Theo Brunner

Theo Brunner grew up watching his dad play indoor and outdoor volleyball in the Connecticut volleyball community.  After winning a state championship for Ridgefield High School, Theo went on to play indoor volleyball at UC Santa Barbara (2004-2008), where he was a First Team All-American in 2007. He then played indoor volleyball professionally for Paok in Greece, as well as Ravenna and Verona in the Italian A1 League. Theo’s first foray into beach volleyball happened in 2006 at the urging of UCSB Libero Ben Brockman. In 2012, Theo’s professional indoor career was derailed by a health issue, but he would later return to beach in 2013. Theo teamed up with Nick Lucena for his first AVP season in 2013. Theo’s career highlights include his four titles – the 2013 AVP Championships, 2016 Seattle Open, and the 2018 & 2022 Hermosa Beach Opens.  Theo was named the AVPs Best Blocker in both 2013 and 2014, 2022 and 2023.  Internationally, Theo has won two Bronze Medals in major international events, as well as taking 4th place in the 2015 World Championships in The Netherlands. 

When he’s not playing volleyball, Theo is spending time with his wife Ioanna and their two children. He also has a hilarious Instagram presence. @lordbrunner is a must-follow; be sure to check for his sarcastically scathing comments on fellow AVP players’ posts.