USA Volleyball reveals roster for 2011 World University Games

Five current college men’s volleyball players and seven recent graduates will represent the United States at the World University Games.

USA Volleyball announced Monday its 12-player roster and six alternates for the 2011 World University Games on Aug. 12-23 in Shenzhen, China.

“The team motto is ‘The Tradition Continues,’” head coach Gordon Mayforth said in a statement released Monday. “The USA has had a long tradition of doing well at this event. When you read the players and names on the list, I think we should expect to be in the mix.”

This is the first time the United States will compete in the World University Games, an event every two years, since 2007. The United States won the bronze medal at the 2007 World University Games.

Stanford and USC leads all college teams with three players on the United States roster.

The Cardinal’s All-American libero Erik Shoji and All-American outside attacker Brad Lawson were named to the team, while former Stanford setter Kawika Shoji, the 2010 AVCA National Player of the Year, will also play for the United States.

For USC, three senior starters from the 2011 season — outside attackers Tri Bourne and Murphy Troy and setter Riley McKibbin — were selected for the World University Games. All three players were named All-Americans as the Trojans became the first time in 16 years to be ranked No. 1 throughout the entire regular season.

UCLA and UC Irvine each have two players that will play on the United States. In addition, Long Beach State and UC Santa Barbara each have one player on the 12-player roster.

The U.S. team will open the World University Games against Mexico on Aug. 12. Among the other teams United States’ pool includes Turkey, Czech Republic, the United Arab Emirates and Thailand.

U.S. World University Games Team

Setter: Riley McKibbin, USC
Setter: Kawika Shoji, Stanford
Opposite: Carson Clark, UC Irvine
Opposite: Murhpy Troy, USC
Outside attacker: Thomas Amberg, UCLA
Outside attacker: Tri Bourne, USC
Outside attacker: Brad Lawson, Stanford
Outside attacker: Jeff Menzel, UC Santa Barbara
Outside attacker: Cory Yoder, UC Irvine
Middle attacker: Wes Dunlap, UCLA
Middle attacker: Ryan Meehan, Long Beach State
Libero: Erik Shoji, Stanford

U.S. World University Games Team Alternates
Opposite: Jim Baughman, Long Beach State
Opposite: Kyle Caldwell, UCLA
Opposite: Robb Stowell, BYU
Outside attacker: Taylor Hughes, Pacific
Middle attacker: Matt Pollock, Pepperdine
Middle attacker: Matt Rawson, Hawai’i