumont Haute-Marne
- Chaumont won 2^nd Place for the French Cup and French Championship.
- 3^rd overall in assists in the league with a 50.1% setting efficiency
- Finished European Champions League (CEV) with the most aces in the tournament
- Also a member of USA Volleyball Men's National Team

Seata said: "This year in Chaumont was the most exhausting year of volleyball I have ever had. While we were very fortunate to make it to the quarterfinals of champions league, the French cup final, and the French championship final, this meant that we played 49 matches in 8 different countries. Although we weren't able to come out of the year with any gold medals, I was very happy to start for one of the best teams in Europe! This was my first year as a starting setter in Europe, and I must say I was living the dream this year."

David Smith '07 – POLAND – Asseco Resovia
- Team finished in 7^th Place in the Plusliga
- 16^th ranked blocker in the league

Smith said: "This year was my 11th season playing volleyball professionally overseas and third year in the PlusLiga, Poland's top volleyball league. I was fortunate to play with my good friend and USA national teammate Kawika Shoji. Less than two weeks after I arrived, my wife gave birth to our baby girl (they were still back in California). Asseco Resovia is a well-known volleyball club in Poland and we had assembled a team of guys with a lot of experience and talent so I was really excited for the season. Unfortunately, things did not start out so smoothly as we lost our first seven matches of the season. The club was expecting better results from us and a few people were fired and we were left to try to salvage the season. Though it was not easy, we nearly did that, missing out on the playoffs by a mere one point. It wasn't the season that I had in mind volleyball-wise, but the city we lived in, Rzeszow, was amazing and we had a great experience there!"

Kevin Tillie '13 – CHINA (Beijing)/ITALY (Modena)
- Finished with a Silver Medal with Beijing Volleyball in China
- Finished in 4^th in Italy with Modena
- French National Team Member

Logan Zotovich '18 – ENGLAND – Tendring Volleyball Club
- Team Captain of University of Essex and Tendring Volleyball Club
- 1^st Place finishes in the British Universities & Colleges Sports League and Shield Tournament
- MVP of the Student Cup Tournament
- BUCS Gold medal, a University of Essex school first.
- Tendring squad finished first in the Shield Tournament, earning his club a promotion to the premiere league.

Schedule

Anteaters Around The World

Players Mentioned

Tamir Hershko

Michael Saeta

Logan Zotovich

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