CHICAGO (June 14, 2021) – Thomas Jaeschke (Wheaton, Ill./Wheaton Warrenville South), who helped lead Loyola University Chicago's men's volleyball program to back-to-back NCAA championships in 2014 and 2015, is one of 12 players that will compete for the United States at the Olympic Games in Tokyo this summer, pending approval from the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee.
The 6-foot-6 outside hitter, who was the 2015 American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Division I-II NCAA Player of the Year, will be participating in his second Olympic Games. Jaeschke is one of eight players returning from the 2016 U.S. squad that won the bronze medal in Rio de Janeiro.
During his three-year playing career at Loyola, Jaeschke racked up 1,053 kills (3.63 kills per set) and 542 digs (1.87 digs per set), while hitting .372 (1,053-278-2,086), twice earning AVCA First Team All-America accolades. The outside hitter played a key role in leading the Ramblers to consecutive NCAA championships in 2014 and 2015 before turning pro following his junior campaign in 2015.
Middle blocker Jeff Jendryk (Wheaton, Ill./St. Francis), who wrapped up his collegiate career in 2018, was selected to the U.S. roster as an alternate. The 2015 NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player, Jendryk graduated in 2018 as one of only 12 individuals to have been a four-time AVCA All-American at the NCAA Division I-II level. In four seasons at Loyola, he hit .449 (947-174-1,722) with 2.27 kills and 1.04 blocks per set, finishing with 947 career kills and 434 career blocks.
The U.S. is currently ranked No. 3 in the world and is competing at the FIVB Volleyball Nations League in Rimini, Italy. Following the VNL, the U.S. team will briefly return to its Anaheim, Calif., training center before heading to Japan for the Olympic Games. Prior to its arrival in Tokyo, the team will train in the Japanese city of Mishima and play two matches against Japan's men's team.
Postponed for a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 Olympic Games are scheduled to begin on July 23 with the Opening Ceremony, with the men's volleyball tournament commencing on July 24.
U.S. Men's Roster for Olympic Games Tokyo 2020
1 Matt Anderson (OPP, 6-10, West Seneca, N.Y., Penn State)
3 Taylor Sander (OH, 6-4, Huntington Beach, Calif., BYU)
5 Kyle Ensing (OPP, 6-7, Valencia, Calif., Long Beach State)
6 Mitch Stahl (MB, 6-8, Chambersburg, Pa., UCLA)
7 Kawika Shoji (S, 6-3, Honolulu, Hawaii, Stanford)
8 T.J. DeFalco (OH, 6-5, Huntington Beach, Calif., Long Beach State)
11 Micah Christenson (S, 6-5, Honolulu, Hawaii, USC)
12 Max Holt (MB, 6-10, Cincinnati, Ohio, Penn State)
17 Thomas Jaeschke (OH, 6-6, Wheaton, Ill., Loyola)
18 Garrett Muagututia (OH, 6-5, Oceanside, Calif., UCLA)
20 David Smith (MB, 6-7, Saugus, Calif., UC Irvine)
22 Erik Shoji (L, 6-0, Honolulu, Hawaii, Stanford)
Alternates
2 Aaron Russell (OH, 6-9, Ellicott City, Md., Penn State)
4 Jeff Jendryk (MB, 6-10, Wheaton, Ill., Loyola)
13 Ben Patch (OPP, 6-8, Layton, Utah, BYU)
15 Brenden Sander (OH, 6-4, Huntington Beach, Calif., BYU)
16 Josh Tuaniga (S, 6-3, Long Beach, Calif., Long Beach State)
19 Taylor Averill (MB, 6-7, San Jose, Calif., Hawaii)
21 Dustin Watten (L, 6-0, Long Beach, Calif., Long Beach State)
25 Kyle Russell (OPP, 6-9, Sacramento, Calif., UC Irvine)
