Athletes

Misty May has earned her way into the top ranks of women's beach volleyball, now in her sixth season of professional competition. Along with partner Kerri Walsh, May made her second Olympic Games appearance and captured her first gold medal in the 2004 Olympics. Since joining forces in 2001, May and Walsh have been a dominant force in the game. In the 2003 campaign the duo won all eight events they entered on the Association of Volleybal Professionals (AVP) tour and set an AVP best 39-0 record. They managed to win 89 consecutive matches, breaking the previous record of 56. They completed that season ranked second on the international (FIVB) tour. In 2002, the pair captured five FIVB tour events and finished the season in first. May placed first at the Chicago Grand Slam and FIVB German Open (2000). With partner Holly McPeak, May won second at the 2000 FIVB China Open. May helped the U.S. national women's beach volleyball team win a bronze medal at the 1999 Pan American Games. That year she became the winningest rookie-season player in U.S. history with five gold-medal finishes, including two domestic titles. In her collegiate career with Long Beach State University, May ranked second in assists (5,045), second in service aces (160), third in digs (1,277) and sixth in hitting percentage (.334). She graduated as one of the most decorated players in NCAA history, earning the 1999 Division I Player of the Year and the NCAA Collegiate Woman of the Year honors. She was only the third athlete to receive the American Volleyball Coaches Association's Player of the Year award twice (1998, 1997). May was annually the nation's top collegiate female athlete, making her only the second volleyball player in 24 years to receive the honor. She was the first player to be named Big West Player of the Year three times (1998, 1997, 1996) and was a two-time NCAA All-American (1998, 1997). May comes from an athletic family, with her parents and cousin having been active in sports throughout their lives and having made appearances on national and Olympic squads. (9/04)