Three-time Olympic gold medalist and volleyball icon Kerri Walsh Jennings showed up on the sand at Bolsa Chica State Beach on Saturday, June 22, not just to play the game that has made her a household name, but to give back to others who share her passion for the sport.
Kerri Walsh Jennings, three-time Olympic Gold Medalist and American Professional Beach Volleyball Star held a beach volleyball clinic for 31 local youth athletes 12-18 from the Starlings Volleyball USA, an organization dedicated to positively impacting the lives of at-risk girls through volleyball in Huntington Beach on Saturday, June 22, 2019. (Sam Gangwer, Contributing Photographer)
Kerri Walsh Jennings gives a high five to one of the players during a beach volleyball clinic for 31 local youth athletes 12-18 from the Starlings Volleyball USA, an organization dedicated to positively impacting the lives of at-risk girls through volleyball in Huntington Beach on Saturday, June 22, 2019. (Sam Gangwer, Contributing Photographer)
Kerri Walsh Jennings, three-time Olympic Gold Medalist and American Professional Beach Volleyball Star held a beach volleyball clinic for 31 local youth athletes 12-18 from the Starlings Volleyball USA, an organization dedicated to positively impacting the lives of at-risk girls through volleyball in Huntington Beach on Saturday, June 22, 2019. (Sam Gangwer, Contributing Photographer)
Kerri Walsh Jennings makes a point during a beach volleyball clinic for 31 local youth athletes 12-18 from the Starlings Volleyball USA, an organization dedicated to positively impacting the lives of at-risk girls through volleyball in Huntington Beach on Saturday, June 22, 2019. (Sam Gangwer, Contributing Photographer)
Kerri Walsh Jennings walks through a demonstration as she held a beach volleyball clinic for 31 local youth athletes 12-18 from the Starlings Volleyball USA, an organization dedicated to positively impacting the lives of at-risk girls through volleyball in Huntington Beach on Saturday, June 22, 2019. (Sam Gangwer, Contributing Photographer)
Kerri Walsh Jennings gives a tip to one of the Starlings Volleyball USA students.
(Sam Gangwer, Contributing Photographer)
Kerri Walsh Jennings gives a tip to Valeria Ramos during a beach volleyball clinic for 31 local youth athletes 12-18 from the Starlings Volleyball USA, an organization dedicated to positively impacting the lives of at-risk girls through volleyball in Huntington Beach on Saturday, June 22, 2019. (Sam Gangwer, Contributing Photographer)
Keary Godinez sets a shot during a beach volleyball clinic held by Kerri Walsh Jennings, three-time Olympic Gold Medalist and American Professional Beach Volleyball Star for 31 local youth athletes 12-18 from the Starlings Volleyball USA, an organization dedicated to positively impacting the lives of at-risk girls through volleyball in Huntington Beach on Saturday, June 22, 2019. (Sam Gangwer, Contributing Photographer)
Lucy Jones, Executive Director, Starlings Volleyball, USA, left, accepts a check from Deanna Holland, Community Marketing Manager, Los Angeles for DickÕs Sporting Goods, center, and Kerri Walsh Jennings, three-time Olympic Gold Medalist and American Professional Beach Volleyball Star. The donation came after Walsh-Jennings held a beach volleyball clinic for 31 local youth athletes 12-18 from the Starlings Volleyball USA, an organization dedicated to positively impacting the lives of at-risk girls through volleyball in Huntington Beach on Saturday, June 22, 2019. (Sam Gangwer, Contributing Photographer)
Walsh Jennings met with nearly three dozen local young athletes and their coaches to serve up some good will and training tips for Starling Volleyball USA, a group that uses volleyball to positively impact at-risk girls.
After the clinic, Walsh Jennings presented a check for $25,000 on behalf of DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation.
The foundation’s Sports Matter initiative raises awareness and money for youth sports programs across the country.
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Walsh Jennings, who lives in Manhattan Beach, has been making regular appearances in Huntington Beach, where she first teamed up with longtime teammate Misty May-Treanor. The duo earned gold at the Olympic Games in 2012, 2008 and 2004. A few months ago, Walsh Jennings donated 25 new nets to the courts adjacent to the Huntington Beach Pier.
The pro volleyball player currently sits in the second spot in the Olympic Beach Volleyball rankings and is in the middle of intense training in preparation for the Tokyo games in 2020. It will be her sixth consecutive Olympic appearance.
