Thomas Jaeschke, a former men’s volleyball standout at Loyola University Chicago, has been selected for the roster of the U.S. Olympic men’s volleyball team.
USA Volleyball made the announcement on June 21 when it finalized its roster.
Jaeschke is the first athlete from Loyola to be named a U.S. Olympian since Tom O’Hara, who competed in track and field during the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo. Jaeschke will compete in the XXXI Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro from Aug. 5-21. The men’s volleyball team will open play against Canada on Aug. 7.
“It is hard to say how proud myself and the entire Loyola community are of Thomas,” Mark Hulse, Loyola head men’s volleyball coach, said. “He is the most focused athlete I have been around, and he set that focus squarely upon reaching the pinnacle of our sport -- and he’s reaching it. He has done everything the right way and we will all be cheering that much harder for Team USA this summer.”
Jaeschke joins seven other first-time Olympians who made the roster, which consists of 12 players. Team USA will compete against Brazil, Canada, Italy, France and Mexico in Pool A, from which the top four teams will advance.
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