Aaron Russell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Aaron Russell |
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| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Full name | Aaron Joseph Russell | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nickname | Ronnie Ron |
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| Born | June 4, 1993 Arbutus, Maryland, U.S. |
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| Hometown | Ellicott City, Maryland, U.S. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 9 in (2.05 m) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 216 lb (98 kg) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Spike | 140 in (360 cm) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Block | 130 in (340 cm) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| College(s) | Pennsylvania State University | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Volleyball information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Outside hitter | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Current club | Warta Zawiercie | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Honours
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Aaron Joseph Russell (born June 4, 1993) is an American professional volleyball player. He is an amazing outside hitter for the U.S. national team. He also plays for a club team called Aluron CMC Warta Zawiercie in Poland.
Aaron has won several big awards. He earned bronze medals at the Olympic Games in Rio 2016 and Paris 2024. He also won a bronze medal at the 2018 World Championship.
Contents
About Aaron Russell
Early Life and Family
Aaron Russell grew up in Ellicott City, Maryland, U.S. His parents are Stewart and Marian Russell. Aaron is the second of five brothers. His brothers are Peter, Samuel, Tim, and Paul. Peter also plays professional volleyball.
Aaron was a top soccer player for Centennial High School. His school did not have a boys' volleyball team. So, he helped the girls' team practice. He also played club volleyball at MVP (Maryland Volleyball Program). In 2015, he graduated from Pennsylvania State University. He married his college sweetheart, Kendall Pierce, in 2017.
College Volleyball Star
Aaron played college volleyball at Penn State. He was named an AVCA First Team All–American in 2014 and 2015. This means he was one of the best college players in the country. He helped Penn State reach the NCAA men's championship semifinals every year he played.
Aaron was part of the Boys' Youth Team in 2010 and 2011. He was also on the Men's Junior National Team in 2013. He joined the senior U.S. national team in 2014.
Professional Club Career
In 2015, Aaron started his professional career. He joined his first pro team, Sir Safety Perugia, in Italy.
After three years with Perugia, Aaron signed with another Italian team, Diatec Trentino, in 2018. He was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) at the 2018 FIVB Volleyball Men's Club World Championship. This was because he helped Diatec Trentino win their fifth gold medal at the tournament.
Since then, he has played for other teams. These include Gas Sales Piacenza in Italy and JT Thunders in Japan. Currently, he plays for Aluron CMC Warta Zawiercie in Poland.
Playing for Team USA
Aaron has represented the United States in many major competitions.
- Olympic Games: He won bronze medals with Team USA at the 2016 Rio Olympics and the 2024 Paris Olympics. At the 2016 Olympics, he was named one of the Best Outside Spikers.
- World Championships: He earned a bronze medal at the 2018 World Championship.
- World Cup: He helped Team USA win gold medals at the 2015 and 2023 World Cups. He also won a bronze in 2019.
- Nations League: Aaron has won several medals in the FIVB Nations League. These include silver medals in 2019, 2022, and 2023, and a bronze in 2018.
- NORCECA Championship: He won gold medals in 2017 and 2023.
Major Awards and Wins
Aaron has won many awards throughout his career.
Club Honors
- CEV Champions League
2016–17 – with Sir Safety Perugia
- FIVB Club World Championship
Poland 2018 – with Trentino Volley
- CEV Cup
2018–19 – with Diatec Trentino
- Domestic Titles
- 2017–18 Italian SuperCup, with Sir Safety Perugia
- 2017–18 Italian Cup, with Sir Safety Perugia
- 2017–18
Italian Championship, with Sir Safety Perugia - 2024–25 Polish SuperCup, with Aluron CMC Warta Zawiercie
- 2017–18
Individual Awards
- 2016: Olympic Games – Best outside spiker
- 2017: NORCECA Championship – Best outside spiker
- 2017: Italian SuperCup – Most valuable player
- 2018: FIVB Club World Championship – Most valuable player
- 2023: V.League Division 1 – Best server
- 2024: Polish SuperCup – Most valuable player
College Awards
- AVCA First Team All–American – 2014, 2015
- NCAA Championship All–Tournament Team – 2015
- Uvaldo Acosta Memorial EIVA Player of the Year – 2013, 2014, 2015
- EIVA First Team All–Conference – 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015
- EIVA Championship Most Outstanding Player – 2013, 2015
- EIVA Championship All–Tournament Team – 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015
See Also
- List of Pennsylvania State University Olympians
