USA Volleyball announces 75th Anniversary Beach All-Era Teams (Part 2)

by Paul Soriano USA Volleyball Manager, Public Relations & Publications

As part of the 2002-03 Diamond Jubilee Celebration, USA Volleyball staff worked with many USAV Member Organizations, including the Association of Volleyball Professionals (AVP), the California Beach Volleyball Association (CBVA) and other regional outdoor associations and groups, to select the sport's best in the Olympic sport of Beach Volleyball.

A cross-section of beach volleyball leaders, including Chris Marlowe, Tim Simmons, Art Couvillon, Don Patterson and many others from across the nation, helped determine the top eight players in each gender for two time periods: from 1928-1987 (the National Game Years) and from 1988-2003 (the International Era).

In Part 2, here's the list of players from 1988-2003.

The International Era: Men -- (1988-2003)

Mike Dodd: Dodd ranks among the top five pro beach players of all-time in terms of tournaments played (third, 351), event titles (fifth, 75) and earnings (fifth, $1,772,970). Dodd, who captured 72 domestic titles, had 231 podium placements and 297 "final four" finishes in his career. Dodd and Mike Whitmarsh captured the Silver Medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games after losing to fellow Americans Karch Kiraly and Kent Steffes in the finals. Dodd won pro beach volleyball titles with six different partners (Tim Hovland, 56; Whitmarsh, 15; Kiraly, three; Jon Stevenson, one; Pat Powers, one; and Ricci Luyties, one). Dodd captured AVP postseason honors for Best Defensive Player (1994, 1995, 1996 and 1997), Best Spiker (1989), Most Inspirational (1995, 1996 and 1997) and Sportsman of the Year (1994 and 1996). Dodd and his wife, Patty, are the winningest couple on the sand ($1,929,977 with 88 titles). Dodd earned his "AAA" rating at the age of 16, becoming the youngest player to achieve that level on the beach.

Tim Hovland: Best known on the beach for his outspoken style of play, Hovland ranks sixth in tournaments played (303), seventh in event titles (58) and 10th in earnings ($1,057,283). He posted 173 podium placements and 196 "final four" finishes. A winner of 57 domestic tournament titles, Hovland posted his 58 career wins with three different partners (Mike Dodd, 53, Kent Steffes, four; and Karch Kiraly, one). "The Hov" was also honored as the AVP's best blocker in 1989. Hovland first played volleyball at the age of 10 and was named the 1978 Southern California High School Athlete of the Year.

Adam Johnson: Nicknamed "A.J.", Johnson ranks among the pro beach volleyball leaders in earnings (sixth, $1,670,042), tournament titles (12th, 44) and tournaments played (12th, 248). Johnson has 113 podium placements and 143 "final four" finishes with 43 of his titles being won on domestic tours. He was honored as the AVP's Top Defender (1993 and 1997) and Most Improved Player (1991) along with receiving a special achievement award (1998). Johnson and Karch Kiraly just missed qualifying for the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games when Kiraly suffered a right shoulder separation in the final FIVB qualifying event. Johnson served as an alternate for the 2000 Olympic Games for the United States. Johnson won 16 of his pro beach titles with Kiraly as the tandem posted 39 "final four" finishes together in 62 starts. Johnson also won pro beach titles with six other players (Jose Loiola, 11; Randy Stoklos, five; Kent Steffes, five; Ricci Luyties, three; Pat Powers, two; and Bruk Vandeweghe, one). Johnson won the King of the Beach in 1994 to break Kiraly's streak of three-straight titles.

Karch Kiraly: Kiraly is the only volleyball player in Olympic history to win three gold medals, having been part of the United States' gold medal indoor teams in 1984 and 1988 and winning the gold medal in beach volleyball at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games with Kent Steffes. Kiraly leads all pro beach volleyball players in career prize money ($3,054,611) and tournament titles (144) while being fourth in events played (315). Kiraly has 240 podium placements and 253 "final four" finishes. Kiraly and Steffes, who teamed for the second-most pro beach titles (76 to 114 for Sinjin Smith/Randy Stoklos), are the winningest pro beach team in history in terms of earnings ($2,900,112). Kiraly's efforts have also been recognized by the Federation de International Volleyball (FIVB) as the "Player of the Century." Kiraly became winningest beach volleyball player when he and Adam Johnson captured the 1999 Chicago Open. Kiraly broke the previous record of 139 set in 1992 by long-time rival, Sinjin Smith. The two winningest players also teamed to win 21 domestic titles (1979-82, 1984). Kiraly has won beach titles with nine other players (Brent Frohoff, nine; Scott Ayakatubby, eight; Mike Dodd, three; Brent Doble, two; Ricci Luyties, one; Steve Timmons, one; Pat Powers, one; Tim Hovland, one; and Peter Ehrman, one). Kiraly and Powers won the "unofficial" FIVB world title in 1988. Kiraly was the first player to earn more than $2 million in career earnings, and he became the first player to break the $3 million mark at the last tournament of the 2002 season in Las Vegas. Kiraly has also won the King of the Beach Invitational four times (1991-93, 1996). Kiraly was named the AVP's Most Valuable Player six times (1990, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995 and 1998), Best Offensive Player three times (1990, 1993 and 1994), Sportsman of the Year three times (1995, 1997 and 1998), Top Defender in 2002, Comeback Player of the Year in 1997 and Most Inspirational in 1998. The AVP also honored him with a Special Achievement Award in 2002.

Sinjin Smith: Smith set the standards for the current beach legends before passing the torch to Karch Kiraly. Smith has played in more pro beach events than any other player in history (416) and ranks second in career titles (139) and seventh in earnings ($1,602,569). Before finishing is career in 2001, Smith compiled 252 podium placements with 270 "final four" finishes. Smith and Randy Stoklos are the winningest men's beach volleyball team in history with 114 titles in 235 starts with 203 podium placements and 212 "final four" finishes. The pair also combined for $1,902.488 in earnings, which ranks second behind Karch Kiraly/Kent Steffes' $2,900,112 in winnings. Ten of Smith's 139 titles were won on the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour as he and Stoklos also won "unofficial" FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships in 1987, 1989-1992. The last title in '92 was at an Olympic demonstration event in Spain after the Barcelona Games. Smith and Carl Henkel tied for fifth at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games. Smith played his first pro open in 1977 with beach volleyball legend Ron Von Hagen before winning his first title with Mike Normand the same season. He also won pro beach titles with three other players (Kiraly, 21; Mark Eller, two; and Jim Menges, one). Smith was also honored as the AVP's Top Defender in 1990, 1991 and 1992. Smith is currently the president of the FIVB World Beach Volleyball Council.

Kent Steffes: Steffes ranks second all-time in earnings ($2,563,546) and is fourth in event titles (110) and 16th in tournaments played (229). He compiled 166 podium placements and 178 "final four" finishes. He won the gold medal with Karch Kiraly at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games. Steffes and Kiraly, who teamed for the second-most pro beach titles (76 to 114 for Sinjin Smith/Randy Stoklos), are the winningest pro beach team in history in terms of earnings ($2,900,112). Steffes also won pro beach titles with seven other players (Jose Loiola, 17; Adam Johnson, five; Tim Hovland, four; Mike Whitmarsh, three; Jon Stevenson, one; Dan Vrebalovich, one; and Emanuel Rego, one). Steffes was honored by the AVP as the Most Valuable Player in 1996, the Comeback Player of the Year in 1996, Top Up-and-Coming Player in 1989 along with getting a special achievement honor in 1996.

Randy Stoklos: Stoklos ranks among the top three players of all-time in regard to tournaments played (second, 366), event titles (third, 122) and earnings (third, $1,876,620). Stoklos and Sinjin Smith are the winningest men's beach volleyball team in history with 114 titles in 235 starts with 203 podium placements and 212 "final four" finishes. The pair also combined for $1,902.488 in earnings, which ranks second behind Karch Kiraly/Kent Steffes' $2,900,112 in winnings. The duo captured "unofficial" FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships in 1987, 1989-1992. The last title in '92 was at an Olympic demonstration event in Spain after the Barcelona Games. Stoklos also captured pro beach titles with Adam Johnson (five), Brian Lewis (one) and Jim Menges (one). Stoklos was named the AVP's Most Valuable Player in 1989 and 1991 and its Best Setter in 1989.

Mike Whitmarsh: A converted basketball player, Whitmarsh is one of pro beach volleyball's top performers as he ranks eighth in career earnings ($1,593,839), 10th in career events played (261) and 15th in career titles (28). Whitmarsh has posted 116 podium placements in his career with 142 "final four" finishes. Three of Whitmarsh's titles have been internationally and he also captured the King of the Beach competition in Las Vegas in 2001. He teamed with Mike Dodd to capture the silver medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games. Whitmarsh began playing volleyball in 1986 and is one of the few top players who did not grow up playing the sport. A 1985 graduate of the University of San Diego, Whitmarsh played basketball for the Toros and was drafted by the Portland Trailblazers of the NBA in 1984. After playing briefly with the Minnesota Timberwolves and three years professionally in Germany, Whitmarsh started competing on the beach. Whitmarsh was the AVP's Rookie of the Year in 1990 and its Top Blocker in 2002. Whitmarsh won pro beach titles with five different partners (Mike Dodd, 16; Canyon Ceman, four; Kent Steffes, three; David Swatik, three; and Brent Frohoff, one). Whitmarsh and Ceman teamed to place second at the 1997 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships in Los Angles and third at the 2003 FIVB Grand Slam in Carson, Calif.

The International Era: Women -- (1988-2003)

Barbra Fontana: Fontana ranks among the all-time leaders in pro beach volleyball for women by appearing in the third-most events (213) and compiling the fourth-highest earnings ($782,648). A 1996 USA Olympian where she placed fourth in beach volleyball with Linda Hanley, Fontana posted 20 career wins, 86 podium finishes and 107 "final four" appearances. Fontana won 15 domestic and five FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour titles with four different partners (Hanley, six; Lori Forsythe five; Elaine Youngs, four; and Lisa Arce, three). A bronze medalist with Youngs at the 2001 Goodwill Games in Brisbane, Australia, Fontana won the 1994 Top of the Tour and the 2000 Queen of the Beach competitions. She was the WPVA's Top Defensive Player in both 1993 and 1994.

Linda Robertson Hanley: A winner of pro beach events in four-straight decades (1970s-2000), Hanley is tied with Holly McPeak for playing in more pro beach events (222) than any other player in women's history. She ranks sixth in career titles (46, including 44 domestically) and 12th in earnings ($500,363). Hanley posted 119 podium placements in her career along with 141 "final four" appearances. Hanley's 30 pro beach titles with Nina Matthies is tied for the most in women's history with Brazil's Adriana Behar and Shelda Bede. Hanley also won pro beach titles with seven other partners (Barbara Fontana, six; Linda Chisholm, three; Angela Rock, three; Jackie Silva, one; Sarah Stratton one; Maya Thiene, one; and Dale Keough, one). Hanley teamed with Fontana for the best finish for the United States women in the inaugural beach volleyball competition at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games (fourth). She and her husband (John) have combined to win 62 pro beach events titles and $896,084 in earnings to rank second behind Mike and Patty Dodd ($1,929,977 with 88 titles) as the winningest couples on the sand.

Karolyn Kirby: Kirby has won more event titles (67) than any other woman on the pro beach circuits. She ranks sixth in winnings ($681,471) and has played in the 187 pro beach events to rank sixth overall. Kirby, who won 61 domestic and six international titles, posted 115 podium placements and 124 "final four" appearances in her career. She also won "unofficial" FIVB world titles with Nancy Reno in 1992 and Liz Masakayan in 1993. Her 29 event wins with Masakayan ranks third-most on the all-time women's team title list, including 26 domestic titles. She also won pro beach titles with five other players (Angela Rock, 18; Nancy Reno, 10; Jackie Silva, seven; Patty Dodd, one; and Christine Schaefer Podraza, one). Kirby was the WPVA's Most Valuable Player in 1990, 1991 and 1994, co-MVP in 1993, Top Offensive Player in 1990, Best Setter in 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996 and 1997 and the league's Best Hitter in 1992.

Liz Masakayan: Despite two major knee injuries during her pro beach career, Masakayan ranks among the leaders in events played (fourth, 202), titles (fifth, 47, including 41 domestically) and earnings (seventh, $669,120). Masakayan compiled 86 podium placements and 107 "final four" appearances in her career. She also won an "unofficial" FIVB world title with Karolyn Kirby in 1993. Her 29 titles with Kirby ranks third most on the all-time women's team title list, including 26 domestic titles. She also won pro beach titles with five other players (Elaine Youngs, nine; Linda Chisholm, six; Dianne DeNecochea, one; Bev Lidyoff, one; and Anna Prousalis, one). Masakayan teamed with Youngs and captured the first women's pro beach tournament of the millennium in February 2000 at Vitoria, Brazil. The pair also won the bronze medal at the 1999 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships in Marseille, France. Masakayan was the WPVA's Most Valuable Player in 1992, co-MVP in 1993, Top Defensive Player in 1991 and 1992, Best Hitter in 1993 and 1994, and the Most Inspirational award-winner 1995 when she was recovering from her fifth of sixth knee surgeries. Masakayan was a member of the USA Women's National Team (indoor) for five years and was a starter at the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games.

Holly McPeak: McPeak leads all women in career prize money with more than $1 million in earnings ($1,167,539) and is second in career wins, one behind Karolyn Kirby's 67. She is also tied with Linda Hanley for most women's career tournaments (222). In addition to winning 66 pro beach events (49 domestically), McPeak has 136 podium placements and 155 "final four finishes. McPeak won pro beach titles with seven different partners (Nancy Reno, 20; Lisa Arce, 15; Cammy Ciarelli 12; Elaine Youngs, 10; Misty May, five; Linda Chisholm, 2; and Angela Rock, one). The United States' only two-time beach Olympian, McPeak placed fifth at both the 1996 Atlanta and Sydney 2000 Olympic Games with Reno and May, respectively. McPeak teamed with Arce to earn the silver medal at the 1997 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships in Los Angeles and the bronze medal at the 1998 Goodwill Games in New York. She won the 1999 Queen of the Beach title in Las Vegas. During her pro beach career, McPeak has been the AVP's Most Valuable (1993) and Top Defensive Player (2002), the BVA's MVP and Top Defender in 2000, and the WPVA's MVP (1995 and 1996), Rookie of the Year (1991), Best Defensive Player (1995, 1996 and 1997).

Nancy Reno: Reno's all-time totals rank her ninth in event titles (38), 11th in earnings ($610,370) and 12th in pro beach events played (160). She posted 91 podium placements and 103 "final four" finishes in a career that included 28 domestic titles. Reno won pro beach titles with seven different partners (Holly McPeak, 20; Karolyn Kirby 10; Angela Rock, four; Elaine Youngs, 1, one; Janice Harrer, one; Cammy Ciarelli, one; and Linda Chisholm, one). She also won an "unofficial" FIVB world title with Karolyn Kirby in 1992. Reno and McPeak placed fifth at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games. During her pro beach career, Reno was honored as the WPVA's most improved player in 1992, best blocker in 1992, 1995 and 1996 and best hitter in 1995 before being named the BVA's Best Blocker in 2000. A 1988 Stanford graduate, she spent 1989 attending Middle East Technical University in Ankara, Turkey.

Angela Rock: One of top servers in women's pro beach history, Rock ranks among the all-time leaders in tournaments played (168), titles (27) and earnings ($489,725). During her career, Rock posted 81 podium placements and 104 "final four" appearances. Rock captured pro beach titles with five different partners (Karolyn Kirby, 18; Nancy Reno, four; Linda Hanley, three; Jackie Silva, one; and Holly McPeak, one). Rock won the WPVA's Ace Awards in 1992, 1995 and 1996 and was the tour's Top Hitter in 1991. She also was an indoor Olympian at the 1988 Seoul Games.

Elaine Youngs: In only seven seasons as a pro beach player, Youngs ranks 10th in career earnings with $627,701. She is 15th in pro beach titles with 24 championships, including 15 domestically. She has compiled 55 podium placements in 98 career events with 65 "final four" finishes. Youngs has won pro beach titles with four different partners (Holly McPeak, 10; Liz Masakayan, nine; Barbra Fontana, four; and Nancy Reno, one). The WPVA's Top Rookie in 1997, Youngs was honored as the AVP's Most Valuable Player, Best Blocker and Top Offensive Player in 2002. She has played in more international events (55) than domestic tournaments (43). A member of 1996 USA indoor Olympic team for the United States at the Atlanta Games, Youngs teamed with Masakayan to capture the bronze medal at the 1999 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships in France. Youngs and Fontana were fourth at the 2001 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships in Austria before capturing the bronze medal at the 2001 Goodwill Games in Brisbane, Australia.

For more information, go to the USA Volleyball web site.