UNIVERSITY PARK — Aaron Russell of the Penn State men’s volleyball team has been named to the Off the Block Preseason First Team All-America Team, one of 20 players in the nation selected to the first and second teams.

Russell, a third-team Volleyball Magazine All-American last season, averaged 2.07 kills and 0.94 blocks per set while hitting .423 in helping the Nittany Lions to an EIVA title and a berth in the national semifinals.

The Off the Block Preseason All-America teams are determined by an 18-memebr voting panel comprised of men’s volleyball head coaches and writers from around the nation.

The Nittany Lions open their season Jan. 10 against UCLA at Hawaii’s Outrigger Invitational.