A History of Volleyball Timeline for American Women in the Olympics

Explore this comprehensive summary of events marking the impressive achievements in the history of volleyball timeline for American females playing in the Olympics 

The history of volleyball timeline in the Olympics for women, especially American players has occurred in a very short time, only spanning over the last 50 years.Kerri Walsh and Misty May

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.

Welcome to my historical guide on volleyball history in the Olympic Games.

In this section let's explore the volleyball timeline that marks the remarkable achievements of American women in Olympic volleyball.

Below, find the timeline of events and the Olympic rosters of female volleyball players who represented the United States in each competition below.

The USA Women's Volleyball Team consists of incredibly inspirational and successful athletes.

From small beginnings to huge victories, this team has lived through an exciting journey at various Olympic Games, leaving unparalleled legacies.

In this article, we will highlight and celebrate some of the key moments from their journey, from groundbreaking achievements to noteworthy matches.

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. 

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

1972 — Munich Olympics

No USA Olympic Team participated in these Games 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.

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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.  

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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.

Three time Olympian, 1984 Olympic Silver medalist and 1984 Olympic MVP, 1992 Bronze medalist Concordia Head Volleyball Coach, Paula Weishoff

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

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

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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

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

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2000 — Sydney Olympics

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

Explore this comprehensive summary of events marking the notable achievements in the history of volleyball timeline for American females playing in the Olympics (Logan Tom 2008 Olympics)

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.  

My friend and national team teammate 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

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 who played with partner Jen Kessy.  

• Misty May, Kerri Walsh - 1st
• Jennifer Kessy, April Ross - 2nd

2016 - Rio de Janeiro Olympics

The women's Volleyball team added another Bronze medal to their tally after beating the Netherlands in a thrilling match at the 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. 

Once again Lang Ping, the first female coach, now for the Chinese team, became the first person in the history of volleyball, male or female to win a gold medal as a player (1984 Olympics in Los Angeles and 2016 Olympics in Rio.)

The women's Volleyball team added another Bronze medal to their tally after beating the Netherlands in a thrilling match at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

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

Karch Kiraly coaching the United States women's national volleyball team at the Rio 2016 Olympics. (Karch Kiraly by Krzysio.szubzda.1)

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.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry poses for a photo with U.S. Olympic women's beach volleyball players Kerri Walsh and April Ross, and their coach Marcio Sicoli, on the Copacobana beach in Rio de Janiero, Brazil, on August 6, 2016, as he and his fellow members of the U.S. Presidential Delegation attend the Summer Olympics. [State Department Photo/ Public Domain]

• April Ross, Kerri Walsh - 3rd 
• Lauren Fendrick, Brooke Sweat - 17th

The USA Women's Volleyball team made history by defeating Brazil in the final and bringing home their first Gold medal in the history of the Olympic Games.

Through their consistent performances at the Olympics, the USA Women's Volleyball Team has firmly entrenched themselves as one of the most elite squads in the sport. Each of these highlights has a compelling story of determination, resilience, and sportsmanship behind it.

We celebrate these remarkable female athletes and their valuable contributions to the sport of volleyball through this timeline representation of their endeavors at the Olympics.

Where do you need to go now? 

Here are three options: 

1. Learn more about the brief history of volleyball
2. Follow the suggested reading on our Sitemap page Learning How To Play (Sitemap)
3. 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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