United States national team unveil extended roster with the return of Matt Anderson and TJ DeFalco

The United States have unveiled an extended roster for 2026 Volleyball Nations League, combining experienced players and young talents, with many players who were already part of the team in 2025.

Under the guidance of head coach Karch Kiraly, after finishing 11th in the last edition of the VNL and reaching the quarterfinals of the World Championship, the American team will begin the competition during Week 1 in Ottawa against Turkey, Germany, Canada and Italy, they will then continue with Week 2 in Orléans, facing Cuba, Iran, Japan and Serbia, before concluding the preliminary phase during Week 3 in at home in Chicago, where they will take on China, Brazil, Bulgaria and Poland.

The list of the 30 players:

Opposites:
• Kyle Ensing (Aluron CMC Warta Zawiercie)
• Gabi Garcia (Itas Trentino)
• Jake Hanes (Berlin Recycling Volleys)
• Cole Hartke (Pepperdine University)

Setters:
• Micah Christenson (Rana Verona)
• Micah Ma’a (Fakel Yamal)
• Tread Rosenthal (Hawaii)
• Andrew Rowan (UCLA)

Outside Hitters:
• Matthew Anderson (Sakai)
• Ethan Champlin (SVG Lüneburg)
• Torey Defalco (JTEKT Stings)
• Jordan Ewert (Altekma)
• Nolan Flexen (Berlin Recycling Volleys)
• Sean Kelly (UCLA)
• Jacob Pasteur (Chaumont)
• Maicon França (Gebze Bld.)
• Zach Rama (UCLA)
• Cooper Robinson (Hiroshima)

Middle Blockers:
• Taylor Averill (Shizuoka)
• Jeffrey Jendryk (PAOK Thessaloniki)
• Matthew Knigge (Berlin Recycling Volleys)
• Michael Marshman (Tours Volley Ball)
• Merrick McHenry (Nice Volley Ball)
• Parker Tomkinson (USC)
• Cameron Thorne (UCLA)
• Daniel Wetter (Paris Volley

Liberos:
• Mason Briggs (Nice Volley Ball)
• Erik Shoji (Asseco Resovia Rzeszów)
• Kyle Dagostino (Berlin Recycling Volleys)
• Troy Gooch (Düren)

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