David Smith (volleyball)

David Smith (born May 15, 1985) is an American professional volleyball player who plays as a middle blocker for ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle and the U.S. national team. Smith was a bronze medalist at the Olympic Games Rio 2016 and the 2018 World Championship; the 2015 World Cup winner and a three–time Champions League winner (2021, 2022, 2023) with ZAKSA.

David Smith
Personal information
NationalityAmerican
Born (1985-05-15) May 15, 1985
Panorama City, California, United States
Height6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
Weight190 lb (86 kg)
Spike140 in (360 cm)
Block136 in (345 cm)
College / UniversityUC Irvine
Volleyball information
PositionMiddle blocker
Current clubZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle
Number15
Career
YearsTeams
2004–2007
2007
2008–2009
2009–2010
2010–2011
2011–2016
2016–2017
2017–2018
2018–2019
2019–		UC Irvine Anteaters
Ulster University
TV Rottenburg
Caribes de San Sebastián
CV Almería
Tours VB
Czarni Radom
Warta Zawiercie
Asseco Resovia
ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle
National team
2009– United States
Honours
Men's volleyball
Representing  United States
Olympic Games
Bronze medal – third place2016 Rio de Janeiro
FIVB World Championship
Bronze medal – third place2018 Bulgaria/Italy
FIVB World Cup
Gold medal – first place2015 Japan
Gold medal – first place2023 Japan
Bronze medal – third place2019 Japan
FIVB World League
Silver medal – second place2012 Sofia
Bronze medal – third place2015 Rio de Janeiro
FIVB Nations League
Silver medal – second place2019 Chicago
Silver medal – second place2022 Bologna
Silver medal – second place2023 Gdańsk
Bronze medal – third place2018 Lille
NORCECA Championship
Gold medal – first place2017 Colorado Springs
Gold medal – first place2023 Charleston

Personal life

Smith was born in the Los Angeles district of Panorama City on May 15, 1985. Born nearly deaf, he wears hearing aids and reads lips to understand his teammates. He grew up in Santa Clarita, where he attended Saugus High School.

Smith is 6 feet, 7 inches (200 cm) tall. He married his wife Kelli in 2008, and has a son, Cohen, born in 2012, and a daughter, Amelie, born in 2018.[1]

Career

College

Smith played for the UC Irvine volleyball team from 2004 to 2007. In 2004, his .369 hitting percentage was the highest on the team. He also had a 1.03 blocking average and 102 block assists. The following season, he had a .401 hitting percentage and a 0.86 blocking average. Smith then had a .412 hitting percentage, 1.27 blocking average, 129 block assists, and 143 total blocks in 2006.

In 2007, Smith helped University of California win the NCAA National Champions title. His .559 hitting percentage led the nation and was a new school record. He also broke the UCI single-season block assists record, with 160. Smith was named to the All-American first team and the NCAA All-Tournament team. He finished his UCI career as the school's all-time leader in block assists (471) and total blocks (520).

National team

Smith joined the U.S. national team in 2009. That year, he was named the Best Blocker at the World Championship Qualifier and played in the FIVB World League. In 2010, he helped the U.S. win the Pan American Cup.

Smith tied as the team's second-leading scorer at the 2011 Pan American Cup, as the U.S. finished second. He then played in the 2012 FIVB World League, where the U.S. finished second.[2] At the 2012 Summer Olympics, he was a substitute and had eight points.

Honors

Club
  • CEV Champions League
    • 2020–21 – with ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle
    • 2021–22 – with ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle[3]
    • 2022–23 – with ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle
  • Domestic
    • 2010–11 Spanish SuperCup, with CV Almería
    • 2010–11 Spanish Championship, with CV Almería
    • 2011–12 French SuperCup, with Tours VB
    • 2011–12 French Championship, with Tours VB
    • 2012–13 French Cup, with Tours VB
    • 2012–13 French Championship, with Tours VB
    • 2013–14 French SuperCup, with Tours VB
    • 2013–14 French Cup, with Tours VB
    • 2013–14 French Championship, with Tours VB
    • 2014–15 French SuperCup, with Tours VB
    • 2014–15 French Cup, with Tours VB
    • 2014–15 French Championship, with Tours VB
    • 2019–20 Polish SuperCup, with ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle
    • 2020–21 Polish SuperCup, with ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle
    • 2020–21 Polish Cup, with ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle
    • 2021–22 Polish Cup, with ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle
    • 2021–22 Polish Championship, with ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle[4]
    • 2022–23 Polish Cup, with ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle
    • 2023–24 Polish SuperCup, with ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle

Youth national team
  • 2004 NORCECA U21 Championship

Individual awards
  • 2012: French Championship – Best middle blocker
  • 2015: French Championship – Best middle blocker
  • 2016: French Championship – Best middle blocker
  • 2022: FIVB Nations League – Best middle blocker
  • 2023: CEV Champions League – Most valuable player
  • 2023: FIVB Nations League – Best middle blocker

References
  1. "Profiles". Team USA.
  2. "WL M: Poland beat USA to claim first World League title". worldofvolley.com. July 9, 2012. Retrieved June 7, 2021.
  3. "They did it again. Zaksa is a Double CEV Champions League Volley Winner". CEV. May 22, 2022. Retrieved May 26, 2022.
  4. "ZAKSA mistrzem Polski! Dziewiąte złoto siatkarzy z Kędzierzyna-Koźla". polsatsport.pl (in Polish). May 14, 2022. Retrieved May 26, 2022.
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