T H E C O N V E R S A T I O N Better and better
U.S. Men’s National Team setter Micah Christenson is now making his mark during his rookie season in the Italian pro league
Interview by Jon Hastings • Photos: Peter Brouillet/Don Liebig Micah Christenson has been part of the U.S. Men’s National Team since
2013 and is regarded as one of the top setters in the world at the age of 22. He helped the U.S. Men win the 2015 FIVB World Cup and was named the tournament’s Best Setter. After a four-year career at the University of Southern California, he signed his first pro contract with Cucine Lube Banca Marche Civitanova in Italy’s Serie A league. He helped the prestigious club team to the top of the league standings with a 19-2 start. Christenson’s setting led to a remarkable .560 hitting efficiency (64-8-100, or a 64 kill percent] for Marche Civitanova during a Feb. 21 win over DHL Modena, the sec- ond-place team in the league. Christenson was involved in an incredible play in December for his
club team that saw him use his foot to lift the ball over the net and then turn around to stuff the opposing attacker who swung at it. The play is making the rounds on YouTube (See link below). Christenson spoke to VolleyballUSA be- fore the club season playoffs and leading into a big summer that will include playing in the Rio Olympics and his September wedding.
Is there a different mindset for you on the court now that you have a pro contract? I definitely would say no. My mindset is exactly the same. I am try-
ing to get better and trying to understand the process of getting better. I have been fortunate to have lot of coaches who have preached that process and helped instill that attitude in me. So it’s the same mindset I have taken to practices and games since I started playing at a high level.
So you aren’t thinking about your next contract or some of the other realities of professional sport?
Right now, no. I have a multi-year
contract that allows me to focus on getting better and helping my team. That could change down the line, but I like to think that it won’t. I play my best when I am playing free and without anything to think about but the objective on the court. That’s the best way for me to compete, staying balanced and understanding I am fortunate to be playing a sport I am passionate about.
What’s it like playing with teammates with
language barriers compared to USA matches? Is the communication all the same on the court?
It’s different. I like to converse a lot. I also like to deliver sets to each
player by catering to each hitter’s specific needs. I know each player hits a different ball, and I want to know if that last set was in the spot they like, correct height, right pace, etc. In the beginning that was a little different than anything I had experienced in volleyball. I take pride in adjusting sets during a match and that requires some feedback. Fortunately, a lot of
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my teammates speak a fair amount of English. I have been trying to pick up more Italian so I can speak with them. I feel like that is a responsibil- ity I have to assume being a setter.
How has having a veteran like Reid Priddy on your team helped? Has he shown you the ropes of living and playing abroad?
Yeah. Reid came aboard at the first part of this year, and he is awe-
some. But it was a really cool experience being by myself and being the only American on the team for a big part of the season. It made my learning curve that much quicker. Now that Reid has been here with his family, it’s been great. I have always had a good relationship with him, and to be able to soak in all that knowledge he has accumulated playing in so many high-level leagues and matches has been super helpful. He’s been playing great, too, and has that Priddy explosiveness back.
Is that foot volley attack and subsequent stuff block the craziest single play you have ever been involved in?
Yeah, I think so. I have seen some crazy plays in some big moments,
but it was the most memorable single play I have been involved in. Once I knew the ball was over the net and saw who was hit- ting, I flashed on the film we watched and jumped into his angle. It worked and I was lucky because he was surprised I was up. The play happened so fast, but sometimes when you’re out there things slow down in your mind and you have more time than you think.
At 22, you have accomplished more than most do in a long career. With all of your col- lege and international awards, what are you most proud of?
All of that stuff is great, and it’s pretty surreal. But the main thing
looking back on my short national team career is I feel I have improved year by year. Seeing the work I’m putting in reflect on my play on the court is the rewarding part. I’m not putting a ceiling on improvement.
Do you think you have to have a different mentality as a setter than other positions? We are thinking managers on the court. We have so much control of
the game by touching the ball every single play. It’s a very cerebral posi- tion. You not only have to be thinking one, two or three steps ahead, but you have to be thinking five to 10 plays back by remembering what the other teams did in specific rotations. There’s lots of management of your
Check out the play
www.youtube.com/watch?v=COMMorZPRFM
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