Olympians, Past Olympic Coaches at Boys' Junior Nationals

Bill Kauffman
Manager, Media Relations and Publications
Phone: 719-228-6800
E-Mail: bill.kauffman@usav.org

AUSTIN, Texas (July 7, 2010) – The USA Volleyball Boys’ Junior National Championships has staged many exciting matches at the Austin Convention Center in Texas since July 2. In the crowd have been several U.S. volleyball Olympians and gold-medal coaches representing the level that the players dreams to play for to cap their careers.

Tom Hoff, a three-time Olympian and captain of the U.S. team that won the 2008 Olympic Games, was on hand Wednesday to sign autographs and hand out medals for the 15 Open and 15 Club Division podium ceremonies. He had the opportunity to play in the event back in 1991 after joining his club a month earlier. However, one of his messages to the players at this year’s tournament has nothing to do with winning medals.

“I see so many kids so disappointed on their team’s finish,” Hoff said. “My year playing at Junior Nationals, we finished 34th. I tell the kids to not worry about the finish. This event is only the start of training.”

Hoff, who was also at the 2010 USA Volleyball Girls’ Junior National Championships held June 24-July 3 at Reno, Nev., is willing to share his journey to become an Olympian as a motivating factor.

“It is good to see the kids play in these events, and not necessarily the ones on the best teams,” Hoff said. “I, myself, was one of those players not on one of the best teams. My career has had its ups and downs and not always medaling. But I kept at it. I want to let the kids know not to be disappointed now on finishes this early in their career.”

Hoff was also the center of attention away from the championship court as he wore his 2008 Olympic Games gold medal around the neck for the players and parents to see and touch. Over the course of the two years since having the medal draped around his neck in Beijing, the ribbon fabric has started to shred after showing the medal off to countless fans.

Also in attendance this week at the signature boys’ event was Bob Ctvrtlik, a three-time Olympian and gold medalist at the 1988 Olympic Games. He views the USA Volleyball Boys’ Junior National Championships as a must-have for the growth of the game.

“This event is a tremendous asset for the boys to have top-notch competition,” Ctvrtlik said. “The athleticism has come a long way in the last 10-15 years.”

Pepperdine Head Men’s Volleyball Coach Marv Dunphy, who was the head coach of the U.S. Men’s Olympic Team which won the 1988 Olympic Games gold medal, agrees with Ctvrtlik that the event has developed into a top-notch event with quality performances.

“When Junior Nationals started, back when I was with USA Volleyball, I’d come to volleyball events like this and watch play on two or three court,” Dunphy said. “The rest of the courts were not as good. Officiating was the same way.”

In time, Dunphy has seen the rapid progression of talent on the court in all areas – from the players to the coaches and the officials. In the end, the expanded talent helps collegiate coaches like Dunphy evaluate players for college scholarships.

“Now at the Boys’ Junior National events, the volleyball level on every court, as well as the officiating, is equal in play and you can see potential Olympic and collegiate volleyball players,” Dunphy said. “I am excited to see growth and maturity in our sport. The talent is spreading. Early on men’s volleyball was very strong in some regions, and now it has broadened and the talent pool is spreading to new areas. It allows us, as collegiate coaches, to evaluate kids from other parts of the country. At the USA Volleyball Boys’ Junior National Championships, we can see them at their best when they are fresh, when they play teams who they should beat or when they play teams that are better than theirs. It is important that we see them play over time. The good athlete does it over time in all circumstances.”

For Ctrvtlik, the event is more special as he gets to watch his three sons play the sport he loves. Josef reached the 16 Open Division podium on Tuesday afternoon as he helped Balboa Bay 16 Quiksilver earn the bronze medal. Erik and Robert are still competing in the 15 Open Division for Balboa Bay 15 Quiksilver. However, father Bob let his sons make the choice to play the sport he excelled in.

“I pushed them to learn the game,” Bob said. “But for them to play organized volleyball, it was their choice. It takes a tremendous amount of dedication to be a top player, and that has to come from the player and not the parent.”

Jeff Stork, a three-time U.S. Olympian and starting setter on Team USA’s 1988 Olympic gold-medal squad, never played Junior National Championships volleyball as it started after his youth career. Yet, he has seen the improvement firsthand over the years as he has watched sons Daniel and Matt play in the event. Daniel played for SMBC 18-Black in 2010, while Matt was selected to compete on the U.S. Men’s Junior National Team in the 2009 FIVB Men’s Junior World Championship, but could not attend. He is now playing at Cal State Northridge.

“As a historical note, I never got a chance to play JO-level volleyball as it was not around at the time,” Stork said. “This event has come so far over the years, and has helped the sport grow. The athletes are getting better and the overall skill level is getting better. In some respects, we are reaping some of the rewards of the program based on the international success including gold at the 2008 Olympic Games. On the other side, we have not seen as large of a rise as far as opportunities to play in college and that is disappointing.”

Ctvrtlik and Stork are not the only Olympians to have sons competing in the 2010 USA Volleyball Boys’ Junior National Championships. Aldis Berzins, a U.S. starter on the 1984 Olympic Games gold-medal team, is the head coach for Maryland Volleyball Program (MVP) Red 18. On the squad is his son Dainis. Doug Partie, a key player for the gold-medal winning 1988 U.S. Olympic Team, was in attendance watching his son Kendall play for Epic 18-Pat.

USA Volleyball Chief Executive Officer Doug Beal, a three-time U.S. Olympic Team head coach who led the 1984 Olympic squad to the gold medal in Los Angeles, was in attendance at the Boys’ Junior Nationals watching his son Mitch play for Front Range Volleyball Club 181.

In addition, Bob Samuelson, a 1992 Olympic Games bronze medalist with Team USA, attended this year’s USA Volleyball Boys’ Junior National Championships as part of the Manhattan Beach Surf 16s coaching staff.

Tags: USA Volleyball Boys' Junior National Championships