Matt Anderson (volleyball)
Matthew John Anderson (born April 18, 1987) is an American volleyball player. He is a member of the United States men's national volleyball team, with whom he was a participant of the Olympic Games (London 2012, Rio 2016), 2014 World League and 2015 World Cup.
Personal life
Anderson was born in Buffalo, New York to Michael and Nancy Anderson. His father, Michael Anderson, died in January 2010. He has three older sisters named Jennifer, Joelle and Amy and one older brother named Joshua. Joelle and Amy both played volleyball in their college years. Has a tattoo on his wrist in honor of his nephew Tristin, who is autistic. Also had a tattoo in honor of his late father. Matt graduated from West Seneca West Senior High School in 2005. On August 30th, 2020, he married Jackie Gillum who gave birth to their son Michael James “Jamie” Anderson on January 31st, 2020.
Career
Clubs
In his senior year, he led the West Seneca boys' volleyball team to a 17-0 regular-season record and a Sectional Finals appearance, losing to eventual state champion, Hamburg, in 3 sets. In 2004, the team were the 2004 Division I State Champions. He played club volleyball for Eden Volleyball Club in Eden, New York. Anderson followed an uncharacteristic growth path in his youth – only reaching his full height (6'8") as a Sophomore at Penn State. His original position was middle – playing that in his Sophomore and Junior seasons of high school. As he became more experienced in the game, he spent more time in the Outside and Right-side for Eden VBC. He ranks amongst the top alumni of the distinguished club to this day.
Anderson finished his career in Penn State with 1,212 kills and 82 aces, both which rank in the top 13 in Penn State history. He had a decorated career, especially in 2008 as he helped lead the Nittany Lions to their second ever NCAA Men's Volleyball Championship against Pepperdine. He was named the NCAA Championship Most Outstanding Player for his 29 kill performance against the Waves. Other awards for 2008 include EIVA Player of the Year, AVCA National Player of the Year, AVCA First Team All-America, and All-EIVA First Team.
On July 1, 2008, he announced he would forgo his 2009 senior year at Penn State and signed a professional contract with Hyundai Capital Skywalkers of the Korean League[1] In his debut season, Anderson helped the Skywalkers claim first in the regular season before losing 3-1 in the championship series. Season 2010–2011 spent in the Italian League as a player of Tonno Callipo Vibo Valentia. Then he moved to Casa Modena. Since 2012, he has played for Russian club, Zenit Kazan. With this club, he won a bronze medal in the Russian Championship and CEV Champions League in 2012–2013.[2] In the season 2013–2014, his team won the title of Russian Champion and Anderson was the Most Valuable Player of the Russian League.[3][4]
On October 29, 2014, Anderson suspended his volleyball career. He asked for the termination of the contract with Zenit Kazan because of depression.[5][6] On December 26, 2014 Anderson announced his return to Zenit Kazan, but only in CEV Champions League matches.[7]
On February 13, 2017, Anderson announced that he had signed a contract to remain with Zenit Kazan for another season.[8]
Anderson decided to return to Modena Volley for the 2019–20 season.[9]
National team
In September 2013 USA, including Anderson, achieved a title of the NORCECA Champion.[10] On July 20, 2014 he was part of the team that won a gold medal of the 2014 World League.[11]
Sporting achievements
Clubs
- CEV Champions League
- 2012/2013 – with Zenit Kazan
- 2014/2015 – with Zenit Kazan
- 2015/2016 – with Zenit Kazan
- 2016/2017 – with Zenit Kazan
- 2017/2018 – with Zenit Kazan
- FIVB Club World Championship
- Betim 2015 – with Zenit Kazan
- Betim 2016 – with Zenit Kazan
- Poland 2017 – with Zenit Kazan
- National championships
- 2008/2009 South Korean Championship, with Cheonan Hyundai Capital Skywalkers
- 2012/2013 Russian SuperCup, with Zenit Kazan
- 2013/2014 Russian Championship, with Zenit Kazan
- 2015/2016 Russian SuperCup, with Zenit Kazan
- 2015/2016 Russian Cup, with Zenit Kazan
- 2015/2016 Russian Championship, with Zenit Kazan
- 2016/2017 Russian SuperCup, with Zenit Kazan
- 2016/2017 Russian Cup, with Zenit Kazan
- 2016/2017 Russian Championship, with Zenit Kazan
- 2017/2018 Russian SuperCup, with Zenit Kazan
- 2017/2018 Russian Cup, with Zenit Kazan
Individual awards
- 2008: MIVA All–Championship Team
- 2008: NCAA Division – Most Valuable Player
- 2012: Player of the Year United States
- 2013: Player of the Year United States
- 2013: NORCECA Championship – Most Valuable Player, Best Outside Spiker
- 2014: Russian League – Most Valuable Player
- 2014: Player of the Year United States
- 2015: FIVB World Cup – Most Valuable Player
- 2015: Player of the Year United States
- 2017: Russian League – The best forward of the Final six
- 2017: FIVB World Grand Champions Cup – Best Opposite Spiker
- 2018: FIVB Nations League – Best Opposite Spiker
- 2018: FIVB World Championship – Best Opposite
- 2019: FIVB Nations League – Best Opposite Spiker
- 2019: FIVB Nations League – Most Valuable Player
See also
External links
- Player profile at CEV.eu
- Player profile at LegaVolley.it
- Player profile at WorldofVolley.com
- Player Profile at Volleybox.net
References
- ^ Anderson to forego senior year; signs professional contract in Korea Archived July 8, 2008, at the Wayback Machine – gopsusports.cstv.com – 2008-07-01
- ^ Zenit KAZAN settles for bronze to celebrate fourth European medal Archived September 16, 2017, at the Wayback Machine – cev.lu – 2013-03-17
- ^ RUS M: Zenit Kazan keeps Matt Anderson – worldofvolley.com – 2014-05-04
- ^ Zenit Kazan wins national championship Archived December 28, 2014, at the Wayback Machine – end.tatar-inform.ru – 2014-04-14
- ^ Андерсон решил приостановить карьеру – zenit-kazan.com – 2014-10-29
- ^ Matt Anderson terminated contract with Zenit – worldofvolley.com – 2014-10-29
- ^ American Anderson to return to Zenit-Kazan – fivb.org – 2014-12-26
- ^ Keith, Braden (February 24, 2017). "American Matt Anderson Re-Signs With Zenit Kazan For Another Season". VolleyMob. Retrieved February 24, 2017.
- ^ TRANSFER BOMB IN ITALY: Matt Anderson joins Modena for 2019/2020 season!
- ^ U.S. Men Win 2013 NORCECA Championship – teamusa.org – 2013-09-28
- ^ USA upset Brazil to claim second World League title – fivb.org – 2014-07-20
- 1987 births
- Living people
- Sportspeople from Buffalo, New York
- American men's volleyball players
- Modena Volley players
- Olympic volleyball players of the United States
- Volleyball players at the 2012 Summer Olympics
- Volleyball players at the 2016 Summer Olympics
- Penn State Nittany Lions men's volleyball players
- American expatriate sportspeople in South Korea
- Expatriate volleyball players in South Korea
- American expatriate sportspeople in Italy
- Expatriate volleyball players in Italy
- American expatriate sportspeople in Russia
- Expatriate volleyball players in Russia
- Russian Champions of men's volleyball
- Medalists at the 2016 Summer Olympics
- Olympic bronze medalists for the United States in volleyball
- American expatriate volleyball players