The newly formed Southern California Indoor Volleyball Hall of Fame (SCIVBHOF) recently announced its inaugural 25 member induction class of 2017.
The Hall of Fame will be located at the American Sports Center in Anaheim, the official training center of the USA Men and Women’s national teams.
The inaugural induction ceremony will be held Sunday May 7th. “The committee has done a tremendous job in narrowing the over 100 deserving Southern California nominees to an opening class of 25 indoor players and coaches,” said Mike Gallups, the President of American Sports Centers. “We are excited that the 25 selections cover the major eras of volleyball and look forward to honoring additional outstanding athletes and coaches with ties to Southern California in years to come.”
The inductee’s honors include over 100 combined Olympic medals, NCAA, AIAW, and United States Volleyball Association titles, plus numerous United States Volleyball Association honors spanning the 1950s into the 2000s.
1988 Seoul Olympic Gold medal winners Karch Kiraly, Bob Ctvrtlik, Steve Timmons, Craig Buck, Doug Partie, Jeff Stork, Ricci Luyties, and coach Marv Dunphy headline the inaugural class.
UCLA is represented well, as Kiraly, Partie, Luyties, legendary coach Al Scates, Andy Banachowski, Mike O’Hara, Sinjin Smith, and Rolf Engen participated in UCLA’s 29 championships.
Timmons, NCAA MVP Dusty Dvorak, two time champion Bryan Ivie, and Olympic medalists Debbie Green and Paula Weishoff are the USC honorees.
Pepperdine’s Marv Dunphy, Ctvrtlik, Buck, and Stork are among the inaugural inductees.
Current coach Deitre Collins-Parker, 1984 gold medalist and captain Chris Marlowe, and Olympian Laurel Brassey Iversen will represent San Diego State.
Long Beach will be represented by four time Olympian Tara Cross-Battle, three-time gold medalist Misty May-Treanor, and former assistant coach Green.
Other honorees include three time All-American middle Kim Oden and UCSB coach and star Kathy Gregory. Gene Selznick, the international captain from 1953-1967, will be inducted posthumously.
Long-time scorekeeper Elissa Sato, who is also the maternal influence of the Sato family, was selected for the first SCIVB Lifetime Service Award.
The full list of 2017 inductees:
SCIVBHOF FINAL 25 INDUCTEES FOR MAY 7, 2017 EVENT
Andy Banachowski
Laurel Brassey Iversen
Craig Buck
Deitre Collins-Parker
Tara Cross-Battle
Bob Ctvrtlik
Marv Dunphy
Dusty Dvorak
Rolf Engen
Debbie Green
Kathy Gregory
Bryan Ivie
Karch Kiraly
Ricci Luyties
Chris Marlowe
Misty May-Treanor
Kim Oden
Mike O’Hara
Doug Partie
Al Scates
Gene Selznick
Sinjin Smith
Jeff Stork
Steve Timmons
Paula Weishoff
Where’s Duncan McFarland on the list ??
I believe Craig Thompson should be included in the HOF for his lifetime achievements in US and World volleyball circles. They include:
Former UCLA player
Roomate and life-ling friend of Toshi Toyoda
Founder/player/coach of US Pro Volleyball League (Tucson)
Beach AAA rated player
Owner, Volleyball International (equipment/uniform company)
Official at the 1984 Olympics/Volleyball
FIVB Technical Director (1985-1987)
Marketing Director 2014/2015 USA Men’s and Women’s tournaments (pre-Rio Olympics warm-ups)
Laguna Beach Volleyball Club director 1984-85
Nephew of Rolf Engen (his mentor and best friend)
Craig Thompson has been in the middle of most of the major events that have made US volleyball, club volleyball and the highlights of the USA Men’s team winning the 1984 Olympics and 1986 World Championships. Perhaps more important has been relationship with all of the significant players/coaches from the 1950’s through today. He is deserving, in my view of a lifetime achievement recognition in the So Cal Volleyball Hall of Fame, hands down.