One of the world’s best outside hitters our generation has ever seen!

Statistics:

Hometown: West Seneca, N.Y.
Birth year: 1987
Position: Outside Hitter
Height: 6-9 (204cm)
Weight: 190 lbs (86kg)
College: Penn State
Joined Team USA: 2008

What Others Say About Matt…

USA Libero & 2008 Olympic gold medalist Rich Lambourne:

“A vital piece of the puzzle.”

Former USA Coach Alan Knipe:

“He battled his way onto the court. The last two years he’s had some really big matches. He’s got a world of talent and he’s an incredibly hard-working kid.”

Sister Amy Anderson:

“He’s become just a much stronger person not just a better volleyball player.” said his sister Amy.

Life Stories

2009 Battle With Pneumonia

During the Intercontinental Round of the 2009 World League, Matt was diagnosed with Pneumonia. For 2 weeks, he was confined at a hospital in San Jose, California with 2 tubes in his chest. Before his release, 7.5 of fluid had been drained out of his lungs.

Matt shares…

“I thought that I had strained an ab during the warm-up for the second match in San Jose. When we returned back to the Anaheim area that Sunday it still only felt like an ab strain. I started to cough a little and had some sinus trouble the next couple days, and then when I woke up for practice the day before the team was scheduled to leave for China, Bam! It hit me and hit me hard.

I went to the hospital and diagnosed with a pneumonia in my left chest cavity. It reacted well to the antibiotics at first and I was released from the hospital 2 days later. I got back to my apartment and spent the day on the couch watching movies with my brother. He left the next morning and by the afternoon I had to go back to the hospital. This time it was 100% worse.

I can only get one syllable out per breath and was having extreme pain, the worse pain I have ever felt. A day or so later I went into surgery and had two chest tubes put in. I remained in the hospital for a total of 8 days, 2 of which were spent in ICU after surgery. My mom and dad flew out, and my mom hung around for a week extra to help me out back at my apt until I could manage by myself. I was out of the gym for 2 months straight with nothing but an occasional 5-10 minute walk for exercise. Things were getting better everyday and I’m just happy I’ve recovered from it.”

Father’s Death

Seven months after his fight with pneumonia, Matt’s father passed away on January 10, 2010 due to massive heart attack. In an interview released by The OC Register, Matt reveals how he turned his grief into his game and the rage he already felt.

“It worked. It gave me a healthy confidence to trust myself to play my game.” according to Matt.

A few months later, Matt got a tattoo to honor his late father.

“I still miss talking to my dad,. I guess the hardest part is knowing that my kids don’t get to meet him. He was a great guy.”

Olympic Dream Comes True

After all the bumps, Matt fulfilled his dream to play in the Olympics.

Per USAV:

Anderson started all 21 sets of the Olympic Games in London and was the team’s leading scorer with 81 points on 69 kills (.390 hitting efficiency), six aces and six blocks. His tournament best was 18 points (16 attacks, one block and one ace) scored in 3-2, pool play loss to Russia.

The U.S. Men finished fifth in London.

Athlete Of The Year

USA Volleyball honored Matt as the Indoor Male Athlete of the Year for 2012.

Matt’s statement released by USAV:

“My success this season with the National Team came from the realization of the trust my teammates and coaches had in me,” Anderson said via e-mail from Russia where he is playing for Zenit Kazan in the Super League. “In training we created an atmosphere of the best volleyball and it was tough to differentiate between training and big-time matches.

The highlight of my 2012 season was being a part of the 2012 Olympic Games.

There is no words to describe the honor I received being able to walk with the team in Opening Ceremonies, and then to compete on the world’s biggest stage for my country, the USA. The low point is leaving the Olympics knowing we could have accomplished more as a team.

My sights are already set on (the Olympic Games in) Rio 2016.

If I’m lucky enough to make that squad, I don’t want to go home from those Games without a medal, hopefully gold.”

Matt Fights Autism

“My nephew, Tristin, shows signs of autism and is making outstanding strides. Support the cause if you can.”

Quotes

“I’m finding my way. I’m finding my way on my own now.”

“Guys had been playing with the team for at least eight years and I was the new guy, the young guy. There were a lot of snide remarks. Stuff like ‘Oh, the young guy on the team.’ They acted like they were joking but it still didn’t sit right with me. I didn’t want to be that guy. I didn’t want to be the ‘young guy.’ I started turning it into a healthy rage to come into the gym with the attitude, ‘Yeah, I might be young but there’s a reason I’m here. I’m not just here because I’m lucky. I deserve to be here.'” -Matt on his early years with Team USA.

“We weren’t poor but we definitely weren’t the wealthiest family. And when you’re traveling around to all these volleyball tournaments you think about what it’s costing. It wasn’t putting us in a bind but it wasn’t letting us be as comfortable as we could be.”

“You don’t have to do this to make us proud. You being happy makes us happy. If you wanted to quit tomorrow you could … if you quit for the right season.”

Extra! Extra!

2007 Set a rally-scoring era record at Penn State for kills in a match with 35 against Santa Barbara
2008 include EIVA Player of the Year
2008 AVCA Co-National Player of the Year (with Paul Lotman)
2008 AVCA First Team All-America
2008 EIVA Player of the Year
2008 All-EIVA First Team
2012 Best Spiker at NORCECA Olympic Qualifier in Long Beach, CA
Team Leader in attacks at 2011 FIVB World Cup
Leading Scorer for U.S. at 2011 World League
Leading scorer for U.S. in 2012 World League

Anderson Videos

Matt, thank you for being such an inspiration!

We love you and we wish you the best!

Happy Happy Happy Happy Birthday!

Volleywood Wall Of Famers:

#1: Bartosz Kurek (Poland)
#2: Natalya Mammadova (Azerbaijan)
#3: Lloy Ball (USA)
#4: Matt Anderson (USA)

(credits: USAV, zimbio.com, ocregister.com, about.com)