Super League 2024-25 round 1 preview – Lassandro bidding to power Giants' push

Standing 2m 8cm tall – that's 6ft 8in in old money – rarely does the 25-year-old look up to anyone, at least in a literal sense anyway. 

Coming to the UK is the first time the American has left his home country, period, and he is delighted it is to facilitate a move to play volleyball in London. 

Now settled, the former Concordia University Irvine (CUI) player is determined to make the most of the opportunity, both on and off the court. 

Born into a sport-mad family, Noah could have easily have followed in the foosteps of mum Angela and late dad Jason, who both played basketball to a high level at college, or he could have pursued one of the other sports he tried at high school. 

Instead, it was a chance meeting when he was an impressionable teenager that led him to give volleyball a go – and eventually led to a successful college career. 

“I actually didn’t start playing volleyball until I was 14 and a freshman at high school,” said Noah. “I was already about 6ft 4ins or 6ft 5ins by that by point and was shown around by one of the volleyball players... he said you have to try out for our team. 

“I was quite timid and shy back then, so when someone like that insisted on me doing it, I went along with it and I loved it from the start. 

“The basic skills came pretty easily, I soon figured it out. I played football and ran track as well, but I realised that if this (volleyball) is what I wanted to do at the top level, then I had to work hard at it to get better. 

“I have always loved the action and speed of it and the crowd involvement, but it was after my sophomore year that I decided to really go for it. 

“Coming from a family of athletes has really helped. My dad, in particular was really supportive. He had never really seen volleyball before I started playing so we were learning together and he soon learned to love the game. 

“He was the one who would drive me to all the school and club practices and was there for me every step of the way.” 

At college, where he majored in Marketing and Sports Management, Noah played NCAA volleyball for the CUI Golden Eagles. 

He followed that up by playing half a season each in the semi-professional ranks of the Volleyball League of America (VLA) for West Coast Brigade and National Volleyball Association (NVA) for the Inland Empire Matadors. 

However, in 2022, his career temporarily came to a halt when he had to return home – Reading, Pennsylvannia, which is situated close to Philadelphia – when his dad became ill with cancer, from which he later sadly passed away. 

From then until now, Noah has continued playing, but only recreationally, with “no teams where I could play with the same players every week”, alongside some spells in junior coaching. 

The opportunity to come to the UK has come at an ideal time, and he is looking forward to the regular interaction and camaraderie that comes with being part of a team.

He said: “I’m so genuinely excited about this because I have friends who have played in mainland Europe and they have talked about it being such a great opportunity, and that if I could figure something out then I should go for it. 

“I have been to 46 or 47 of the US States, but this is the first time I have been outside the country, and I know a lot of people don’t get to do that, so I’m extremely grateful. 

“I want to make the most of it and see some of the UK, but also the rest of Europe as well if I can plan a trip in at some point. 

“I have been over here in London now since the last week of September, and it’s very different to home, but I’m enjoying it, and I only live about 20 minutes away from where we have our practice sessions. 

“It’s still early days and there are still things that we have to work through, but I really like the guys and they are all working very hard to help the team improve.” 

Noah joins a Giants side ambitious to make a successful transition to the DYNAMIK Men’s Super League, having won promotion through the play-offs by beating Newcastle Staffs at the end of last season. 

With the club forming as recently as 2016, and only joining the National Volleyball League (NVL) in the 2019-20 season, it has been a rapid rise into the top flight. 

But he hopes he can play his part in continuing that upward trajectory by forming a strong partnership with fellow middle and captain Vincenzo Agrillo. 

“One of the things I try to do out on court is to try to stay calm and controlled and not get too flustered when I am out on court, because you know that you are going to make some mistakes in a match,” said Noah. 

“When you are playing at a high level, you have got to be able to react positively and not dwell upon things. It’s about staying in the moment and not letting things affect me. 

“I’m looking forward to playing alongside Vinnie, who is really good, and I think once we connect, which comes over time, then we are going to be able to play well together.” 

First up for the Giants at Opening Weekend on Saturday at the National Volleyball Centre in Kettering as they make their Super League debut is a true test of their credentials in the shape of reigning champions, Durham Palatinates. 

But whether they win or lose, Noah insists the most important thing is to learn from it and use the knowledge gained as the season evolves. 

He said: “I was an underdog all my way through college, so being in that kind of situation, with us being new to this level, doesn’t faze me. 

“Joining at the time I have is really appealing because it means I am here from the start of the project of us being in Super League and hopefully, as the season goes on, we can push for a place in the Final 4, as is the coach’s aim. 

“Of course, it would be great to get off to a winning start and build some early momentum, but the most important thing is not how you start, but how you finish.  

“We would love to come out and make a statement, but if it didn’t go our way, then we can regroup and go again for what will be a long season.” 

Noah Lassandro pics courtesy of CUI. Giants pictures by Liam Jefferies

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