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[Editor’s note: This story has been updated to reflect that both Mason Briggs and Jacob Pasteur made the initial U.S. roster for the World Championship. The final roster will be reduced by two players for the tournament.]
Two current college men’s volleyball players will have a chance the United States for the biggest international tournament of the year.
USA Volleyball announced during the weekend that Long Beach State libero Mason Briggs and Ohio State outside attacker Jacob Pastuer were selected to the initial U.S. roster for the upcoming FIVB World Championship.
The 16-player roster will be reduced to 14 players for the start of the World Championship on Friday.
Briggs rejoins the U.S. Men’s National Team after winning the Best Digger award and helping the United States earn the bronze medal at the Pan American Cup earlier this month.
The libero ended the 2022 college season fifth in the nation with a 2.51 digs per game average as he helped Long Beach State reach the NCAA Tournament finals. Briggs also won the Erik Shoji Award as the nation’s top libero and the Steve Shondell Award as the nation’s best passer.
Briggs will now back up U.S. starting libero Erik Shoji for the World Championship.
Pasteur finished last season in the nation’s top 15 with a 4.03 kills per game average and had more than 20 kills in five matches. In addition, Pasteur closed out the NCAA season hitting more than .400 in four consecutive matches, including having 23 kills and a .436 attack percentage in a MIVA Tournament quarterfinals loss against Lewis.
Both Briggs and Pasteur were a part of the U.S. roster for the Volleyball Nations League earlier this summer. The United States won the silver medal – its first medal podium finish since falling to qualify for the quarterfinals at the Olympics in 2021.
The U.S. roster for the World Championship features seven players who helped the United States win the bronze medal at the 2018 World Championship.
The United States will open the tournament in Pool C along with Poland, Mexico and Bulgaria.
The top-two teams following a round-robin will advance to the Round of 16.