Columbus North graduate Kurt Nusterer, right, goes up for a block for Austria in this year’s U22 European Championships in Poland.
Submitted photo
Kurt Nusterer didn’t start playing volleyball until his freshman year in high school, but he has Olympic and professional aspirations and was able to gain some valuable international experience this summer.
The 2021 Columbus North graduate and University of Hawaii redshirt-freshman spent the summer playing on the Austrian U22 and senior men’s national teams. He was able to play for the Austrians since his father Norbert Nusterer was born there.
Kurt’s cousin Paul Nusterer has played on the Austrian U16 and U18 national teams and now is on the U22 squad.
“He said, “I have a cousin who is in the US, and he plays volleyball,” Kurt said. “The (Austrian) coaches know the coaches in Hawaii, so they called the Hawaii coaches, and the Hawaii coaches vouched for my playing ability. It’s pretty hard to get that invitation without them seeing you play live. But one of the assistant coaches at Hawaii said they had gotten a call from one of the Austrian coaches, and that’s when I really started thinking about it.”
Kurt spent last season as a redshirt at Hawaii, which won the NCAA championship on May 9. Two days later, he flew to Austria.
Columbus North graduate Kurt Nusterer prepares to serve for Austria during this year’s U22 European Championships in Poland.
Submitted photo
Once he arrived, Kurt went through a week of training with the U22 team, then went with the team to the European Championship qualifications in Albania. The Austrians beat Montenegro and Albania to win that tournament.
After three weeks off, Kurt went to a week-long training camp with U22 team for the European Championships in Poland. The Austrians finished seventh in that event after battling Serbia in a 28-26, 27-25, 25-23 loss, then falling in a five-set match to eventual runner-up France and Poland.
“We played incredible,” Kurt said said. “We almost beat France. We really did a pretty good job there.”
Columbus North graduate Kurt Nusterer, left, goes up for a block for Austria in this year’s U22 European Championships in Poland.
Submitted photo
Following that tournament, Kurt was one of three U22 players invited to a two-week training camp with the senior men’s team and played in “friendlies” against Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Qatar, Bahrian, Finland twice and Latvia twice. was one of three from U22 team to make it
“When they have the two weeks of the training, they have 20 guys there and I knew I’d be there for that, but then they cut it to 14, and I honestly didn’t think I’d make the final roster,” Kurt said.
Columbus North graduate Kurt Nusterer (1) celebrates with his Austrian teammates during this year’s U22 European Championships in Poland.
Submitted photo
The European Championships for senior team is next year, but Austria did not qualify.
Kurt, who began high school as a soccer player and swimmer, gave up those sports after his sophomore year to focus on volleyball. He eventually would like to play professional volleyball in Europe, preferably in Italy.
“It’s really easy to burn out, so as much as I was excited to go over there and play, I was mildly optimistic because I want to do this as my job,” Kurt said. “I went into this with no expectations. It’s a different kind of volleyball. It’s a lot more fundamental focused with passing technique and defense. They start a lot earlier there. They start later in the US because men’s volleyball is not as big a sport here. It was really nice to make connections with coaches and play in front of those coaches because all the national team coaches coach club teams when they’re not with the national team.”
The 6-foot-9 middle blocker returned to Hawaii on Tuesday. He figures to be among three players competing for two starting middle blocker spots. One of the others plays for the Brazilian junior national team and the other plays for the Japanese junior national team.
“I think I will definitely be seeing some court time,” Kurt said. “The spot definitely isn’t locked in place this year. There are guys competing for it, so whoever works the hardest and earns it will get it.”
Former Hawaii middle blocker Taylor Averill played on the US national team, and recent Hawaii graduate Pat Gasmin is currently on the US national team. Kurt thinks he could be in line to earn a spot down the road.
“My best opportunity to go to the Olympics would be in 2028 with the USA team,” Kurt said. “You get one transfer of country status, and I doubt the Austrian national team will qualify for the Olympics before I die, to be honest, but there is a chance I could make the 2028 Olympics with the USA team. The Hawaii middle blocker that graduated in 2021 is on the Olympic team, so I think it’s a possibility.”
Besides the qualifications and championships in Albania and Poland, Kurt also was able to visit Slovakia, Czech Republic, Finland, Latvia and Hungary with the Austrian teams this summer.
“No one plans a vacation to Albania,” Kurt said. “It was a really enlightening experience, and I’m really glad I got to play there. Being able to see countries that I would never see had I not played volleyball was nice. Making friends also was nice. Playing the games in Poland, there were like 5,000 people there cheering really loud. That was probably my favorite experience of the summer.”
Kurt also enjoyed playing with his cousin. Their fathers, Norbert and his brother Dieter, played basketball together for the Austrian national team when they were younger.
“It’s kind of like a full circle moment when they saw my cousin and I play volleyball together,” Kurt said. “I think that’s something really special.”
