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Aaron Russell

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Aaron Russell
Personal information
Full nameAaron Joseph Russell
NicknameRonnie
Ron
Born (1993-06-04) June 4, 1993 (age 31)
Arbutus, Maryland, U.S.
HometownEllicott City, Maryland, U.S.
Height6 ft 9 in (2.05 m)
Weight216 lb (98 kg)
Spike140 in (360 cm)
Block130 in (340 cm)
College / UniversityPennsylvania State University
Volleyball information
PositionOutside hitter
Current clubWarta Zawiercie
Number3
Career
YearsTeams
2012–2015
2015–2018
2018–2020
2020–2022
2022–2024
2024–
Penn State Nittany Lions
Sir Safety Perugia
Itas Trentino
Gas Sales Piacenza
JT Thunders
Warta Zawiercie
National team
2014– United States

Aaron Joseph Russell (born June 4, 1993) is an American professional volleyball player who plays as an outside hitter for Aluron CMC Warta Zawiercie and the U.S. national team.[1] He was a bronze medalist at the Olympic Games Rio 2016, Paris 2024 and the 2018 World Championship.

Personal life

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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

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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 of Italy.[2]

In 2016, Russell took part in his first Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro as a member of the U.S 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.

In 2024, Russell took part in his second Olympic Games in Paris as a member of the U.S Olympic team and won a bronze medal when the U.S beat Italy in three sets.

Honors

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Club

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Individual awards

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College

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  • 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

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References

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  1. ^ "Reprezentant USA oficjalnie zagra w PlusLidze!". siatka.org (in Polish). June 5, 2024. Retrieved June 5, 2024.
  2. ^ "Block Devils "Stars&Stripes"! Aaron Russell sbarca a Perugia!". legavolley.it (in Italian). June 15, 2015. Retrieved June 15, 2015.
[edit]
Awards
Preceded by
First award
Best Outside Spiker of
Olympic Games

2016
ex aequo Brazil Ricardo Lucarelli
Succeeded by
Preceded by Most Valuable Player of
FIVB Club World Championship

2018
Succeeded by