USA volleyball middle-blocker Smith confident in Tokyo Olympics chances

LAUSANNE - Team USA middle-blocker David Smith said during the latest episode of the Viral Volley Podcast that he is still confident of the team's prospects at the suspended Tokyo Olympics.

Smith, a national team member since 2009, emphasized that they will have to put a lot of effort into rebuilding "the team dynamic and chemistry."

He is concerned about what the consequences of not reuniting the country's national team this summer, for the first time in several years, could be.

Since the start of the pandemic, nearly all levels of volleyball competition have been postponed, or even canceled.

"It's so unusual not to be able to be with each other every single day and that's an adjustment we all need to make on the mental side of things to make sure we're somehow actually taking advantage of this situation," Smith said.

Despite the difficulties surrounding the situation, the 35-year-old veteran did not play down the prospects of team USA at the Olympic Games in Tokyo.

"I'm confident we'll be in a really good position for the Olympics in 2021."

As the oldest player on the American roster and one of just two to have appeared at the London 2012 Olympics, Smith already has a plan to keep playing at a high level until the time his third Olympic appearance arrives.

"I've re-signed with Zaksa, so I'm going back to the same team I played with last season and it's going to be the best situation in preparing me for 2021. Hopefully we can do some good things next year," Smith said.