USA Volleyball announces initial roster for Pan Am Games

Ten current college men’s volleyball players will have a chance to represent the United States at an international tournament later this month.

USA Volleyball last week revealed its 19-player preliminary roster for the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico.

UC Irvine led all schools with three current players — outside attacker Carson Clark, outside attacker Jeremy Dejno and middle attacker Scott Kevorken — selected to the initial roster.

Dejno and Kevorken both played for the United States at the World Championship in August. Clark was on the U.S. Men’s National Team initial roster for the 2012 Olympics and competed at the 2012 World University Games.

Long Beach State and UCLA each had multiple players make the preliminary roster. 49ers outside attackers Taylor Crabb and Jim Baughman were named to the 19-man roster, while Bruin outside attacker Kyle Caldwell and middle attacker Nick Vogel were selected to the initial team.

USC outside attacker Tony Ciarelli, Cal State Northridge setter Matt Stork and Pepperdine setter Matt West were also placed on the preliminary roster.

Five of the college players selected to the team gained international experience this summer playing in the World Championship, Youth World Championship or World University Games.

In addition to the current college players, the remaining spots on the U.S. initial roster are made up of recent college graduates. Among these non-college players are U.S. Men’s National Team member Evan Patak and former Cal State Northridge All-American outside attacker Eric Vance.

UC Irvine coach John Speraw will serve as the team’s head coach. USC assistant coach Jeff Nygaard and Springfield College head coach Charlie Sullivan will be assistants coaches for the tournament.

Speraw and his coaching staff will cut the preliminary roster to 12 players before the start of the Pan America Games on Oct. 24.

The Pan American Games team is an eight-team tournament comprised of countries in North and South America. The United States will begin the international tournament in Group B with preliminary round matches against Brazil, Canada and Puerto Rico.

The United States lost to Toray Arrows, a professional team from Japan, 21-25, 25-20, 29-27, 25-19 in an exhibition match on Monday in Irvine, Calif.

U.S. Men’s Pan American Games initial roster

Setter: Matt Stork, Cal State Northridge
Setter: Matt West, Pepperdine*
Opposite: Kyle Caldwell, UCLA*
Opposite: Carson Clark, UC Irvine*
Opposite: Evan Patak, UC Santa Barbara
Outside attacker: Jim Baughman, Long Beach State*
Outside attaacker: Tri Bourne, USC
Outside attacker: Tony Ciarelli, USC*
Outside attacker: Taylor Crabb, Long Beach State*
Outside attacker: Jeremy Denjo, UC Irvine*
Outside attacker: Jordan DuFault, UC Irvine
Outside attacker: Eric Vance, Cal State Northridge
Middle attacker: Scott Kevorken, UC Irvine*
Middle attacker: Cody Loe, Cal State Northridge
Middle attacker: Matt Rawson, Hawai’i
Middle attacker: Scott Slaughter, UC Santa Barbara
Middle attacker: Nick Vogel, UCLA*
Libero: Krik Francis, Long Beach State
Libero: J.D. Schleppenbach, Pepperdine
*Denotes current college player