Going Separate Ways

Kelli Anderson

September 12, 2005

Karch Kiraly (left) and Mike Lambert, who have won four tournaments in the two years they have been together, are a dynamite combo: The 6'6" Lambert is one of the tour's best blockers, and the 6'2" Kiraly, at 44, is still the best passer. But their title match in Chicago last Saturday may have been one of their last together. While Kiraly may still play on the tour, he doesn't want to go through the grind of qualifying for the Olympics again. (He won gold medals with the U.S. indoor team in 1984 and '88 and on the beach, with partner Kent Steffes, in '96.) That means the 31-year-old Lambert, the reigning AVP MVP, needs to find a new partner next year before starting the official qualifying process in '07. His parting with Kiraly, who is considered the best player ever, will come with at least one regret. Says Lambert, "I wish I had called him earlier."