Ben Patch rises up, hits over a two-man block and puts the ball to the floor.

How many still photographers do you know who can do that? (More on that later).

The U.S. Men’s National Team opposite left BYU after his junior year, and joined the national team one month later.

And picture this, he made an immediate impression, starting 11 of Team USA’s 13 World League matches in 2017, when he was the team’s second leading point-getter.

After playing his first pro season in Italy, Patch picked up where he left off in the summer of 2018, leading the U.S. Men in scoring with 73 points, with 62 kills and seven blocks in the first two weeks of the inaugural Volleyball Nations League.

The 6-foot-8 Patch recorded double digits in kills four times in the first three weeks of VNL, highlighted by a 21-kill performance against Argentina.

“The more experience that I have, the more I’ll be a viable option at opposite, which is my goal," Patch said. "I want to be on that court.”

Could Patch at some point emerge as ‘the’ guy at opposite? Perhaps. 

“I think Ben could potentially become that player," said USA head coach John Speraw.

But an injury sidelined the young opposite before the U.S. hit the floor outside of Chicago for the fourth week of VNL play.

“I had a lat tear” Patch said, describing the injury as “acute.”

Patch healed up and later helped the U.S. to a VNL bronze medal. “It was kind of a rushed process because I really wanted to play in the finals.”

Playing Patch at opposite means moving  four-time USA indoor player of the year Matt Anderson back to outside hitter, his position with his club team Zenit Kazan.

“Right now Matty is one of our best passers” Speraw noted. 

But Anderson is clearly very good on the right side—he was named Best Opposite in VNL this summer.

Speraw also points out, “Ben doesn’t quite hit with the same range and velocity Matt does over there.”

While Speraw says Patch needs to be more skilled, he adds “He’s definitely good enough to get out there on the court (and) help us win matches.”

That’s especially true in a long tournament like the World Cup, and possibly the World Championships.

With Anderson at outside hitter, Speraw said “you’d have four starters over there”, referring to Taylor Sander, Aaron Russell and Thomas Jaeschke.

Speraw said Jaeschke was playing “really well” when he injured his left ACL in Week 4 of VNL.

Patch has hops- one estimate had his vertical just shy of 12 feet.

The high-flying opposite continues to improve, and his presence on the court gives the team options. 

“Matt, having a player like him to be able to play both positions (opposite and outside hitter) is good,” outside hitter Aaron Russell said. “So in case Taylor (Sander) or I are not playing well or we need a day of recovery in World Champs… that’s huge if just for a couple of games. We could have someone rest and have people fill in, or even we could give Matty a rest if he’s taking a lot of swings and put Ben in.”

That kind of talent and depth at outside hitter is an advantage especially when playing several matches, often consecutively, in the World Championships or World Cup.

And don’t expect any bruised egos or complaints about playing time with players in the USA gym. These guys just want to win.

The ultimate team player, the 6-foot-10 Anderson said he’d welcome a switch to outside hitter “one-hundred percent” while adding he’d play middle blocker if that’s what the team needed.

“We’re kind of a family out there and you want to put your best foot forward” Anderson said.

As Patch gets better and better on the court, he also continues to evolve off the court. You see, Patch also dabbles in wedding photography.

If the USA wins a medal at the World Championships, perhaps Patch could take the team photo of he and his happy teammates on the podium.