Sean Rooney (Wheaton, Ill.) joined the U.S. Men’s Team in 2007 after playing three years on the AVP beach volleyball tour. A 6-foot-9 (206cm) outside hitter, Rooney helped the U.S. Men claim a bronze medal at the 2007 World League, a silver medal at the Pan American Games and a gold medal at the America’s Cup.

In 2008, he helped the U.S. Men qualify for the 2008 Olympic Games at the NORCECA Olympic Qualifier, where he was named Best Spiker. Later that year, he helped the U.S. Men to gold medals at the Olympic Games and the World League.

Rooney was born in 1982 in Wheaton, Ill., to Mike and Carol Rooney. He also had two sisters. Rooney went to Pepperdine University where he was a four-time AVCA All-American and led The Waves to the 2005 NCAA Men’s Volleyball Championship. After that victory, he got to meet then President George W. Bush and present him with a surfboard.

Rooney has played overseas in Korea and Russia.