Basic Information
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full name | Samuel Burgi |
| Also known as | Sam Burgi |
| Birth date | August 15, 2000 |
| Hometown | Laguna Beach, California, United States |
| Height | 6 ft 5 in (listed) |
| Position | Outside hitter |
| College | UCLA (University of California Los Angeles) |
| Jersey number | 17 |
| Notable pro clubs | Los Caribes de San Sebastián (Puerto Rico), Maccabi Tel Aviv, CSU Stiinta București (Romania) |
| Social handle | @samburgi (Instagram) |
Biography
Samuel Burgi grew up where the ocean and athletic ambition meet, a California teenager shaped by beach breezes and indoor gyms. Born August 15, 2000, he moved through the ranks of high school varsity competition into elite club volleyball with Club 949, collecting youth national titles along the way. His development followed the classic arc of a modern outside hitter: late teens of technical refinement, a national training team invite in 2017, and a collegiate breakthrough when he joined UCLA in 2019.
On campus he wore number 17 and learned the rhythm of high level play, alternating between redshirt seasons and meaningful match minutes. He became the kind of reserve that shifts momentum, arriving off the bench like a gust that changes the direction of a set. His collegiate tenure included postseason intensity, with appearances that read like a sportsman’s coming of age: incremental responsibility, highlight moments, and the steady accumulation of skills that attract professional offers.
Family and Personal Relationships
Family is a visible part of Sam’s public life, a network that connects entertainment, music, and mindfulness to a career in sport.
Richard Burgi is Sam’s father and a working actor with a long career in television and film. The presence of a parent accustomed to public attention has likely taught Sam how to navigate interviews, spotlight moments, and the logistics of travel.
Lori Kahn is Sam’s mother and a mindfulness and coaching professional. Her work in meditation and life coaching contributes a quieter, interior influence, the sort that helps an athlete manage pressure and stay present in crucial points.
Jack Burgi, born December 8, 1996, is Sam’s older brother and also a volleyball player who competed collegiately at Princeton. Their sibling bond reads as a duet of shared passion, a training partner in youth and a friendly rival into adulthood.
Liliana López is Richard’s spouse and therefore Sam’s stepmother; she appears in family contexts and public profiles. Her presence rounds out a blended household with ties to arts and media.
Chuck Burgi is Sam’s paternal uncle and a professional drummer known in rock and pop circles. That musical lineage provides a different kind of rhythm to the family story, a reminder that performance takes many forms.
Career and Achievements
Sam’s trajectory is measured in seasons, points, and roster moves. He accumulated junior national championships with Club 949 across multiple age groups and earned selection to the USA Boys’ Youth National Training Team in 2017. Those early markers signaled potential and opened the door to a major collegiate program.
At UCLA he developed as an outside hitter: attacking from the left, contributing in serve receive, and adding defensive touches when asked. He registered match minutes across multiple seasons and took part in NCAA postseason campaigns, including notable appearances in 2022 where bench contributions surfaced as momentum-changing plays.
Professional life for Sam followed the pattern many U.S. college players follow: overseas contracts and short term import stints. In late 2023 he played in Puerto Rico as an import and recorded high scoring outings in playoff situations. By 2024 he had roster entries and transfer mentions tied to clubs in Israel and Romania, reflecting a globe-trotting approach to a volleyball career. These moves are typical for players building professional résumés while adapting to different leagues and playing styles.
Notable career highlights and concrete markers:
- Multiple junior national championships with Club 949 during teenage years.
- Selection to USA Youth national training pool in 2017.
- Rostered at UCLA from 2019 onward, wearing jersey 17 and contributing in NCAA tournament runs.
- Professional scoring performances in Puerto Rico during the 2023 season.
- Subsequent contracts and roster listings in European and Israeli club volleyball during 2024 and 2025.
Timeline
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 2000 | Born August 15 |
| 2014 to 2018 | High school varsity and Club 949 junior national championships |
| 2017 | Selected to USA Boys Youth National Training Team |
| 2019 | Joined UCLA men’s volleyball program, jersey 17 |
| 2020 to 2022 | Collegiate appearances with postseason play, notable May 2022 performances |
| 2023 | Professional import in Puerto Rico, playoff and finals appearances |
| 2024 | Transfers and signings reported with clubs in Israel and Romania |
| 2024 to 2025 | Played in European professional leagues, highlight reels and club rosters |
Playing Style and Impact
Sam is an outside hitter whose game blends aggression and adaptability. He attacks with a compact arm swing and reads block schemes with the patience of a chess player. In serve receive he is trusted enough to take difficult rotations, and defensively he offers the kind of hustle that fills stat sheets in digs and transition points. Think of him as a toolbelt player: when a coach needs a specific function in a rotation, he reaches for Sam and finds a reliable instrument.
His impact is not always loud. Often it is contained in runs of consistent passing, a string of serves that turn a match, or a late set where his spikes puncture momentum. That type of contribution becomes visible over a season rather than a single highlight, and it explains why teams seeking steady imports look at players with his blend of college pedigree and international experience.
Media Presence and Public Image
Sam maintains an active social profile with thousands of followers and public posts that combine travel snapshots, training clips, and match highlights. Video content ranges from full highlights to short form clips showing trick plays and signature swings. Collegiate media and club teams have posted interviews and postgame appearances, presenting him as both an athlete and a thoughtful competitor.
The family name adds another angle to his public identity. It is a family portrait with actors and musicians, and that cross disciplinary visibility helps Sam step into media moments with a level of comfort. His posts often balance the grind of professional life with the calmer practices of mindfulness and family time.
FAQ
What position does Samuel Burgi play?
Samuel Burgi is an outside hitter who contributes in attack, serve receive, and defense.
When was Sam Burgi born?
He was born on August 15, 2000.
What college did he attend and what number did he wear?
He attended UCLA and wore jersey number 17.
Has he played professionally?
Yes, he has played professionally, including import stints in Puerto Rico and club contracts in Europe and Israel.
Who are Sam Burgi’s immediate family members?
His immediate family includes father Richard Burgi, mother Lori Kahn, brother Jack Burgi, stepmother Liliana López, and uncle Chuck Burgi.
Did he play on any national teams as a youth?
He was selected to the USA Boys Youth National Training Team in 2017.
What are some of his career highlights?
Highlights include multiple junior national championships with Club 949, NCAA tournament contributions at UCLA, and double digit scoring games as a professional import.
Where is he from originally?
He is from Laguna Beach, California.
What is his social media presence like?
He is active on Instagram under the handle @samburgi with public posts featuring matches, training, and travel.
How tall is he?
He is listed at 6 feet 5 inches.
