Erik Thomas Shoji ( ; born August 24, 1989) is an American professional volleyball player who plays as a libero for Berlin Recycling Volleys and the U.S. national team. Shoji was a bronze medalist at the Olympic Games Rio 2016, Paris 2024 and the 2018 World Championship; the 2014 World League and 2015 World Cup winner, and a two–time Champions League winner (2022, 2023) with ZAKSA.
Early life Shoji was born in Honolulu, Hawaii to Dave, a volleyball coach best known for coaching women's volleyball at the University of Hawaii, and Mary Shoji. His older brother, Kawika, is also a professional volleyball player. Shoji attended Punahou School, where he won three consecutive men's state titles as a member of the volleyball team.
Shoji attended Stanford University, where he became the first four-time AVCA team All-American. He finished at Stanford as the record-holder for career digs, with 1,402 total digs.
Career Shoji became a member of the United States senior national team in 2013. He has represented Team USA at the 2016 Summer Olympics, where the team won a bronze medal, the 2020 Summer Olympics, and the 2024 Summer Olympics, where he earned his second bronze medal.
At the club level, Shoji has played for professional clubs in Germany, Poland, Austria, Italy, and Russia. He has played for Polish club ZAKSA since 2021, with whom he has won four Polish League trophies and two CEV Champions League titles.
Honors Club CEV Champions League 2021–22 – with ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle 2022–23 – with ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle CEV Cup 2015–16 – with Berlin Recycling Volleys Domestic 2013–14 Austrian Cup, with Hypo Tirol Innsbruck 2013–14 Austrian Championship, with Hypo Tirol Innsbruck 2015–16 German Cup, with Berlin Recycling Volleys 2015–16 German Championship, with Berlin Recycling Volleys 2021–22 Polish Cup, with ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle 2021–22 Polish Championship, with ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle 2022–23 Polish Cup, with ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle 2023–24 Polish SuperCup, with ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle
Youth national team 2006 NORCECA U19 Championship
Individual awards 2007: FIVB U19 World Championship – Best digger 2008: NORCECA U21 Championship – Best receiver 2008: NORCECA U21 Championship – Best defender 2008: NORCECA U21 Championship – Best libero 2015: FIVB World Cup – Best libero 2019: FIVB Nations League – Best libero 2023: NORCECA Championship – Best receiver
Personal life Shoji publicly came out as queer in a video posted to his Instagram and TikTok accounts on June 13, 2025.
References
External links
Player profile at TeamUSA.org
Player profile at LegaVolley.it Player profile at PlusLiga.pl Player profile at Volleybox.net