Women's History Wednesday Profile: Misty May-Treanor
Hero on the Beach
MyWSports celebrates Women’s History Wednesday every week. We have highlighted great women in history who have made contributions in sports, in society, and in the community. At first glance, fans may question how a 39 year old could be deserving of her name in history. However, we will show how Misty May-Treanor is not only an American Olympic hero, but also a compassionate trailblazer who has played her career for others and the next chapter in her life is sure to be full of further greatness.
Greatness in the Making
MyWSports: Did you ever dream as a kid to play this long and make the hall of fame?
Misty May-Treanor: “No, a lot of the records we had, a lot of the achievements, you think about, but not as a kid.”
Misty May was born on July 30, 1977 to Barbara and Butch May in Southern California. Southern California was the first to find out about a volleyball Phenom, Misty May. Although, maybe the world could have seen some foreshadowing. Her father Butch played Indoor Volleyball for the United States in the 1968 Mexico City Olympics. Barbara, her mother, was a nationally ranked tennis player. This pedigree gave Misty May some great experiences at a young age. “My parents, they both played, and I wouldn’t have been able to go to the tournaments when I was a Junior or had the opportunity if they didn’t work and support me.” Misty played in a beach volleyball tournament with her dad at just 8 years old. Misty was also babysat by one of the best men’s Beach Volleyball players of all time, Charles Frederick “Karch” Kiraly as a kid, someone that she spoke about as a role model, “our sport was so male dominated for such a long time, I grew up watching Karch (Kiraly) and the men play.” At a young age, Misty followed and learned from the best of the best.
From an early age, Misty was a multi-talented, multi-sport athlete. She participated in tennis, track and field, soccer and volleyball for Newport Harbor High School. May helped her volleyball team win the California State Championship as a sophomore. That same spring, Misty also placed second in the high jump at the CIF California State meet. Although Newport Harbor did not win the state championship her junior year, Misty was named the Division 1 All-CIF team Player of the Year. As a senior, Newport Harbor won the State championship again and May was named the USA Today National Player of the Year.
Misty May played her college volleyball at Long Beach State. The 49ers posted a 133-9 record while May was on the team. During both Misty’s junior and senior year, she was named National Player of the Year. As a captain her senior year, Misty led the 49ers to became the first Women’s NCAA Volleyball team to have an undefeated season en route to the NCAA Division I National Championship. May set the tournament record for 20 service aces in the match, and was named the Most Outstanding Player.
Becoming a Professional
MWS: When did you know you’d be an Olympian?
MMT: “I didn’t think I’d be an Olympian until I was maybe a sophomore in college and I thought I’d be playing indoor. Beach wasn’t even on the radar.”
Still unsure of the path her career would take, Misty played her first professional volleyball tournament in May 1999, while still at Long Beach State. That summer, she moved back indoors and joined the US National Volleyball Team. Unhappy with the seriousness and schedule of the US indoor team practices, May left the team and moved to Beach Volleyball, partnering with Holly McPeak. McPeak was a veteran who had already played in the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. McPeak was in need of a setter to join her for the 2000 games. In a phone interview conducted during the Road to Rio Tour - Chicago, Misty shared her amazement on being selected as partner by McPeak as a rookie, “Rookie year, who gets (partnered with) a veteran … (that) is going to take a chance with the young gun?” The team of McPeak and May won 4 tournaments in 2000, and May was named the Beach Volleyball of America (BVA) Rookie of the Year. The pair qualified for the 2000 Olympics in Sydney Australia. The team would match McPeak’s 1996 Olympic finish, placing 5th.
The Dynamic Duo
MWS: How did you get to be the best in the world?
MMT: “A lot of hard work, it comes with the work, the time, the dedication, Kerri and I just happened to be that much better.”
After the 2000 Olympics, Misty May teamed up with Kerri Walsh, who also left the US National Indoor team to play Beach Volleyball. The US had never medaled in the first two Olympics in Beach Volleyball. The duo knew they had to compete against the best in the world to improve their own play, so May and Walsh went abroad, playing in the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) instead of the newly formed Association of Volleyball Players (AVP) in the US. The first breakthrough came when they won the 2002 FIVB World Tour. This was the first time a Brazilian team hadn’t won the tour since 1993, when Liz Masakayan and Karolyn Kirby of the US won. Also, no other American team has won the World Tour since.
What was learned in 2001 and 2002 playing in the FIVB World Tour quickly translated into dominance when the duo joined the AVP. In 2003, the team became the first team to go undefeated for the full season. May and Walsh went 39-0, winning 8 tournaments, and were named AVP Team of the Year. They continued the winning streak the next year, adding 14 straight tournament victories. The 14th win topped the record of 13 straight victories previously held by May’s old babysitter Karch Kiraly and his partner, Kent Steffes.
The streak led into the 2004 Olympics in Greece, giving May and Walsh the top seed at the tournament. May and Walsh ran through the competition in the Olympics, winning the gold medal without losing a set and knocking off the great Brazilian team of Shelda Bede and Adriana Behar. Following her first Olympic gold, Misty May married Major League Baseball catcher, Matt Treanor in November of 2004.
In 2005, Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh became the all-time leaders in victories, passing former record holders Bede and Behar. In 2006, May-Treanor and Walsh won the AVP Cuervo Gold Crown Huntington Beach Open and with the $50,000 paycheck. Misty is the fastest woman in history to top the $1 Million mark in career winnings, achieving the mark in just her 99th tournament.
In 2008, May-Treanor and Walsh-Jennings won 101 matches and 18 tournaments leading into the Olympics. Again, Misty and Kerri ran through the competition, winning every set in the Olympics and defeating the Chinese team of Tian-Jia and Wang Jie for the gold medal. The win also marks the first time any team, men or women, has ever won back-to-back Olympic gold medals.
Shortly after the 2008 Olympics, May-Treanor and Walsh-Jennings lost the final in three sets in the AVP Crocs Cup Shootout in Cincinnati to Elaine Youngs and Nicole Branagh. The loss ended their record streak of 19 straight tournament victory and 112 straight match wins. That same winter, Misty was selected to perform on ABC’s Dancing with the Stars. Unfortunately, during a rehearsal of the show, May-Treanor ruptured her achilles tendon and missed almost a full year. Following May-Treanor’s return, Walsh Jennings took a break to give birth to her second child during 2010. During Kerri’s time off, May-Treanor teamed with Branagh, but struggled to match the greatness of the original duo.
Prior to the London 2012 Olympics, May-Treanor announced their attempt at a third straight gold medal would be her last, Misty would be retiring after the games. Entering as the third seed, the team was tested like they hadn’t been in the previous two Olympics. The duo dropped a set in the Preliminary Round to the Austrian team of Schwaiger and Schwaiger, and were sent to extra points against the Chinese team of Xue and Zhang in the semi-finals. Misty and Kerri faced off against the other American team of Ross and Kessy in the Gold Medal match, winning 21-16, 21-16. Misty and Kerri became the only duo in history to win three straight gold medals, and then May-Treanor confirmed her retirement.
Life after the Olympics
MWS: Are you going to miss playing in the 2016 Olympics?
MMT: “It’s tough because I’ve always been a participant, the last time I was a spectator was in 1996, the Atlanta games, it’s a different journey this time around, but I’m enjoying my time with my family, my friends and helping promote the Olympics.”
Family and friends is what Misty has surrounded herself with in that past couple years. Misty and Matt welcomed their daughter Malia into the world in 2014. May-Treanor has also stayed involved in sports. As long time supporter of the Special Olympics, and former member of the Special Olympics Board of Governors, Misty is currently a Special Ambassador for the Special Olympics. Misty is also very active in teaching the game through her “Dream in Gold” camps held throughout the country. May-Treanor also participated in the Road to Rio Tour leading to the Rio games. Misty and USA athletes like Jessica Long were in Chicago last month showing off their medals and meeting fans.
Misty will be inducted into the International Volleyball Hall of Fame in October 2016. May-Treanor joked about her induction, “aren’t I supposed to be in my 60’s or something?” However, Misty knows that her induction is much bigger than herself, “It’s very flattering to make the Hall of Fame … the goal has always been about the team, it has been about making the person next to me better and being an inspiration to those people watching.”
Coaching Life
MWS: Did you always know you’d move into coaching after your playing days were over?
MMT: “I’ve always had a passion for coaching. I think it’s important for athletes to have more than one passion or a plan b, because you never know how long your career is going to last or what’s going to happen.”
Following the London Olympics, Misty attended Concordia University-Irvine and received her Master’s Degree in Coaching and Athletic Administration. This summer, she was named Director of Volleyball Operations and Head Coach of Long Beach City College. As a coach, May-Treanor made her intentions crystal clear, “I told the girls I want a winning record. I’m coming into a program and I’m excited, the women are eager to work. Long Beach City was a powerhouse when I was in college and I had many friends that went to that school and I want to get it back on the map.”
Although now at the helm, Misty still reflects on her biggest influences, “My college coach Debbie Green taught me everything I know setting-wise,” she said. Green, a 23 year coach for Long Beach State and a 1984 Olympian, served as an inspiration to Misty, “(she) was like a mother to me”
At 39, Misty May-Treanor is already a historical figure in volleyball. In time, we will see what kind of legacy she will leave on the sport as a coach. Misty has been a winner at every level and has etched her name all over multiple record books all while leading American Beach Volleyball to greatness. Misty May-Treanor has become a true American Olympic Hero.
Follow Kyle Wescott on Twitter @MHSWescott
