Aaron Russell


Aaron Russell is an American volleyball player, a member of the United States men's national volleyball team and Italian club Diatec Trentino. He was part of the bronze medalist winning USA team at the 2016 Olympic Games.

Personal life

Aaron Russell grew up in Ellicott City, Maryland, U.S. His parents are Stewart and Marian Russell. Aaron is the second-oldest of five brothers. The other brothers are Peter, Samuel, Tim and Paul. Peter also plays volleyball professionally. Russell was a top soccer player for Centennial High School in Maryland. The school did not have a boys’ volleyball team so he helped the girls’ team train while playing club volleyball. In 2015 he graduated from Pennsylvania State University. On July 30, 2017 he married former Penn State women's volleyball player Kendall Pierce, his college sweetheart.

Career

In 2015, he completed his four-year volleyball career at Penn State, where he was named an AVCA All-American in 2013 and 2014. Both years he also helped Penn State reach the NCAA men's championship semifinals. Russell was a member of the Boys’ Youth Team in 2010 and ’11 and a member of the Men's Junior National Team in 2013. He made his debut with the senior national team at the 2014 World Championship Qualifier, where he helped the U.S. win gold and was named Best Spiker.
In 2015 he joined his first senior team, Italian club Sir Safety Perugia.
In 2016 Aaron Russell took part in his first Olympic Games. He was a member of Olympic United States men's national team and achieved bronze medal on August 21, 2016. U.S. beat Russia in five sets and claim the bronze medal in Rio de Janeiro. Russell was named one of the Best Outside Spiker's of the Olympic tournament.
In June 2018, after 3 years playing for Perugia, Russell signed for another Italian club Diatec Trentino. In the FIVB Club World Championship 2018, he was named the Most Valuable Player for his contribution to Diatec Trentino's 5th gold medal, the most by any club team in the history of the tournament.

Sporting achievements

Club

CEV Champions League