Donald Suxho

Donald Suxho
Personal information
Nationality Albanian, American
Born 21 February 1976
Korcë, Albania
Alma mater

University of Southern California

High School = Koci Bako
Height 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Weight 216 lb (98 kg)
Spouse(s) Eleni Suxho Gkortsaniouk
Sport
Position Setter
Team

Albanian National (1995- 1996)& Junior National (1991-1996)

= United States of America (Jan 2001), Number #12

Donald Suxho (born February 21, 1976 in Korçë, Albania) is an Albanian-American professional volleyball player and a player for the US Olympic Team. As a setter, he participated in the 2004 Olympic games in Athens, Greece as well as the 2012 Olympic Games in London. Suxho and his family came to America in 1996 and lived in Natick, Massachusetts while searching for a college. He eventually chose to play for the University of Southern California and became one of the most well known volleyball players to come out of USC.[1]

Playing career

Suxho's father Peter is the former coach of the Albanian Junior National team as well as the Natick High School boys and girls volleyball coach and it was under his tutelage in the US and Albania that Suxho learned the game. Suxho played for the Albanian junior national team from 1991-1996 and made the national team while still a teenager in 1995-1996.[2]

While at USC, Suxho was a four-year starter for a nationally ranked team. He set a number of Trojan records, including 164 career aces. He became one of the top players in school history and was a two-time All-American and AVAC National Player of the Year as a senior in 2000. Following graduation, he played professional beach volleyball in Poland and has been a member of the US Olympic Team since 2001. He competed in the Athens Olympics but missed Beijing due to injury.[2] In 2012, he's one of 40 USC athletes to make an Olympic team.[3]

In addition to his playing career, Suxho served as the USC assistant men's volleyball coach during the 2001-2002 season.

In the summer of 2014, Suxho played with "Studenti" in Tirana Albania for a European Tournament.

Awards

References

  1. ↑ "Donald Suxho Profile". May 25, 2012. Retrieved May 25, 2012.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Rendell, Rick (2012-07-22). "Suxho is back for gold in London". The MetroWest Daily News. Retrieved 2012-07-29.
  3. ↑ "Trojans in the Olympics: 33 from USC To Compete in London 2012". USCTrojans.com. 2012-07-23. Retrieved 2012-07-31.

External links

Official site

Official website