The United States men's national volleyball team represents the country in international competitions and friendly matches. The team is governed by USA Volleyball, and it has won six Olympic medals, three of them gold.
History
As the birthplace of volleyball, the United States founded the first association to regulate the sport. The United States Volleyball Association was formed in 1927, and was the founding member of FIVB in 1947.
However, by the time of volleyball's international growth in the 1940s, the U.S. was no longer a major power. They competed in the inaugural volleyball Olympic tournament in 1964. The U.S. returned to the elite in the 1980s, winning the FIVB World Championship in 1986 in Paris, as well as four golds at the Pan American Games and eight at the NORCECA Championships. Of the nine times that the U.S. have competed at the World Cup, they have finished fourth five times, most recently in 2007. They won the event in 1985, and last time out in 2011 they finished in sixth place, eight points away from the medal positions. The team was a bronze medalist at the World Championships in 1994. Four years prior, in Italy, they finished sixth. Of the 14 times the United States have qualified for this competition, they have finished in the top 10 on eight occasions.
The U.S. won the World Cup in 1985 and the World Championship in 1986. The U.S. team clinched its first Olympic gold medal in 20 years when they defeated Brazil 3–1 to take gold at Beijing 2008. The team failed to defend their title in 2012, losing 3–0 to Italy in the quarterfinals for an equal-fifth finish. The U.S. won the 2015 World Cup title, where they got the first Rio 2016 Olympic qualification ticket. In September 2015 U.S. national team took part in 2015 World Cup. American players won 10 of 11 matches (the same result as Poland and Italy) and lost only to Poland (1–3). On September 23, 2015 they played their last game at the World Cup and defeated Argentina (3–1). The U.S. won the World Cup on a points tie-breaker and qualified for the 2016 Summer Olympics.USA wrap up historic World Cup as Italy join them on road to Rio – fivb.org – September 23, 2015USA’s Anderson heads Men’s World Cup Dream Team – fivb.org – September 23, 2015 It was their second victory in World Cup tournament (previous in 1985).USA end 30 years of hurt with World Cup triumph – fivb.org – September 23, 2015
In the 2018 FIVB Volleyball Men's Nations League, the inaugural edition replacing the World League, the U.S. national team defeated the reigning Olympic champions and 9-time World League winners Brazil in straight sets for the bronze medal.
Tournament record
Olympic Games Year Position Squad 1964 Tokyo 9th place Bright, Brown, Erickson, Murray, Hill, Griebenow, Hammer, Highland, Lang, Nelson, O'Hara, Ernie Suwara, Taylor and Velasco. Head Coach: Wilson 1968 Mexico 7th place Alstrom, Bright, Davenport, Duke, Haine, Henn, May, Patterson, Rundle, Stanley, Suwara and Velasco. Head Coach: Coleman 1984 Los Angeles Gold medal Berzins, Buck, Duwelius, Dvorak, Kiraly, Marlowe, Powers, Salmons, Saunders, Sunderland, Timmons and Waldie. Head Coach: Beal. 1988 Seoul Gold medal Buck, Ctvrtlik, Fortune, Kiraly, Luyties, Partie, Root, Sato, Saunders, Stork, Tanner and Timmons. Head Coach: Dunphy 1992 Barcelona Bronze medal Becker, Briceno, Ctvrtlik, Fortune, Greenbaum, Hilliard, Ivie, Partie, Samuelson, Sato, Stork and Timmons. Head Coach: Sturm 1996 Atlanta 9th place Ball, Ctvrtlik, Fortune, Hyden, Ivie, Lambert, Landry, Nygaard, Sorensen, Stork, Watts and Winslow. Head Coach: Sturm 2000 Sydney 11th place Ball, Barnett, Hoff, Hyden, Lambert, Landry, McCaw, Millar, Nygaard, Roumain, Sullivan and Witt. Head Coach: Beal 2004 Athens 4th place Ball (), Barnett, Billings, Eatherton, Gardner, Hoff, Millar, Priddy, Salmon, Stanley, Sullivan and Suxho. Head Coach: Beal 2008 Beijing Gold medal Ball, Gardner, Hansen, Hoff (), Lambourne, Lee, Millar, Priddy, Rooney, Salmon, Stanley and Touzinsky. Head Coach: McCutcheon 2012 London 5th place Anderson, Holmes, Lambourne, Lee, Lotman, McKienzie, Priddy, Rooney, Smith, Stanley (), Suxho and Thornton. Head Coach: Knipe 2016 Rio de Janeiro Bronze medal Anderson, Russell, Sander, Lee (), K. Shoji, Priddy, Troy, Jaeschke, Christenson, Holt, Smith and E. Shoji. Head Coach: Speraw 2020 Tokyo 10th place Anderson, Sander, Ensing, Stahl, K. Shoji (), DeFalco, Christenson, Holt, Jaeschke, Muagututia, Smith, E. Shoji. Head Coach: Speraw 2024 Paris Bronze medal Anderson, Russell, Jendryk, DeFalco, Christenson, Holt, Maʻa, Jaeschke, Muagututia, Averill, Smith, E. Shoji. Head Coach: SperawTotal 3 Titles
FIVB World Championship Year Position Squad 1956 France 6th place rowspan=7 1960 Brazil 7th place 1966 Czechoslovakia 11th place 1970 Bulgaria 18th place 1974 Mexico 14th place 1978 Italy 19th place 1982 Argentina 13th place 1986 France Gold medal Dvorak, Saunders, Salmons, Ctvrtlik, Partie, Timmons, Buck, Stork, Sato, Powers, Kiraly. Head Coach: Dunphy 1990 Brazil 13th place rowspan=3 1994 Greece Bronze medal 1998 Japan 9th place 2002 Argentina 9th place Ball, Seiffert, McKienzie, Sullivan, Bunker, Priddy, Millar, Salmon, Billings, Stanley, Polster, Naeve. Head coach: Beal 2006 Japan 10th place Polster, Lambourne, Eatherton, Suxho, Priddy, Millar, Salmon, Hoff, Stanley, Gardner, McKienzie, Taliaferro. Head coach: McCutcheon 2010 Italy 6th place Anderson, Rooney, Lee, Lambourne, Lotman, Winder, Priddy, Stanley, Hansen, Holmes, Clark, Holt. Head coach: Knipe 2014 Poland 7th place Anderson, Sander, Lee, Lotman, K. Shoji, Ciarelli, Christenson, Clark, Holt, Reft, Smith, E. Shoji. Head coach: Speraw 2018 Italy/Bulgaria Bronze medal Anderson, Russell, Sander, Jendryk, Mcdonnell, K. Shoji, Patch, Christenson, Langlois, Holt, Averill, Smith, Watten, E. Shoji. Head coach: Speraw 2022 Poland/Slovenia 6th place Anderson, A. Russell, Jendryk, Ensing, DeFalco, Christenson, K. Russell, Tuaniga, Muagututia, Averill, Smith, Briggs, Shoji, Kessel. Head coach: Speraw 2025 Philippines 5th place Jendryk, Ensing, Pasteur, Garcia, Dagostino, Christenson, Maʻa, Robinson, Averill, Shoji, McHenry, Champlin, Knigge, Ewert, Marshman. Head coach: Kiraly 2027 Poland Qualified TBDTotal 1 Title
FIVB World Cup Year Position Squad 1977 10th place rowspan=6 1985 Gold medal 1989 4th place 1991 Bronze medal 1995 4th place 1999 4th place 2003 4th place Ball, Sullivan, Suxho, Priddy, Millar, Salmon, Billings, Hoff, Stanley, Gardner, Polster, Naeve. Head coach: Beal 2007 4th place Ball, Rooney, Polster, Lee, Lambourne, Priddy, Millar, Salmon, Hoff, Stanley, Hansen, Gardner. Head coach: McCutcheon 2011 6th place Anderson, Rooney, Patak, Lee, Lotman, Priddy, Salmon, Holmes, Hansen, Thornton, Holt. Head coach: Knipe 2015 Gold medal Anderson, Russell, Sander, Lee (), Lotman, K. Shoji, Troy, Christenson, Holmes, Jablonsky, Holt, Smith, Watten, E. Shoji. Head Coach: Speraw 2019 Bronze medal Anderson, Russell, Jendryk, Stahl, DeFalco, Saeta, Christenson (), Holt, Patch, Maʻa, Tuaniga, Muagututia, Smith, E. Shoji. Head Coach: Speraw 2023Japan World Cup Gold medal Anderson, Russell, Jendryk, Ensing, DeFalco, Dagostino, Christenson (), Holt, Maʻa, Jaeschke, Muguatutia, Averill, Smith, E. Shoji. Head Coach: SperawTotal 3 Titles
FIVB World Grand Champions Cup Year Position Squad 1993 Japan 5th place 2005 Japan Silver medal Eatherton, Polster, Lambourne, Hoff, McKienzie, Millar, Priddy, Salmon, Stanley, Suxho, Tamas, Olree. Head Coach: McCutcheon 2013 Japan 5th place Anderson, Rooney, Lee, K. Shoji, Priddy, Troy, Christenson, Tavana, Menzel, Clark, Holt, E. Shoji. Head coach: Speraw 2017 Japan 4th place Anderson, Russell, Sander, Jendryk, K. Shoji, Jaeschke, Christenson, Patch, Clark, Holt, Averill, Smith, Watten, E. Shoji. Head coach: SperawTotal 0 Title
FIVB Volleyball World League Year Position Squad 1990 Osaka 7th place rowspan=9 1991 Milan 6th place 1992 Genoa Bronze medal 1993 São Paulo 9th place 1994 Milan 12th place 1995 Rio de Janeiro 10th place 2000 Rotterdam 6th place 2001 Katowice 9th place 2006 Moscow T-10th place 2007 Katowice Bronze medal Polster, Taliaferro, Lambourne, Lee, Priddy, Millar, Salmon, Hoff, Stanley, Hansen, Gardner. Head Coach: McCutcheon 2008 Rio de Janeiro Gold medal Ball, Rooney, Lambourne, Priddy, Millar, Salmon, Hoff, Stanley, Hansen, Gardner, Lee, Touzinsky. Head Coach: McCutcheon 2009 Belgrade 6th place Rooney, Patak, Lee, Lambourne, Lotman, Suxho, Hein, Smith, Hoff (), Stanley, Hansen, Jablonsky, Touzinsky, Reft. Head Coach: Knipe 2010 Córdoba 8th place Anderson, Rooney, Patak, Lee, Lotman, Priddy, Hildebrand, Stanley, Hansen, Holmes, Holt, Reft. Head Coach: Knipe 2011 Gdańsk 7th place Anderson, Rooney, Patak, Lee (), Lambourne, Lotman, Thornton, Holmes, Stanley, Hansen, Holt, Touzinsky. Head Coach: Knipe 2012 Sofia Silver medal Anderson, Rooney, Lee, Lambourne, Lotman, Suxho, Priddy, Thornton, Holmes, Stanley (), Smith, McKienzie. Head Coach: Knipe 2013 Mar del Plata 12th place Anderson (), Lee, Lambourne, Lotman, K. Shoji, Caldwell, Troy, Clark, Jablonsky, Holt, Smith, E. Shoji. Head Coach: Speraw 2014 Florence Gold medal Anderson, Rooney (), Sander, Lee, Lotman, K. Shoji, Christenson, Holmes, Clark, Holt, Muagututia, E. Shoji. Head Coach: Speraw 2015 Rio de Janeiro Bronze medal Anderson, Russell, Sander, Lee (), Lotman, K. Shoji, Priddy, Troy, Jaeschke, Christenson, Holmes, Holt, Smith, Watten, E. Shoji. Head Coach: Speraw 2016 Kraków 5th place Anderson, Russell, Sander, Lee (), K. Shoji, Priddy, Troy, Jaeschke, Christenson, Holt, Smith, E. Shoji. Head Coach: Speraw 2017 Curitiba 4th place Sander, Jendryk, K. Shoji (), Jaeschke, Christenson, Mcdonnell, Patch, Clark, DeFalco, Muagututia, Averill, Smith, Watten, E. Shoji. Head Coach: SperawTotal 2 Titles
FIVB Volleyball Nations League Year Position Squad 2018 Bronze medal Anderson, Russell, Sander, Jendryk, Shaw, Stahl, K. Shoji, DeFalco, McDonnell, Christenson, Holt, Patch, Sander, Jaeschke, Langlois, Averill, Smith (), Watten, E. Shoji, Seif, Ensing. Head coach: Speraw 2019 Silver medal Anderson, Russell, Sander (), Jendryk, Shaw, Stahl, K. Shoji, DeFalco, McDonnell, Christenson, Holt, Patch, Sander, Jaeschke, Langlois, Averill, Smith, Watten, E. Shoji, Muagututia, Ensing. Head coach: Speraw 2021 7th place Anderson, Sander (), Jendryk, Ensing, Stahl, K. Shoji, DeFalco, Hanes, Christenson, Holt, Patch, Sander, Tuaniga, Jaeschke, Muagututia, Averill, Smith, Watten, E. Shoji. Head coach: Speraw 2022 Silver medal Smith (), Jendryk, Ensing, Stahl, DeFalco, A. Russell, Christenson, K. Russell, Dagostino, Kessel, Tuaniga, Mitchem, Muagututia, Shoji. Head coach: Speraw 2023 Silver medal Anderson, A. Russell, Jendryk, DeFalco, Hanes, Dagostino, Christenson (), Holt, Ma'a, Jaeschke, Muagututia, Averill, Smith, Shoji. Head coach: Speraw 2024 12th place Anderson, Jendryk, Ensing, DeFalco, Hanes, Dagostino, Christenson (), Holt, Ma'a, Muagututia, Averill, Shoji, Smith, Kessel, Ewert.Head coach: Speraw 2025 12th place Briggs, Jendryk, Ensing, Isaacson, Garcia, Ma’a, Dagostino, Hobus, Rowan, Robinson, Shoji (), Gasman, Flexen, McHenry, Champlin, Knigge, Ewert, Marshman.Head coach: Kiraly 2026 Silver medal Anderson, Briggs, Jendryk, Robinson, DeFalco, Christenson, Averill, Ma'a, Rowan, Hanes, Hartke, Champlin, Shoji, McHenry, Knigge.Head coach: KiralyTotal 0 Title
Pan American Games Year Position Squad 1955 Gold medal rowspan=13 1959 Gold medal 1963 Silver medal 1967 Gold medal 1971 Silver medal 1987 Gold medal 1995 Silver medal 19997th place 2007 Silver medal20115th place20156th place20196th place2023Did not participateTotal 4 Titles
Pan American Cup