 |
 |
 |
 |
Spotlight: Misty May, Volleyball
 Click here for more on this story |
Posted: Friday July 09, 1999 10:54 AM
May is emerging on the international scene. |
Born: July 30, 1977
Hometown: Costa Mesa, Calif.
Upcoming Event: Pan Am Games, July 20-August 1, 1999, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Worth Watching Because: One of the most decorated college volleyball players of all time is just beginning to show a worldwide audience what she can do. May, who made history at Long Beach State, joined the U.S. national team two months ago and earned her first international start June 5 against the Dominican Republic.
In 1998, for the second year in a row, May was selected as the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) and Volleyball Magazine's national player of the year. The 5'9" senior setter had just come off a season in which she led the 49ers to the 1998 NCAA volleyball title and a perfect 36-0 record, making Long Beach State the first volleyball program in NCAA history to go through a year undefeated. May, a kinesiology/physical education major, was also named the 1998-99 recipient of the Honda Broderick Cup, awarded to the nation's top female collegiate student-athlete. She is just the second volleyball player to win the prize. Dietre Collins won in 1982-83 while attending the University of Hawaii.
With her trademark pigtails and shy manner, May doesn't appear threatening off the court. But she plays with an intensity, aggressiveness and piercing stare that overpowers opponents and leaves even her teammates in awe. "Misty does things on the court that nobody else can even think about doing," said her former college teammate, outside hitter Jenn Snyder. A three-time all-American, May ended her Long Beach State career ranked second in school history in assists (5,045), second in service aces (160), third in digs (1,277) and sixth in hitting percentage (.334).
May played part-time for the U.S. national team last summer, but with just 21 international matches under her belt she is still working toward assuming a more prominent role -- namely starting setting duties at the 2000 Olympics. If the U.S. squad qualifies, that is. The American women are in jeopardy of not making the cut for Sydney after failing to get out of first-round pool play at this year's world championships. May is expected to have a significant impact on the team's chances of qualifying. With her skill and ability to dominate, the U.S. team just might be set.
Greatest Success: Named to the U.S. national team, May 24, 1999 ; Led Long Beach State to the NCAA title and a perfect 36-0 record in 1998; named AVCA and Volleyball Magazine's National Player of the Year in 1997 and 1998
Quote/Unquote: "Misty is the Magic Johnson or Wayne Gretzky of
volleyball. She does everything, and she does it with more creativity and
imagination than anyone who came before her. She is the center and the future of
this
sport."
—Long Beach State coach Brian
Gimmillaro
Cool Fact: Misty's father, Butch May, was a member of the 1968 men's Olympic volleyball team.
Come back soon for a new women's sports Spotlight.
| Related information | |
| Stories | |
 Previous Women's Sports Spotlights | |
| Multimedia | |
|
Click here for the latest audio and video
| |
| Search our site | Watch CNN/SI 24 hours a day |
| Sports Illustrated and CNN have combined to form a 24 hour sports news and information channel. To receive CNN/SI at your home call 1-888-53-CNNSI. | |
Copyright © 1999 CNN/SI. A Time Warner Company. All Rights Reserved.
Terms under which this service is provided to you.
Read our privacy guidelines.