COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Former Anteater All-American David Smith has been named to the 12-player men's indoor volleyball team that will compete for the U.S. at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020.

This will be Smith's third Olympic appearance (2012, 2016). He becomes the 10^th Anteater athlete to participate in three or more Olympic Games.

He joins Matt Anderson making a third appearance on the squad and is one of eight players returning from the 2016 squad that won the bronze medal in Rio de Janeiro.

On the bench, former UCI All-American Brian Thornton will be attending his first Olympics as an assistant coach. He was a setter on the 2012 U.S. Olympic Men's Team.

Smith and Thornton were teammates on UCI's 2007 National Championship team. Smith led the country in hitting percentage with a .559 mark as a senior, which is a UCI season record. Thornton is UCI's all-time assist leader with 4,662.

Another Anteater, Kyle Russell, was one of seven Olympic alternates chosen.Russell played at UCI from 2012-16 and was a member of two national championship teams (2012, 2013).

The roster is pending approval from the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee.

The U.S. Men are ranked No. 3 in the world and currently competing at the FIVB Volleyball Nations League in Rimini, Italy.

On Wednesday, Smith will square off with former Anteater All-American Kevin Tillie as the U.S. battles France.

The Olympic Games are scheduled to begin on July 23 with the men's volleyball tournament beginning on July 24.


USA Volleyball