Matthew John Anderson (born April 18, 1987) is an American professional volleyball player. He is part of the U.S. national team, a bronze medalist at the Olympic Games Rio 2016 and the 2018 World Championship, 2014 World League and 2015 World Cup winner. He is a multiple winner of the CEV Champions League with the Russian club Zenit Kazan. At the professional club level, he currently plays for Turkish club Ziraat Bankası Ankara.
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Personal life edit
Matthew Anderson was born in Buffalo, New York to Michael and Nancy Anderson on April 18, 1987. His father died in January 2010. He is the youngest of five children, having three older sisters named Jennifer, Joelle, and Amy and one older brother named Joshua. He has many tattoos dedicated to family members including his late father, wife, and son[citation needed]. Matthew graduated from West Seneca West Senior High School in 2005. He attended Penn State for college. On August 29, 2020, he married Jacquelyn Marie[citation needed] Gillum. Jackie gave birth to their son “Jamie” Michael James Anderson on January 31, 2020. On April 9[citation needed] 2022 they welcomed their daughter Virginia June “Juno".
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Career edit
Club edit
In his senior year, he led the West Seneca boys' volleyball team to a 17–0 regular-season record and a Sectional Finals appearance, losing to eventual state champion, Hamburg, in 3 sets. In 2004, the team were the 2004 Division I State Champions. He played club volleyball for Eden Volleyball Club in Eden, New York. Anderson followed an uncharacteristic growth path in his youth – only reaching his full height (6'8") as a Sophomore at Penn State. His original position was middle – playing that in his Sophomore and Junior seasons of high school. As he became more experienced in the game, he spent more time in the Outside and Right-side for Eden VBC.
Anderson finished his career in Penn State with 1,212 kills and 82 aces, both which rank in the top 13 in Penn State history. He had a decorated career, especially in 2008 as he helped lead the Nittany Lions to their second ever NCAA Men's Volleyball Championship against Pepperdine. He was named the NCAA Championship Most Outstanding Player for his 29 kill performance against the Waves. Other awards for 2008 include EIVA Player of the Year, AVCA National Player of the Year, AVCA First Team All-America, and All-EIVA First Team.
On July 1, 2008, he announced he would forgo his 2009 senior year at Penn State and signed a professional contract with Hyundai Capital Skywalkers of the Korean League[1] In his debut season, Anderson helped the Skywalkers claim first in the regular season before losing 3–1 in the championship series. Season 2010–2011 spent in the Italian League as a player of Tonno Callipo Vibo Valentia. Then he moved to Casa Modena. In 2012, he moved to Zenit Kazan in Russia. With this club, he won a bronze medal in the Russian Championship and CEV Champions League in 2012–13.[2] In the season 2013–14, his team won the title of Russian Champion and Anderson was the Most valuable player of the Russian League.[3][4]
On October 29, 2014, Anderson suspended his volleyball career. He asked for the termination of the contract with Zenit Kazan because of depression.[5][6] On December 26, 2014, Anderson announced his return to Zenit Kazan, but only in CEV Champions League matches.[7]
On February 13, 2017, Anderson announced that he had signed a contract to remain with Zenit Kazan for another season.[8]
Anderson decided to return to Modena Volley for the 2019–20 season.[9]
National team edit
In September 2013. the U.S., including Anderson, achieved a title of the NORCECA Champion.[10] On July 20, 2014, he was part of the team that won a gold medal of the 2014 World League.[11]
Honors edit
Club edit
- CEV Champions League
2014/2015 – with Zenit Kazan- 2015/2016 – with Zenit Kazan
- 2016/2017 – with Zenit Kazan
- 2017/2018 – with Zenit Kazan
2018/2019 – with Zenit Kazan
- FIVB Club World Championship
Betim 2015 – with Zenit Kazan- Betim 2016 – with Zenit Kazan
Poland 2017 – with Zenit Kazan
- Domestic
- 2008/2009
South Korean Championship, with Cheonan Hyundai Capital Skywalkers - 2012/2013
Russian SuperCup, with Zenit Kazan - 2013/2014
Russian Championship, with Zenit Kazan - 2014/2015 Russian Cup, with Zenit Kazan
- 2014/2015 Russian Championship, with Zenit Kazan
- 2015/2016 Russian SuperCup, with Zenit Kazan
- 2015/2016 Russian Cup, with Zenit Kazan
- 2015/2016 Russian Championship, with Zenit Kazan
- 2016/2017 Russian SuperCup, with Zenit Kazan
- 2016/2017 Russian Cup, with Zenit Kazan
- 2016/2017 Russian Championship, with Zenit Kazan
- 2017/2018 Russian SuperCup, with Zenit Kazan
- 2017/2018 Russian Cup, with Zenit Kazan
- 2017/2018 Russian Championship, with Zenit Kazan
- 2018/2019 Russian SuperCup, with Zenit Kazan
- 2018/2019 Russian Cup, with Zenit Kazan
- 2021/2022 Italian Cup, with Sir Safety Perugia
- 2008/2009
Individual awards edit
- 2007: AVCA Second-Team All-American
- 2008: AVCA First-Team All-American
- 2008: AVCA Co-National Player of the Year
- 2008: MIVA – All–Championship Team
- 2008: NCAA National Championship – Most Outstanding Player
- 2012: Player of the Year United States
- 2013: Player of the Year United States
- 2013: NORCECA Championship – Most valuable player
- 2013: NORCECA Championship – Best outside spiker
- 2014: Russian League – Most valuable player
- 2014: Player of the Year United States
- 2015: FIVB World Cup – Most valuable player
- 2015: Player of the Year United States
- 2017: FIVB World Grand Champions Cup – Best opposite spiker
- 2018: FIVB Nations League – Best opposite spiker
- 2018: FIVB World Championship – Best opposite spiker
- 2019: FIVB Nations League – Best opposite spiker
- 2019: FIVB Nations League – Most valuable player
See also edit
References edit
- ^ Anderson to forego senior year; signs professional contract in Korea Archived July 8, 2008, at the Wayback Machine – gopsusports.cstv.com – 2008-07-01
- ^ Zenit KAZAN settles for bronze to celebrate fourth European medal Archived September 16, 2017, at the Wayback Machine – cev.lu – 2013-03-17
- ^ RUS M: Zenit Kazan keeps Matt Anderson – worldofvolley.com – 2014-05-04
- ^ Zenit Kazan wins national championship Archived December 28, 2014, at the Wayback Machine – end.tatar-inform.ru – 2014-04-14
- ^ Андерсон решил приостановить карьеру – zenit-kazan.com – 2014-10-29
- ^ Matt Anderson terminated contract with Zenit – worldofvolley.com – 2014-10-29
- ^ American Anderson to return to Zenit-Kazan – fivb.org – 2014-12-26
- ^ Keith, Braden (February 24, 2017). "American Matt Anderson Re-Signs With Zenit Kazan For Another Season". VolleyMob. Retrieved February 24, 2017.
- ^ TRANSFER BOMB IN ITALY: Matt Anderson joins Modena for 2019/2020 season!
- ^ U.S. Men Win 2013 NORCECA Championship – teamusa.org – 2013-09-28
- ^ USA upset Brazil to claim second World League title – fivb.org – 2014-07-20
External links edit
- Matthew Anderson at the European Volleyball Confederation
- Matthew Anderson at Volleybox.net
- Matthew Anderson at LegaVolley.it (in Italian)
- Matthew Anderson at Olympics.com
- Matthew Anderson at Olympic.org (archived)
- Matt Anderson at Olympedia
- Matt Anderson at Team USA (archive March 18, 2023)
