Rita Crockett aka The Rocket Outside Hitter An Olympic Silver Medalist

An outside hitter, Rita was nicknamed "Rocket" because of her jumping ability and speed was one of the top outside hitters in the world in the 80's and 90's.  

An outside hitter, Rita who was nicknamed "Rocket" because of her jumping ability and speed was one of the top outside hitters in the world throughout the 80's and 90's.  

Rita was a member of the 1980 Olympic team, which boycotted the Olympic Games.

She made her second Olympic team which participated in the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles which won the first women's Olympic silver medal ever for the United States.   

• 1980 Olympic Games (Boycott Moscow Olympics)

• 1984 Olympic Games (Silver Medal)

• Joined the US National team in 1978
• 1981 Won Bronze medal at the World Cup
• 1983 Won Silver medal - Pan American Games
• 1984 Won Silver medal at the Los Angeles Olympics
• 2011 International Volleyball Hall of Fame Induction

"Rocket" played professionally in Japan, Italy the US and Switzerland before becoming an elite pro beach volleyball champion in the United States. 

• 1982-1986 played professional volleyball with the Daiei team in Japan

• 1986 won the Japan volleyball professional championship with Daiei Team, Kobe in Japan

• 1986-1987 played in one season of the Major League Volleyball in the United States

• 1986 won the Most Valuable Player award during the Major League Volleyball

• 1988-1993 played in Italy on the A-1 division teams in the cities of Matera and Roma

• 1991 Italian Professional Volleyball League - Most Valuable Player

• 1993 led the Roma team to the European Championship

• 1994-1996 served as player/coach with RTV Basel Switzerland Team and won the Swiss Cup

• 1994-1996 Four-time MVP and winner of the Swiss Cup

• 1989 World Beach Volleyball Championships - winner

• 1990 with Angela Rock finished second at the World Beach Volleyball Championships

• Four seasons with the Women’s Professional Volleyball Association (WPVA)

• Two seasons with the Association of Volleyball Professionals (AVP)

• 1998-2004 Coach, University of Iowa
• 2004-2005 Associate Head Coach, Florida State

Currently Executive Director, President and Head Coach of the North Florida Volleyball Association 

Currently owner Rita Crockett Volleyball Camps & Clinics

Currently Assistant Athletic Director Florida International University, Head Volleyball Coach

Did you know that Rita....

• Started playing volleyball, basketball and ran tracks in high school and earned a scholarship for both basketball and volleyball but chooses to fully focus her energy on volleyball.

• Before invited to the national team her college coach took her to try for the junior national team but she ended up being rejected the same day because the coach decided she was too small.

• The national coach at that time personally invited her to play in the national team.

• She is known for her 36-inch vertical leap and her nickname "Rocket".

What advice can you give to juniors, college athletes, pros, future and current Olympians to help them strive for greatness?

Be humble. Take care of your body. Take care of your mind. And just enjoy the sport and have fun. If you’re not having fun, it’s not worth doing…

When it stops being fun, get out. 

Check yourself every now and then.  I think it’s important to look around and appreciate all that volleyball has become and what we have achieved as a whole.

What advice would you give to FIU athletes who are competing in the Olympics for the first time?

Try and keep everything in perspective. You have to realize it’s not about you, but the country you’re playing for. I realized that this is bigger than me. It’s not my Olympics, it’s my country’s Olympics. For me, I’m one of 12 people chosen for women’s volleyball to go and do the best for my country. When you keep that in mind, your fears go away, your confidence goes up and your pride comes out and you just do what you do. 

FIU: Questions for a former Olympian

Beach Volleyball Database: Rita Crockett

My San Antonio; San Antonio native Rita Buck Crockett inducted into Hall of Fame

Olympics Rita Crockett

The NVL: Former Olympian Rita Crockett Talks Shop

Wikipedia Rita Crockett

1. Improve Your Volleyball Performance with Vegas VB Coach April Chapple
›
2. Professional Volleyball Player Profile Quick Facts On Famous Players
›
3. Rita Crockett aka The Rocket Outside Hitter An Olympic Silver Medalist

Follow me on Instagram @coach_apchap to improve your game even faster!