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Aaron Russell
Aaron Russell (Legavolley 2017).jpg
Personal information
Full name Aaron Joseph Russell
Nickname Ronnie
Ron
Nationality American
Born (1993-06-04) June 4, 1993 (age 30)
Baltimore, Maryland, United States
Hometown Ellicott City, Maryland, United States
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 JT Thunders
Number 6
Career
Years Teams
2012–2015
2015–2018
2018–2020
2020–2022
2022–
Penn State Nittany Lions
Sir Safety Perugia
Itas Trentino
Gas Sales Piacenza
JT Thunders
National team
2014–  USA
Honours
Men's volleyball
Representing  United States
Olympic rings.svg
Olympic Games
Bronze 2016 Rio de Janeiro
FIVB World Championship
Bronze 2018 Italy/Bulgaria
FIVB World Cup
Gold 2015 Japan
Gold 2023 Japan
Bronze 2019 Japan
FIVB Nations League
Silver 2019 Chicago
Silver 2022 Bologna
Silver 2023 Gdańsk
Bronze 2018 Lille
FIVB World League
Bronze 2015 Rio de Janeiro
NORCECA Championship
Gold 2017 Colorado Springs
Gold 2023 Charleston

Aaron Joseph Russell (born June 4, 1993) is an American professional volleyball player who plays as an outside hitter for JT Thunders and the U.S. national team. He was a bronze medalist at the Olympic Games Rio 2016 and the 2018 World Championship.

Personal life

Aaron Russell grew up in Ellicott City, Maryland, U.S. His parents are Stewart and Marian Russell. Aaron was born the second of five boys. The other brothers are Peter (1992), Samuel (1995), Tim (1999) and Paul (2002). Peter also plays volleyball professionally. Russell was a top soccer player for Centennial High School in Maryland. The school did not have a boys’ volleyball team so he helped the girls’ team train while playing club volleyball at MVP (Maryland Volleyball Program). In 2015, he graduated from Pennsylvania State University. On July 30, 2017, he married former Penn State women's volleyball player Kendall Pierce, his college sweetheart.

Career

In 2015, he completed his volleyball career at Penn State, where he was named an AVCA First Team All–American in 2014 and 2015. All four years he helped Penn State reach the NCAA men's championship semifinals. Russell was a member of the Boys’ Youth Team in 2010 and 2011 and a member of the Men's Junior National Team in 2013. He made his debut with the senior national team in 2014.

In 2015, he joined his first professional team, Sir Safety Perugia.

In 2016, Russell took part in his first Olympic Games as a member of the United States Olympic team and won a bronze medal when the U.S. beat Russia in five sets. Russell was named one of the Best Outside Spikers of the tournament.

In June 2018, after 3 years spent playing for Perugia, Russell signed for another Italian team, Diatec Trentino. At the 2018 Club World Championship held in Poland, he was named the Most Valuable Player for his contribution to Diatec Trentino's 5th gold medal, the most by any club team in the history of the tournament.

Honors

Club

  • CEV Champions League
    • Silver medal europe.svg 2016–17 – with Sir Sicoma Colussi Perugia
  • CEV Cup
    • Simple gold cup.svg 2018–19 – with Diatec Trentino
  • Domestic
    • 2017–18 Simple gold cup.svg Italian SuperCup, with Sir Safety Conad Perugia
    • 2017–18 Simple gold cup.svg Italian Cup, with Sir Safety Conad Perugia
    • 2017–18 Gold medal with cup.svg Italian Championship, with Sir Safety Conad Perugia

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

College

  • 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
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