Erik Shoji

Erik Thomas Shoji (/ˈʃoʊdʒi/ SHOH-jee; born August 24, 1989)^[1] is an American professional volleyball player who plays as a libero for ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle and the U.S. national team. Shoji was a bronze medalist at the Olympic Games Rio 2016, Paris 2024 and the 2018 World Championship; the 2014 World League and 2015 World Cup winner, and a two–time Champions League winner (2022, 2023) with ZAKSA.^[2][3]

Erik Shoji
Personal information
Full name	Erik Thomas Shoji
Born	(1989-08-24) August 24, 1989 (age 35) Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.
Height	6 ft 0 in (1.84 m)
Weight	165 lb (75 kg)
College / University	Stanford University
Volleyball information
Position	Libero
Current club	ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle
Number	22
Career
Years Teams 2009–2012 2012–2013 2013–2014 2014–2016 2016–2017 2017–2018 2018–2021 2021–2025 Stanford Cardinal CV Mitteldeutschland Hypo Tirol Innsbruck Berlin Recycling Volleys Lokomotiv Novosibirsk Taiwan Excellence Latina Fakel Novy Urengoy ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle
National team
2013–  United States
Honours Men's volleyball Representing  United States Olympic Games 2016 Rio de Janeiro Team 2024 Paris Team FIVB World Championship 2018 Italy/Bulgaria FIVB World Cup 2015 Japan 2023 Japan 2019 Japan FIVB World League 2014 Florence 2015 Rio de Janeiro FIVB Nations League 2019 Chicago 2022 Bologna 2023 Gdańsk 2018 Lille NORCECA Championship 2013 Langley 2017 Colorado Springs 2023 Charleston

Early life

Shoji was born in Honolulu, Hawaii to Dave, a volleyball coach best known for coaching women's volleyball at the University of Hawaii, and Mary Shoji. His older brother, Kawika, is also a professional volleyball player.^[4] Shoji attended Punahou School, where he won three consecutive men's state titles as a member of the volleyball team.^[5]

Shoji attended Stanford University, where he became the first four-time AVCA team All-American.^[5] He finished at Stanford as the record-holder for career digs, with 1,402 total digs.^[6]

Career

Shoji became a member of the United States senior national team in 2013.^[7] He has represented Team USA at the 2016 Summer Olympics, where the team won a bronze medal, the 2020 Summer Olympics, and the 2024 Summer Olympics, where he earned his second bronze medal.^[8]

At the club level, Shoji has played for professional clubs in Germany, Poland, Austria, Italy, and Russia. He has played for Polish club ZAKSA since 2021, with whom he has won four Polish League trophies and two CEV Champions League titles.^[8]

Honors

Club

• CEV Champions League
  • 2021–22 – with ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle^[9]
  • 2022–23 – with ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle
• CEV Cup
  • 2015–16 – with Berlin Recycling Volleys
• Domestic
  • 2013–14 Austrian Cup, with Hypo Tirol Innsbruck
  • 2013–14 Austrian Championship, with Hypo Tirol Innsbruck
  • 2015–16 German Cup, with Berlin Recycling Volleys
  • 2015–16 German Championship, with Berlin Recycling Volleys
  • 2021–22 Polish Cup, with ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle
  • 2021–22 Polish Championship, with ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle^[10]
  • 2022–23 Polish Cup, with ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle
  • 2023–24 Polish SuperCup, with ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle

Youth national team

• 2006 NORCECA U19 Championship

Individual awards

• 2007: FIVB U19 World Championship – Best digger
• 2008: NORCECA U21 Championship – Best receiver
• 2008: NORCECA U21 Championship – Best defender
• 2008: NORCECA U21 Championship – Best libero
• 2015: FIVB World Cup – Best libero
• 2019: FIVB Nations League – Best libero
• 2023: NORCECA Championship – Best receiver