# Aaron Russell

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Aaron_Russell
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Aaron_Russell.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aaron_Russell
> Source revision: 1354481158
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

{{short description|American volleyball player (born 1993)}}
{{about||the American Negro league baseball player|Aaron Russell (baseball)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Use American English|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox volleyball biography
| name            = Aaron Russell 
| image           = Aaron Russell (Legavolley 2017).jpg
| image_size      =
| caption         = Russell in 2017
| full_name       = Aaron Joseph Russell
| nickname        = ''Ronnie''<br> ''Ron''
| birth_date      = {{Birth date and age|1993|6|4|mf=y}} 
| birth_place     = [Arbutus, Maryland](/source/Arbutus%2C_Maryland), U.S.
| hometown        = [Ellicott City, Maryland](/source/Ellicott_City%2C_Maryland), U.S.
| height          = {{convert|2.05|m|order=flip}}
| weight          = {{convert|98|kg|order=flip}}  
| spike           = {{convert|360|cm|order=flip}}  
| block           = {{convert|340|cm|order=flip}} 
| college         = [Pennsylvania State University](/source/Pennsylvania_State_University)
| position        = Outside hitter 
| currentclub     = [Warta Zawiercie](/source/Warta_Zawiercie_(volleyball))
| currentnumber   = 3
| years           = 2012–2015<br> 2015–2018<br> 2018–2020<br> 2020–2022<br> 2022–2024<br> 2024–
| teams           = [Penn State Nittany Lions](/source/Penn_State_Nittany_Lions_men's_volleyball)<br> [Sir Safety Perugia](/source/Sir_Safety_Umbria_Volley)<br>  [Itas Trentino](/source/Trentino_Volley)<br> [Gas Sales Piacenza](/source/You_Energy_Volley)<br> [JT Thunders](/source/JT_Thunders)<br> [Warta Zawiercie](/source/Warta_Zawiercie_(volleyball))  
| nationalyears   = 2014–
| nationalteam    = {{vb|USA}}
| medaltemplates-title = Medal record
| medaltemplates  = 
{{MedalSport| Men's [volleyball](/source/volleyball) }}
{{MedalCountry| {{USA}} }}
{{MedalCompetition|[Olympic Games](/source/Volleyball_at_the_Summer_Olympics)}}
{{MedalBronze|[2016 Rio de Janeiro](/source/2016_Summer_Olympics)|[Team](/source/Volleyball_at_the_2016_Summer_Olympics_%E2%80%93_Men's_tournament)}}
{{MedalBronze|[2024 Paris](/source/2024_Summer_Olympics)|[Team](/source/Volleyball_at_the_2024_Summer_Olympics_%E2%80%93_Men's_tournament)}}
{{MedalCompetition|[FIVB World Championship](/source/FIVB_Volleyball_Men's_World_Championship)}}
{{MedalBronze|[2018 Italy/Bulgaria](/source/2018_FIVB_Volleyball_Men's_World_Championship)|}}
{{MedalCompetition|[FIVB World Cup](/source/FIVB_Volleyball_Men's_World_Cup)}}
{{MedalGold|[2015 Japan](/source/2015_FIVB_Volleyball_Men's_World_Cup)|}}
{{MedalGold|[2023 Japan](/source/2023_FIVB_Volleyball_Men's_World_Cup)|}}
{{MedalBronze|[2019 Japan](/source/2019_FIVB_Volleyball_Men's_World_Cup)|}}
{{MedalCompetition|[FIVB Nations League](/source/FIVB_Volleyball_Men's_Nations_League)}}
{{MedalSilver|[2019 Chicago](/source/2019_FIVB_Volleyball_Men's_Nations_League)|}}
{{MedalSilver|[2022 Bologna](/source/2022_FIVB_Volleyball_Men's_Nations_League)|}}
{{MedalSilver|[2023 Gdańsk](/source/2023_FIVB_Volleyball_Men's_Nations_League)|}}
{{MedalBronze|[2018 Lille](/source/2018_FIVB_Volleyball_Men's_Nations_League)|}}
{{MedalCompetition|[FIVB World League](/source/FIVB_Volleyball_World_League)}}
{{MedalBronze|[2015 Rio de Janeiro](/source/2015_FIVB_Volleyball_World_League)|}}
{{MedalCompetition|[NORCECA Championship](/source/Men's_NORCECA_Volleyball_Championship)}}
{{MedalGold|[2017 Colorado Springs](/source/2017_Men's_NORCECA_Volleyball_Championship)|}}
{{MedalGold|[2023 Charleston](/source/2023_Men's_NORCECA_Volleyball_Championship)|}}
}}

'''Aaron Joseph Russell''' (born June 4, 1993) is an American professional [volleyball](/source/volleyball) player who plays as an outside hitter for [Aluron CMC Warta Zawiercie](/source/Warta_Zawiercie_(volleyball)) and the [U.S. national team](/source/United_States_men's_national_volleyball_team).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://siatka.org/pokaz/reprezentant-usa-oficjalnie-zagra-w-pluslidze/ |title=Reprezentant USA oficjalnie zagra w PlusLidze! |work=siatka.org |language=pl |date=5 June 2024 |access-date=5 June 2024}}</ref> He was a bronze medalist at the [Olympic Games](/source/Olympic_Games) [Rio 2016](/source/2016_Summer_Olympics), [Paris 2024](/source/2024_Summer_Olympics) and the [2018 World Championship](/source/2018_FIVB_Volleyball_Men's_World_Championship).

==Personal life==
Russell grew up in [Ellicott City, Maryland](/source/Ellicott_City%2C_Maryland), U.S. His parents are Stewart and Marian Russell. Russell was born the second of five boys. The other brothers are Peter (1992), Samuel (1995), Tim (1999), and Paul (2002). Peter also plays volleyball professionally. Russell was a top soccer player for [Centennial High School](/source/Centennial_High_School_(Howard_County%2C_Maryland)) in Maryland. The school did not have a boys' volleyball team so he helped the girls' team train while playing club volleyball at MVP (Maryland Volleyball Program).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Collegian |first=Sofia Miranda {{!}} For the |date=2024-07-30 |title=Aaron Russell takes on 2nd Olympics with U.S. men’s volleyball |url=https://www.psucollegian.com/sports/olympics/aaron-russell-takes-on-2nd-olympics-with-u-s-men-s-volleyball/article_410f7046-4e1e-11ef-bfca-a332380a8b61.html |access-date=2025-12-16 |website=The Daily Collegian |language=en}}</ref> In 2015, he graduated from [Pennsylvania State University](/source/Pennsylvania_State_University). On July 30, 2017, he married former Penn State women's volleyball player Kendall Pierce, his college sweetheart.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ng |first=Greg |date=2024-07-22 |title=Aaron Russell seeks to trade up from his bronze in Paris {{!}} Profile |url=https://www.wbaltv.com/article/aaron-russell-profile-2024-paris-olympics-volleyball/61556807 |access-date=2025-12-16 |website=WBAL |language=en}}</ref> They have one daughter.

==Career==
In 2015, he completed his volleyball career at Penn State, where he was named an AVCA First Team All–American in 2014 and 2015.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Berkman |first=Ben |date=2015-05-04 |title=Men's Volleyball's Aaron Russell Named An All-American |url=https://onwardstate.com/2015/05/04/mens-volleyballs-aaron-russell-named-an-all-american/ |access-date=2025-12-16 |website=Onward State |language=en-US}}</ref> All four years he helped Penn State reach the NCAA men's championship semifinals. Russell was a member of the Boys’ Youth Team in 2010 and 2011<ref>{{Cite web |last=Collegian |first=Sofia Miranda {{!}} For the |date=2024-07-30 |title=Aaron Russell takes on 2nd Olympics with U.S. men’s volleyball |url=https://www.psucollegian.com/sports/olympics/aaron-russell-takes-on-2nd-olympics-with-u-s-men-s-volleyball/article_410f7046-4e1e-11ef-bfca-a332380a8b61.html |access-date=2025-12-16 |website=The Daily Collegian |language=en}}</ref> and a member of the Men's Junior National Team in 2013. He made his debut with the senior national team in 2014.

In 2015, he joined his first professional team, [Sir Safety Perugia](/source/Sir_Safety_Umbria_Volley) of Italy.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.legavolley.it/2015/block-devils-starsstripes-aaron-russell-sbarca-a-perugia/ |title=Block Devils "Stars&Stripes"! Aaron Russell sbarca a Perugia! |work=legavolley.it |language=it |date=15 June 2015 |accessdate=15 June 2015}}</ref>

In 2016, Russell took part in his first [Olympic Games](/source/Volleyball_at_the_2016_Summer_Olympics_%E2%80%93_Men's_tournament) in [Rio de Janeiro](/source/Rio_de_Janeiro) as a member of the U.S Olympic team and won a bronze medal when the U.S. beat Russia in five sets. Russell was named one of the Best Outside Spikers of the tournament.

In June 2018, after 3 years spent playing for Perugia, Russell signed for another Italian team, [Diatec Trentino](/source/Trentino_Volley). At the [2018 Club World Championship](/source/2018_FIVB_Volleyball_Men's_Club_World_Championship) held in Poland, 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.

In 2024, Russell took part in his second [Olympic Games](/source/Volleyball_at_the_2024_Summer_Olympics_-_Men's_tournament) in [Paris](/source/Paris) as a member of the U.S Olympic team and won a bronze medal when the U.S beat Italy in three sets.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Collegian |first=Baxter Gimer {{!}} For the |date=2024-08-09 |title=Russell, Holt, Anderson and Team USA secure bronze in sweep over Italy |url=https://www.psucollegian.com/sports/olympics/russell-holt-anderson-and-team-usa-secure-bronze-in-sweep-over-italy/article_55d3c900-5675-11ef-8954-2327e9cf026c.html |access-date=2025-12-16 |website=The Daily Collegian |language=en}}</ref>

==Honors==

===Club===
* '''[CEV Champions League](/source/CEV_Champions_League)'''
** 16px [2016–17](/source/2016%E2%80%9317_CEV_Champions_League) – with [Sir Safety Perugia](/source/Sir_Safety_Umbria_Volley)
** 16px [2024–25](/source/2024%E2%80%9325_CEV_Champions_League) – with [Aluron CMC Warta Zawiercie](/source/Warta_Zawiercie_(volleyball))
* '''[FIVB Club World Championship](/source/FIVB_Volleyball_Men's_Club_World_Championship)'''
** 16px [Poland 2018](/source/2018_FIVB_Volleyball_Men's_Club_World_Championship) – with [Trentino Volley](/source/Trentino_Volley)
* '''[CEV Cup](/source/CEV_Cup)'''
** 16px [2018–19](/source/2018%E2%80%9319_CEV_Cup) – with Diatec Trentino
* '''Domestic'''
** '''2017–18''' 16px Italian SuperCup, with Sir Safety Perugia
** '''2017–18''' 16px Italian Cup, with Sir Safety Perugia
** '''2017–18''' 16px [Italian Championship](/source/2017%E2%80%9318_Men's_Volleyball_Serie_A1), with Sir Safety Perugia
** '''2024–25''' 16px [Polish SuperCup](/source/Polish_Men's_Volleyball_SuperCup), with Aluron CMC Warta Zawiercie
** '''2025–26''' 16px [Polish Championship](/source/2025%E2%80%9326_PlusLiga), with Aluron CMC Warta Zawiercie

===Individual awards===
* '''2016:''' [Olympic Games](/source/Volleyball_at_the_2016_Summer_Olympics_%E2%80%93_Men's_tournament) – Best outside spiker
* '''2017:''' [NORCECA Championship](/source/2017_Men's_NORCECA_Volleyball_Championship) – Best outside spiker
* '''2017:''' Italian SuperCup – Most valuable player
* '''2018:''' [FIVB Club World Championship](/source/2018_FIVB_Volleyball_Men's_Club_World_Championship) – Most valuable player
* '''2023:''' [V.League Division 1](/source/2022%E2%80%9323_V.League_Division_1_Men's) – Best server
* '''2024:''' [Polish SuperCup](/source/Polish_Men's_Volleyball_SuperCup) – Most valuable player

===College===
* AVCA First Team All–American – 2014, 2015
* NCAA Championship All–Tournament Team – 2015
* Uvaldo Acosta Memorial EIVA Player of the Year – 2013, 2014, 2015
* EIVA First Team All–Conference – 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015
* EIVA Championship Most Outstanding Player – 2013, 2015
* EIVA Championship All–Tournament Team – 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015

==See also==
* [List of Pennsylvania State University Olympians](/source/List_of_Pennsylvania_State_University_Olympians)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons}}
* {{CEV player|63346}} 
* {{Olympics.com|aaron-russell}}
* {{Olympedia|136382}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20140820010942/http://www.teamusa.org/usa-volleyball/athletes/aaron-russell Player profile] at ''TeamUSA.org''
* [https://www.legavolley.it/player/RUS-AAR-93 Player profile] at ''LegaVolley.it'' {{in lang|it}}
* [https://volleybox.net/aaron-russell-p2845 Player profile] at ''Volleybox.net''
* {{Instagram}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-ach|aw}}
{{succession box
  | before = First award
  | after  = {{flagicon|FRA}} [Earvin N'Gapeth](/source/Earvin_N'Gapeth)<br> {{flagicon|Russia|roc-olympics}} [Egor Kliuka](/source/Egor_Kliuka)
  | title  = Best Outside Spiker of<br> [Olympic Games](/source/Volleyball_at_the_Summer_Olympics)
  | years  = [2016](/source/Volleyball_at_the_2016_Summer_Olympics_%E2%80%93_Men's_tournament)<br> ex aequo {{flagicon|BRA}} [Ricardo Lucarelli](/source/Ricardo_Lucarelli)
}}
{{Succession box
 | before = {{flagicon|ITA}} [Osmany Juantorena](/source/Osmany_Juantorena)
 | after  = {{flagicon|BRA}} [Bruno Rezende](/source/Bruno_Rezende)
 | title  = Most Valuable Player of<br> [FIVB Club World Championship](/source/FIVB_Volleyball_Men's_Club_World_Championship)
 | years  = [2018](/source/2018_FIVB_Volleyball_Men's_Club_World_Championship)
}}
{{s-end}}

{{United States men volleyball team 2015 FIVB World Cup}}
{{United States men's volleyball squad 2016 Summer Olympics}}
{{United States men's volleyball squad 2018 World Championship}}
{{Footer USA Volleyball 2016 Summer Olympics}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Russell, Aaron}}
Category:1993 births
Category:Living people
Category:People from Arbutus, Maryland
Category:Sportspeople from Baltimore County, Maryland
Category:Sportspeople from Ellicott City, Maryland
Category:American men's volleyball players
Category:Volleyball players at the 2016 Summer Olympics
Category:Volleyball players at the 2024 Summer Olympics
Category:Medalists at the 2016 Summer Olympics
Category:Medalists at the 2024 Summer Olympics
Category:Olympic medalists in volleyball
Category:Olympic bronze medalists for the United States in volleyball
Category:American expatriate volleyball players in Italy
Category:American expatriate volleyball players in Japan
Category:American expatriate volleyball players in Poland
Category:Penn State Nittany Lions men's volleyball players
Category:Trentino Volley players
Category:Warta Zawiercie (volleyball) players
Category:Outside hitters
Category:21st-century American sportsmen
Category:Centennial High School (Howard County, Maryland) alumni

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Aaron Russell](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aaron_Russell) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aaron_Russell?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.