History of Beach Volleyball A Timeline of USA Volleyball Sand Success

The league began in 1987 and ended short of completing a full season in 1989.

Players consisted of former collegiate All Americans and Olympians.

Players for NY were:

• Jo Ellen Vrazel (RS)(88-89);
• April Chapple (OH) (1987); 
•  Sandy Aughinbaugh (OH) (87-88); 
•  Karolyn Kirby (OH) (replaced Chappel in 1987-88); 
• Wendy Stevenson S/Def. Specialist)(87-88); Laura Smith (MB);  
• Ellen Crandal Orner (MB)(1988); 
• Ellen Bugalski (MB)(1987); 
• Nina Mathies (1988); 
• Lira Vance (1988); 

Players for Minnesota were:1987            MB=Middle Blocker, OH=Outside Hitter, S=Setter

• Angie DeGroot: S Jill Halstead: OH 
• Lucia Chudy: MB McDougal: MB 
• Jerry McGahan (Volleyball Hall of Fame member): Right Side 
• Annie Adamczak: OH, college-Nebraska, hometown-Moose Lake, Mn.

Head Coach: Jim Coleman 1988 (16 wins-6 losses)[4]

PLAYER HT. POS. COLLEGE HOMETOWN

• Judy Bellomo, 5-10, MB, UC Santa Barbara, Glendale, Ca
• Merja Connolly, 6-0, MB, UCLA, Culver City, Ca. 
• Kathy Crotty-Rodgers, 5-9, OH/S, SW Missouri, Belleville, Ill.
• Ellen Hensler, 5-8, S, Penn State, North Huntington, Pa.
• Ruth Lawanson, 5-8, OH, Fresno St., Fresno, Ca. - 1988 League MVP

Head Coach: Walt Weaver                                  Ass't Coach: Jeff Nelson 1989

[5] No. PLAYER HT. POS. COLLEGE HOMETOWN

• 1 Diane Ratnik, 6-1, S/MB, Canadian National, Scarborough, Ont.
• 6 Sari Virtanen-Stevens, 6-0, OH/MB, BYU, Provo, UT
• 7 Ruth Lawanson, 5-8, OH, Fresno St., Fresno, Ca. 
• 8 Jill Halstead, 5-9, OH, Minnesota, Brooklyn Park, MN 
• 10 Jackie Silva, 5-7, S, Brazil National, Rio de Janerio, Brazil 
• 11 Judy Bellomo, 5-10, OH/MB, UC Santa Barbara, Glendale, CA 
• 12 Ellen Crandall-Orner, 6-0, OH/MB, Penn State, Rockton, Pa. 
• 13 Janet Cobbs, 6-0, MB, North Dakota St., St. Paul, Mn. 
• 14 Lori Zeno, 5-9, OH/S, UCLA, Fountain Valley, Ca. 

Head Coach: Jeff Nelson                                    Ass't Coach: Steve Willingham

Fun fact: The Major League Volleyball was the first indoor 6-person indoor volleyball league in the United States and in 1987 I was the first ever first round draft pick in the United States who was drafted to the New York Liberties who was led by my mentor player/coach lthe legendary USA Olympian Mary Jo Peppler and one of my setters was indoor and beach volleyball legend Karolyn Kirby. 

I was still in college finishing my studies while playing with and against accomplished Olympic players older than I was but I was so ready because I'd train on my own at college (the University of Tennessee, Knoxville)  from Monday to Wednesday then fly to New York to practice one day for home games with my team, the Liberties and then play or from Knoxville Id fly to LA, San Francisco, Chicago or Minnesota to compete in away games. i'd fly right to the stadium...and after the game Id fly back to college. 

I even flew into California to play against the LA team and then flew back ...with my parents to Knoxville overnight so the next morning I'd walk with my graduating class ..in my graduation. 

My mom loved that moment. She got a chance to understand what my life was like ..what it was like to be a pro volleyball player, travelling cross country to play and compete. 

After graduation I had to fly to another match and my parents flew back to California. 

I suffered my only injury in Dallas in a match against my friend Olympian Ruth Lawanson where I landed and shredded my ACL which ended my season a few weeks before the end of the season.

In spite of that, at the end of the first season I was one of two players, who weren't Olympians, ..named to the first Major League Volleyball All Star Team.

Two of us, myself and Sandy Aughinbaugh were named to the ALL Star team (the very first ever in the United States for indoor pro volleyball) had not played in an Olympic Games while all the other All-Star members were Olympians. 

Fun fact!

That's me in the opening credits in the first 5 seconds. Dont blink. I'm number 3 left front transitioning off the net to dig on the ten foot line wearing a Body Glove knee sleeve. 

Legendary American Stars Karolyn Kirby and Liz Masakayan

Karolyn Kirby and Liz Masakayan, two decorated American beach volleyball pioneers, left an indelible mark on the sport with their exceptional performances.

Kirby's fierce competitiveness and Masakayan's powerful attacking style led them to numerous victories and multiple podium finishes in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Their dynamic partnership contributed significantly to the growth and success of American beach volleyball.

• 1992: The Four Person Pro Beach Volleyball League was started in the United States.

Four-Woman Pro-Beach Team Champions

• 1995  Team Sony
• 1994

• 1993  Team Champion (We won!) 

- Captain Paula Weishoff (three-time Olympian and Olympic silver medalist,                                    -Olympic opposite hitter Tammi Liley,                      -US National Team outside hitter April Chapple (that's me!),                                                                 -Kelly Strand Van Winden (setter/oppo),               -Cheri Boyer Fitzner (setter/oppo)

Fun fact: I was a first round draft pick this year and was also chosen Best Outside Hitter which was fun because our teams were televised on ESPN.

Our team won the Four-Man Championship that year!

• 1996: In the Atlanta Olympics the two-person beach volleyball made its debut as an Olympic Sport.

Karch Kiraly, a true legend of beach volleyball, and his partner Kent Steffes left a lasting impact in Olympic beach volleyball.

Together, they secured the gold medal at the inaugural Olympic beach volleyball tournament in 1996 Atlanta.

Kiraly, already regarded as one of the greatest indoor volleyball players, demonstrated his exceptional versatility by transitioning to the beach and achieving glory on the Olympic stage.

The list of legendary Olympic beach volleyball gold medalists BEGINS with the Brazilian queen...Jaqueline Silva who created history as part of the first Brazilian women's beach volleyball team to win Olympic gold in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics the first time beach volleyball appeared in the Olympic Games. .

Paired with Sandra Pires, they navigated the competition with unrivaled skill, defeating legendary American duo Holly McPeak and Nancy Reno in a thrilling final.

Their triumph not only ignited Brazil's passion for beach volleyball but also established a new era of success for Brazilian female athletes.

Fun fact:

I use to train with Jackie (pronounced "Jack-ay" ) when I was learning to play beach under legendary coach Pat Zartman at Hermosa Beach. 

• 1997: Dain Blanton becomes the first African-American professional beach volleyball player in US beach volleyball history to win a tournament on the Miller Lite/AVP Tour

• 1999: For the first time in the history of volleyball in the Pan Am Games, beach volleyball was introduced in the 13th edition held in Winnepeg, Canada.

Eric Fonoimoana and Dain Blainton's journey to Olympic gold in the 2000 Sydney Olympics is a testament to persistence and resilience.

Overcoming numerous challenges, including Fonoimoana's recovery from a career-threatening injury, they defied the odds to claim victory, becoming the first non-white American male beach volleyball pair to win Olympic gold.

• 2000: Eric Fonoimoana and Dain Blanton (USA) defeat Brazilian champions Ze Roberto and Ricardo Santos claim the first Olympic Beach Volleyball Men's Gold medalists.