Former Newport Harbor standout Misty May-Treanor is among five legends who will be inducted into the International Volleyball Hall of Fame Oct. 22 in Holyoke, Mass., the sport’s birthplace.
Others in the the 31st induction class include male indoor volleyball player Nikola Grbic of Serbia, female indoor volleyball player Danielle Scott-Arruda of the United States, beach player Emanuel Rego of Brazil, and coach Man-Bok Park of South Korea.
May-Treanor, a four-time beach Olympian, partnered with Kerri Walsh Jennings to become the first players to win three consecutive Olympic Games beach volleyball gold medals in 2004, 2008 and 2012. She won three straight FIVB World Championships titles in 2003, 2005 and 2007, while narrowly missing a fourth title in 2011 as she came away with silver.
May-Treanor, a Costa Mesa resident, was equally adept at offense and defense on the sand as she won the FIVB Offensive Player of the Year three times (2005, 2007, 2008) and FIVB Defensive Player of Year twice (2007, 2008). She won 112 titles in her domestic and international career that netted $2.1 million in earnings.
May-Treanor was named FIVB Sportsperson of the Year in back-to-back years in 2007 and 2008. She partnered with Holly McPeak early in her career as they played in the 2000 Sydney Games. May-Treanor was an elite indoor player as well, having served as the starting setter on Long Beach State University’s undefeated NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Championship team before electing to play beach.
“The 2016 Volleyball Hall of Fame class represents five remarkable individuals who were among volleyball’s elite over a long period of time on the international stage,” said Doug Beal, co-chair of the International Volleyball Hall of Fame selection committee. “This induction class upholds the highest qualities of the game through its athletes and coaches, and what the next generation of athletes can look upon as true icons of the sport.”
The induction class is elected by a vote of past International Volleyball Hall of Fame inductees. A total of 22 different countries are represented in the International Volleyball Hall of Fame with at least one inductee. All told, 130 individuals will have been inducted into the International Volleyball Hall of Fame after this year’s enshrinement ceremony.
The International Volleyball Hall of Fame induction festivities include a Mayor’s reception on Friday, Oct. 21, at Wistariahurst Museum in Holyoke, followed by the Ring and Plaque Ceremony inside the Volleyball Hall of Fame from 9-10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 22, with the formal Enshrinement Dinner and Ceremony taking place later that same evening.
