History of Volleyball: USA Women in the Olympics
A timeline of events marking the history of volleyball playing American female athletes in the Olympics.
The history of volleyball in the Olympics for women, especially American players has occurred in a very short time, only spanning over the last 50 years.
Many of the participants in the first Olympics are still playing volleyball today.
Below, find the timeline of events and the Olympic rosters of female volleyball players who represented the United States in each competition below.
History of Volleyball: 1960s
1964: Tokyo Olympics - 5th place
Only six teams competed in the female division of the first Olympic games. The Japanese women were the first winners in the history of volleyball defeating the Soviet Union in the finals.
Historical volleyball video clips of the final match between the former Soviet Union and Japan at the Tokyo Olympic Games 1964 (FIVB)
USA Olympic Team
- Jean Gaertner
- Lou Galloway
- Barbara Harweth
- Patti Lucas-Bright
- Linda Murphy
- Gail O'Rourke
- Nancy Owen
- Mary Jo Peppler
- Mary Margaret Perry
- Sharon Peterson
- Verneda Thomas
- Jane Ward
Head Coach: Doc Burroughs
1968 — Mexico City Olympics - 8th place
USA Olympic Team
- Patti Lucas-Bright
- Ann Heck
- Fanny Hoppeau
- Ninja Jorgenson
- Laurie Lewis
- Miki McFadden
- Marilyn McReavy
- Nancy Owen
- Barbara Perry
- Mary Margaret Perry
- Sharon Peterson
- Jane Ward (captain).
Head Coach: Harlan Cohen
History of Volleyball: 1970s
1972 — Munich Olympics
No USA Olympic Team because the American women did not qualify for the 1972 games.
1976 — Montreal Olympics
No USA Olympic Team. For eight years, in the 70s the American women did not qualify to play in an Olympic games. DNQ - did not qualify.
History of Volleyball: 1980s
1980 — Moscow Olympics
Although the Americans had one of the strongest teams in the world at that time and were favored to compete with the USSR for the gold, US American President Jimmy Carter decided it was best for all the American teams to boycott the Moscow Olympics.
USA Olympic Team - did not participate due to boycott
- Janet Baier
- Carolyn Becker
- Rita Crockett
- Patty Dowdell
- Laurie Flachmeier
- Debbie Green
- Flo Hyman
- Laurel Brassey
- Debbie (Landreth) Brown
- Diane McCormick
- Terry Place
- Sue Woodstra
Head Coach: Arie Selinger
1984 — Los Angeles Olympics
From 1972 to 1980 the American women did not compete in an Olympic games. Finally in 1984, the American women competed on home soil in front of family and friends in the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984.
USA Olympic Team - Silver Medal
- Paula Weishoff
- Susan Woodstra
- Rita Crockett
- Laurie Flachmeier
- Carolyn Becker
- Flo Hyman
- Rose Magers
- Julie Vollertsen
- Debbie Green
- Kimberly Ruddins
- Jeanne Beauprey
- Linda Chisholm
Head Coach: Arie Selinger
1984 Los Angeles Olympic Women's Volleyball Final : China vs USA
Americans - Silver Medalists
Watch Lang Ping #1 on China's team known as "the Iron Hammer," future US Olympic coach who leads the Americans to a second silver medal vs. 6' 5" Flo Hyman, American and worldwide ambassador for the sport of volleyball.
Lang Ping, after coaching the Americans to a silver in London, then coached China to a gold medal at the Rio Olympics.
Thoughts from Coach April...
Living in Inglewood, California at the time, I was working as a volunteer at the Forum (Prairie Avenue and Manchester) at the women's basketball venue.
It was amazing to be court side to watch Olympic basketball coach Pat Head Summit coach the women's team, or go to the track at the Coliseum to watch Carl Lewis and the 4 x 100 relay team run.
It was a life changing experience to watch on TV as the American women's Olympic volleyball team led by Flo Hyman got their first medal, silver, in an epic battle against China, led by future Olympic American and Chinese coach Lang Ping.
1988 — Seoul Olympics
The Americans sank in the World rankings with the new young team and new coach Terry Lyskevich finishing in 7th at the Olympics in Seoul Korea.
USA Olympic Team - 7th place
- Deitre Collins
- Caren Kemner
- Laurel Kessel
- Liz Masakayan
- Jayne McHugh
- Melissa McLinden
- Kim Oden
- Prikeba Phipps
- Angela Rock
- Kimberly Ruddins
- Liane Sato
- Tammy Webb
Head Coach: Terry Liskevych
Thoughts from Coach April...
I tried out for US National team in 1985, the February after the Los Angeles Olympics. I made the team despite having tweaked my ankle during the third day of tryouts.
I trained with these girls for a short while,was a member of the 1985 World University Games in Kobe, Japan and then played with and against them and other international and Olympic stars as a professional player in Italy for a number of years.
History of Volleyball: 1990s
1992 — Barcelona Olympics
The Americans returned to their winning ways and to the podium, after being joined by 1984 Olympic MVP Paula Weishoff who had been playing in Italy against many of the international players who participated in the Olympics.
The Americans finished in third place.
Two Oden sisters were on the team, older sister, team captain Kim Oden and middle sister Elaina, both starting middle blockers on the American team.
USA Olympic Volleyball Team - Bronze Medal
- Tara Cross-Battle
- Janet Cobbs
- Lori Endicott
- Caren Kemner
- Ruth Lawanson
- Tammy Liley
- Elaina Oden
- Kim Oden
- Teee Sanders
- Liane Sato
- Paula Weishoff
- Yoko Zetterlund
Head Coach: Terry Liskevych
Watch the 1992 USA Women's Olympic volleyball Team vs Russia
1996 — Atlanta Olympics
Playing on home turf this time in the southern part of the United States in Atlanta Georgia the American women finished out of medal contention.
Two Oden sisters were on the team, middle sister Elaina and younger sister Beverly, both starting middle blockers on the American team.
USA Olympic Team - 7th place
- Tara Cross-Battle
- Lori Endicott
- Caren Kemner
- Kristin Klein
- Beverly Oden
- Elaina Oden
- Danielle Scott
- Tammy Webb
- Paula Weishoff
- Tonya Williams
- Elaine Youngs
- Yoko Zetterlund
Head Coach: Terry Liskevych
USA Olympic Beach Volleyball Team
The Atlanta Olympics marked the first time beach volleyball was played in an Olympic games. The Americans, favorites to win the gold, finished in 5th and 7th place, also out of medal contention.
Barbra Fontana, Linda Hanley - 5th
Nancy Reno, Holly McPeak - 7th
History of Volleyball: 2000s
2000 — Sydney Olympics
Current USC coach Mick Haley took the rein as the new American Olympic coach during the first games of the new millennium leading the US to a fourth place ending.
USA Olympic Team - 4th place
- Robyn Ah Mow
- Heather Bown
- Tara Cross-Battle
- Mickisha Hurley
- Sarah Noriega
- Demetria Sance
- Danielle Scott
- Stacy Sykora
- Charlene Tagaloa
- Logan Tom
- Kerri Walsh
- Allison Weston
Head Coach: Mick Haley
USA Olympic Beach Volleyball Team
The American beach contingent marked the first appearance of Misty May in the Olympics who was teamed with Holly McPeak.
The other participating team was the first all African American beach volleyball team of UCLA grads Annett Davis and her Jenny Johnson Jordan. Jenny is the daughter of US Olympic decathlete gold medalist, Rafer Johnson.
Misty May, Holly McPeak - 6th
Annett Davis, Jenny Johnson Jordan - 7th
2004 — Athens Olympics
A new coach, former assistant coach Toshi Yoshida and a markedly taller team, the American women continued to struggle to regain the dominance of the 1980s team.
Tara Cross Battle became the first American, male or female in the history of volleyball in the US, to participate in four Olympic games. This would be her last Olympic games.
USA Olympic Volleyball Team - 5th place
- Prikeba Phipps
- Danielle Scott
- Tayyiba Haneef
- Lindsey Berg
- Stacy Sykora
- Elisabeth Bachman
- Heather Bown
- Ogonna Nnamani
- Robyn Ah Mow
- Nancy Metcalf
- Tara Cross-Battle
- Logan Tom
Head Coach: Toshi Yoshida
USA Olympic Beach Volleyball Team
The Athens Olympics signaled the beginning of the dominance of the American women, Misty May Treanor, daughter of indoor Olympian Butch May, now partnered with indoor Olympian and Stanford grad Kerri Walsh.
Misty May, Kerri Walsh - 1st
Holly McPeak, Elaine Youngs - 3rd
2008 — Beijing Olympics
In her native country, the first female coach in the history of volleyball for the Americans, Chinese Olympic gold medalist and international icon,Lang Ping led the US to their second Olympic silver medal during one of the most fantastic Olympic games ever to be presented.
USA Olympic Volleyball Team - Silver Medal
- Ogonna Nnamani
- Kim Willoughby
- Danielle Scott-Arruda
- Tayyiba Haneef-Park
- Lindsey Berg
- Stacy Sykora
- Nicole Davis
- Heather Bown
- Jennifer Joines
- Kim Glass
- Robyn Ah Mow-Santos
- Logan Tom
Head Coach: Lang Ping
USA Olympic Beach Volleyball Team
Americans Misty May Treanor and Kerri Walsh continued their dominance in the sport of beach volleyball, continuing their winning streak through the entire process of winning a second gold medal, the finals which took lace in pouring rain against a touch Chinese team and home crowd.
Misty May, Kerri Walsh - 1st
Nicole Branagh, Elaine Youngs - 5th
2012 - London Olympics
New Zealander, Hugh McCutcheon took over the reins of the women's team, transferring from the men's program where he led the men to a gold medal for the US in the Beijing Olympics (after an unfortunate incident where his father-in-law was killed in Beijing before the games began).
McCutcheon led the Americans, predicted to win the gold, to the Olympic finals against an inspired Brazilian team, who beat the Americans in four sets.
USA Olympic Volleyball Team - Silver Medal
- Tamari Miyashiro
- Jordan Larson
- Danielle Scott-Arruda
- Tayyiba Haneef-Park
- Lindsey Berg
- Destinee Hooker
- Nicole Davis
- Christa Harmotto
- Foluke Akinradewo
- Megan Hodge
- Courtney Thompson
- Logan Tom
Head Coach: Hugh McCutcheon
USA Olympic Beach Volleyball Team
Kerri Walsh, mother of two boys, who later revealed she was pregnant with her daughter Scout during these third Olympic games continued her partnership with Misty May Treanor. Together the American pair won an unprecedented third gold medal cementing their hold as the winningest beach volleyball team, male or female, in the history of volleyball on the beach.
This is the first Olympic games for American April Ross.
Misty May, Kerri Walsh - 1st
Jennifer Kessy, April Ross - 2nd
Misty and Kerri Make Volleyball History London Olympics in 2012
2016 - Rio de Janeiro Olympics
The Olympics in Brazil marked the first time Karch Kiraly made his appearance as an Olympic head coach having been one of the assistant coaches to Hugh McCutcheon at the Beijing Olympics.
Having led the American women to their first World Championships gold medal win prior to these Olympics, the Americans were ranked number one in the world prior to the start of the games.
Karch Kiraly, the first player in the history of volleyball to win gold medals in indoor and beach volleyball, led the American women to a bronze medal finish at Rio.
2016 Olympic Gold Medal Match: Serbia vs China
USA Olympic Volleyball Team - Bronze Medal
- Alisha Glass
- Jordan Larson
- Kayla Barnwarth
- Rachael Adams
- Carli Lloyd
- Kelly Murphy
- Kim Hill
- Christa Dietzen
- Foluke Akinradewo
- Kelsey Robinson
- Courtney Thompson
- Karsta Lowe
Head Coach: Karch Kiraly
USA Olympic Beach Volleyball Team
Kerri Walsh, with her new partner, silver medalist in the last Olympic games American April Ross, attempted to win an unprecedented fourth gold medal in Rio.
April Ross, Kerri Walsh - 3rd
Lauren Fendrick, Brooke Sweat - 17th
Volleyball History: Where Do You Go From Here?
Where do you need to go now?
Here are three options:
- Learn more about the brief history of volleyball
- Follow the suggested reading on our Sitemap page Learning How To Play (Sitemap)
- Or visit the pages in the American Women in the Olympics History section in the drop down menu at the top of the page.
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