(LEBANON, IL., July 30) – McKendree University men's volleyball alumni Brendan Schmidt (O'Fallon, MO/Fort Zumwalt West) was one of 12 selected for Team USA's roster for the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru. The 2018 alumni is one of two middle blockers on the roster, the other is Brigham Young University alumni Price Jarman.

Team USA is in pool play competition with Chile, Mexico, and Brazil. Their first match is scheduled for July 31 at 4:30 p.m. PT against Chile, the second is against Mexico at 4:30 p.m. PT on Aug. 1, and the third and final game of pool play is set for Aug. 2 at 6:30 p.m. PT vs. Brazil. Classification matches as well as the semifinals will take place on Aug. 3 with the finals scheduled for the following day on Aug. 4.

For the past two years Schmidt has been a member of Team USA's men's volleyball roster for the Pan American Cup. The middle blocker helped lead Team USA to a fifth place finish earlier this summer at the 2019 Pan Am Cup and a seventh place finish in the 2018 Pan Am Cup.  

The last time the U.S. men's team medaled at the Pan American Games was in 2007 as they came in second earning silver. Since the Pan Am Games were introduced in 1955, Team USA men's volleyball has earned four gold medals and three silver medals.

Brendan Schmidt (O'Fallon, MO/Fort Zumwalt West) is the current McKendree men's volleyball record holder in total career blocks with 374 as well as total blocks recorded in one season with his 109 blocks in the 2015 season.