Patak grew up in Pleasanton, California and attended Foothill High School where he played for the school's volleyball team. He was named to the First Team All-East Bay Athletic League three times, earning the title Most Valuable Player in his senior year. He also played club volleyball for Diablo Valley Volleyball Club.[1]
Following graduation, Patak enrolled at the University of California, Santa Barbara and played for the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos. After redshirting in 2003, he played 4 seasons with the Gauchos. He was named the 2004 AVCA Newcomer of the Year and a three-time All-American.[2] He also led the nation in kills in 2005.[3]
The offseason saw another move as Patak joined Austrian-based aon hotVolleys in the Fall of 2008.[7][8] He played with the team until January 9, 2009 when his contract was mutually terminated due to the club's financial constraints.[9][10][11] He returned to the Greek A1 Ethniki that same month after signing with P.A.O.K. Thessaloniki V.C.[12] He joined Turkish club Halkbank Ankara of the Turkish Men's Volleyball League in Summer of 2009.[13][14] He stayed with the club through early May 2010.[15]
After Greece, Patak joined the South Korean V-League club Incheon Korean Air Jumbos. They ended with the best regular season record in the V-League for the 2010–2011 season but lost in the championship playoffs finals.[16] He returned to Europe to play for Italian club Umbria Volley of the Italian Volleyball League in December 2011.[17][18]
Patak landed in Puerto Rico for the third time in October 2012. He signed for Plataneros de Corozal after Dallas Soonais was lost to a shoulder injury.[19] After a semi-finals loss that ended Plataneros de Corozal's season, Patak joined Spacer's de Toulouse in January 2013.[20] He proved to be a huge catalyst to turn Spacer's season around, making a run in the Coupe de France but ultimately coming in second best.[21] Despite his play, he was not brought back for a second season.[22]
International
Patak has been a member of the full United States men's national volleyball team since 2008. He was initially a member of the U.S. delegation for the World University Games in 2003 and 2007 earning a bronze medal in both trips. Patak was on track to also participate in the 2005 Games but did not participate due to injury. He also joined for a six-city tour against Japan.
After leaving UC Santa Barbara, Patak's first action with the senior men's national team was in the 2008 NORCECA Continental Olympic Qualifying Preliminary Matches, 2008 Four Nations Tournament, 2008 Men's Pan-American Volleyball Cup, 2008 FIVB Volleyball World League, and 2008 Volleyball America's Cup. Despite being named to the 2008 Summer Games preliminary roster, Patak missed being named to the final roster and was subsequently named an alternate. U.S. assistant coach Rick McLaughlin tipped Patak as having the potential to peak in 2012 for the London Games.[23]
↑ Simonian, Thomas (August 7, 2013). "LES SPACERS PASSENT À AUTRE CHOSE" (in French). Le Nouveau Journal Toulousain. Archived from the original on September 24, 2014. Retrieved September 24, 2014.
