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Officials at the 1996 Olympic Games
Mary Blalock, front row, fourth from the left, with other volleyball officials at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta

It is with great sadness and heavy hearts that PAVO and USA Volleyball acknowledge the passing of Mary Blalock, a beloved and respected woman, wife, mother, daughter, sister and volleyball official. Many also counted Mary as a friend. Mary’s family has shared that she passed peacefully on Tuesday, June 11, 2024.

Mary BlalockMary maintained longtime memberships with PAVO and USA Volleyball. She was a dedicated and highly regarded volleyball official both domestically and internationally. Hailing from the great state of Texas, Mary was a member of the Lone Star Region (USAV) and the Texas Board of Volleyball Officials (PAVO). Domestically, for over two decades, Mary attained and maintained the highest referee certification each association grants ~ National Referee. As very few women had done when she entered the international (FIVB) system, Mary earned and was bestowed International Indoor certification in 2002.

Mary’s expertise and passion for officiating volleyball were evident in every match she officiated and every NCAA/PAVO Clinic she conducted. She consistently demonstrated a high level of professionalism and integrity, handling players, coaches and even mascots with a veteran aplomb. Mary’s contributions and dedicated service to the sport of volleyball will be sorely missed. Her commitment to promoting growth, sportsmanship, fairness and excellence made her an invaluable member of the officiating community.

PAVO and USA Volleyball extend our deepest condolences to Mary’s husband and son, Michael and Charles, and her extended family and friends during this time of loss and heartache. Mary’s legacy extends far beyond the volleyball courts where many had the chance to know her. Those who knew Mary for even a moment in time would agree that above all she was kind, loved to laugh (with a snort), and genuinely cared! In the wake of Mary’s unexpected passing, many will struggle to make sense of the loss. We wish for you to find comfort and strength in the memories you created with Mary.

In her memory, we also encourage fellow officials to uphold the values she represented. The volleyball community will forever be grateful for her contributions and the positive impact she had on our lives. Mary’s legacy will live on in the hearts and minds of those she touched.

Funeral Service and Celebration of Life for Mary Blalock is set for Tuesday, June 18, 2024 at 2 pm CT
Location: St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church, 4800 Convict Hill Rd. Austin, TX, 78749

A reception will follow in Johnson Hall at St. Catherine immediately following the mass.

If you are unable to attend in person, Mary’s service can be viewed at stcatherine-austin.org/live.

A Celebration of Life will also be held at St. Michael’s Church in Pawcatuck, Conn., on Friday, July 5, 2024, at 10 am CT with a graveside service to follow. A reception for Mary will be held at Mt. Pleasant Presbyterian Church, 8001 Mt. Pleasant Road, Willow Spring, North Carolina from 2-4 p.m. on Saturday, July 6, 2024.

Tom Tait

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Feb. 1, 2024) – USA Volleyball sends its deepest condolences to the family and friends of Tom Tait, 86, who died Jan. 11 in Huntingdon, Pa.

Tait was an American professor, author and volleyball coach, who received his PhD from Penn State in 1969. He was serving as an assistant track and field coach at the university when he was asked to be the head coach of the Penn State women’s and men’s club volleyball teams in 1974.

Women’s volleyball became a varsity sport in 1977 and men’s volleyball in 1978. Tait focused on the men’s team and won eight conference titles and reached the NCAA semifinals six times.

According to a story in the Penn State Daily Collegian, Tait paid for the whole team to travel to Reno, Nev., to compete in the USA Volleyball adult nationals, largely out of his own pocket, just so his players could get a glimpse of a higher level of play.

Later, Tait helped both the 1984 and ’88 Men’s U.S. Olympic Teams.

In 1993, Tait received the USA Volleyball George J. Fisher Leader in Volleyball Award.

Tait was presented with the USA Volleyball Bertha H. Lucas All-Time Great Coach – Pioneer Award in 2007.

 

Chuck, Joan and Mitch Stemm
From left, Chuck, Joan and Mitch Stemm

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Jan. 31, 2024) – USA Volleyball sends its deepest condolences to the family and friends of Joan Stemm, 86, who died on Jan. 6 in Elkhart, Ind.

Joan was the registrar of the Michiana/Hoosier Region of USA Volleyball for more than 30 years. She worked there alongside her husband of 69 years, Chuck, and their son Mitchell, who died in 2020.

“The Stemm family’s contributions to volleyball not just in the state of Indiana, but across the country are unprecedented,” said current Hoosier Region President and Commissioner Terry Sweasy. “I am where I am today because of the love and support they both have given me over the years.”

Joan and Chuck received the USA Volleyball Karen M. Johnson Human Resources Award in 2003. With Joan’s support, Chuck received the Harold T. Friermood “Frier” Award, USA Volleyball’s highest honor, in 2008.

Joan Stemm enjoyed sewing, knitting and crocheting special things for her family. She had a special love for pets, especially dogs. She truly loved spending time with her family and particularly her grandchildren.

Memorials for Joan may be given to Cancer Resources of Elkhart County, 23971 US 33 East, Elkhart, IN 46517 at elkhartcancer.org. Online condolences may be made to the Stemm family at stemmlawsonpeterson.com.

Read Joan’s full obituary at stemmlawsonpeterson.com/obituary/Joan-L-Stemm.

Byron Shewman of Starlings Volleyball
Byron Shewman, right, with Olympian Kim Oden - Photo courtesy of Starlings Volleyball, USA

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Sept. 29, 2023) – USA Volleyball was saddened to learn of the death of former U.S. Men’s National Team athlete and Starlings Volleyball, USA founder Byron Shewman, 76, on Aug. 20.

Shewman died after a battle with Alzheimer’s disease.

Shewman played volleyball in Southern California at Mar Vista High School, Southwestern Junior College and San Diego State.

Shewman played with the U.S. Men’s National Team from 1971-75. He played on the U.S. team that lost to Cuba at the 1975 NORCECA Championship final, missing the chance to qualify for the Montreal 1976 Olympic Games.

After his friend Kirk Kilgour was paralyzed in a 1976 Italian League training accident, Shewman dedicated his life to the service of others and volunteered for a variety of international causes.

In 1996, Shewman began coaching a girls volleyball team in inner-city San Diego with Olympic volleyball player Kim Oden. That was the beginning of Starlings Volleyball, USA, a non-profit organization that believes every girl deserves the opportunity to play club volleyball, regardless of socioeconomic background or level of play.

Starlings has grown to become the nation’s largest junior volleyball club, serving more than 3,000 girls in more than 75 clubs.

“Byron had this sense of right and wrong that was unbelievably admirable,” Former USA Volleyball CEO Doug Beal told the San Diego Union Tribune. “So many people would agree with what he thought, then go on with their lives, and he would stop whatever he was doing in his life and act on it.

“He always thought, ‘Somebody needs to do this. I’m going to do it.’

“People say living a valuable life is about how many people you touch and affect. By that measure, he had an extremely valuable life.”

Stephanie Schleuder

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (June 29, 2023) – USA Volleyball was saddened to learn of the death this week of women’s college volleyball coach Stephanie Schleuder, 73.

Schleuder achieved 703 victories over 34 years of coaching women’s volleyball at Bemidji State, Minnesota-Duluth (her alma mater where she was head basketball coach and a volleyball assistant), Alabama, Minnesota and Macalester College.

Schleuder joined the USA Volleyball Hall of Fame in 2004 when she won the Karen M. Johnson Human Resources Award.

In 2007, she won the George J. Fisher Leader in Volleyball Award and in 2019, she was named an All-Time Great Coach.

In 2005, Schleuder was inducted into the Minnesota Volleyball Hall of Fame, and the following year was honored at the Minnesota State Capitol with an award at the Minnesota National Girls and Women in Sports Day.

Schleuder is a graduate of the University of Minnesota-Duluth. In 1991, she became the first woman to be inducted into the UMD Bulldogs Hall of Fame. As an athlete, she competed in volleyball, basketball, badminton, field hockey, softball, tennis and track.

From 2002-2004, Schleuder served as president of the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA). She also served as Chair of the AVCA Awards Committee.

The 1968 U.S. Olympic Women's Volleyball Team
Marilyn McReavy Nolen (No. 10) poses with the 1968 U.S. Olympic Women's Volleyball Team

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (April 18, 2023) – USA Volleyball was saddened to learn of the death of 1968 U.S. Olympian Marilyn McReavy Nolen, who died April 13 in Big Lake, Texas, at age 78.

McReavy Nolen attended Howard Junior College before graduating from Southwest Texas State University in 1966.

1974 Women's National Team
Marilyn McReavy Nolen (No. 3 next to man with tie) poses with the Women’s National Team during its 1974 tour in Japan.

She played for the U.S. Women’s National Team from 1967-75, winning the gold medal at the 1967 Pan American Games in Winnipeg, Canada, before competing in the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City where the U.S. Women finished eighth. She also competed at the 1971 Pan American Games in Cali, Colombia.

In 2018, McReavy Nolen shared her memories of the 1968 Olympic Games while attending a reunion of the ’68 team in Colorado Springs:

“It was a wild time. The thing I remember is being able to eat in all the cafeterias. Every country had their own, so you could go around and eat all this different food. There was some concern we might get sick by eating different food. Early in the morning, I would go down to the track, which was way down below. I would just sit on the wall and watch these phenomenal human beings as they worked out in the morning on the track. It was an amazing thing. I can remember it like it was yesterday.

“I think the other thing was the fact that there were not that many women there. We had a hotel and there was a fence around it and we were guarded. I thought that was unusual.

“But also, going to downtown and hanging around. The traffic and the people. We traded everything. I brought my dad back this bright yellow jacket from France that I traded for. He wore it forever. I managed to get the West German warm-up stuff. Everybody was after it. All the different pins.”

McReavy Nolen went on to win two USA Volleyball women’s open national titles (1972, ’73) with E Pluribus Unum and she was a four-time All-American. McReavy Nolen helped develop the first U.S. Olympic national training center in Texas, before it moved to Colorado Springs.

While still playing, McReavy Nolen began a legendary coaching career at Sul Ross State University (Texas), where she helped start the women’s volleyball program.

Marilyn McReavy Nolen
Marilyn McReavy Nolen accepts the USAV All-Time Great Coach Award in 1996.

McReavy Nolen and her U.S. teammate Mary Jo Peppler coached the 1971 and ’72 teams to the inaugural women’s volleyball college national championships, overseen at that time by the Division of Girls’ and Women’s Sports of the American Association for Health, Physical Education and Recreation.

McReavy Nolen went on to coach at New Mexico State, Utah State (where she won another national title with Peppler), Kentucky, Florida, North Florida and Saint Louis universities. In 2002, she became the third NCAA Division I coach to win 800 matches. She finished her career with 809.

She is a member of the USA Volleyball Hall of Fame, having won the All-Time Great Coach Award in 1996 and the James E. Coleman National Team Award in 2022.

She was named a Distinguished Alumna by Texas State University, a Title IX Trailblazer by the Atlantic 10 Conference and is a member of the halls of fame of the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA), the Women’s Sports Foundation, Utah State, and Reagan County (Texas) Athletics.

McReavy Nolen was a popular speaker, trainer and clinician.

She is survived by her husband, Rev. Randolph Nolen, and her sons Travis and Ryan among other family.

Her memorial will be at 2 p.m. CDT on April 22 at the First United Methodist Church in Big Lake, Texas.

 

19064 U.S. Olympic Men's Volleyball Team
Pedro "Pete" Velasco (second from left) and Barry Brown (middle right) pose with the 1964 U.S. Olympic Men's Volleyball Team

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (April 13, 2023) – USA Volleyball was saddened to learn of the deaths of two of its men’s Olympians: Barry Brown, a member of the 1964 U.S. Olympic Men’s Volleyball Team and Pedro “Pete” Velasco, a member of the ’64 and ’68 Olympic teams.

Barry BrownBrown died on December 20, 2022, at age 88 in Reno, Nevada. Velasco passed on March 21, 2023, at 85 on The Big Island in Hawaii.

Brown was born in Culver City, Calif., and was a 1956 All-American volleyball player at Stanford where he also played basketball. In the 1950s, he played beach volleyball with fellow Olympian Mike O’Hara among others. Indoors, he earned All-American honors with the Stockton YMCA and the Hollywood YMCA Stars. Brown won several national championships with the Stars in the men’s open division.

In 1963, Brown won the silver medal with the U.S. Men at the Pan American Games in Sao Paulo, Brazil, before competing on the first U.S. Olympic Men’s Volleyball Team at the 1964 Summer Games in Tokyo.

Pedro “Pete” Velasco was captain of the 1964 U.S. Olympic Men’s Volleyball Team and competed with the 1968 Olympic Team in Mexico City.

Velasco also won a silver medal at the 1963 Pan American Games and took gold at the 1967 Pan Am Games in Winnipeg, Canada.

Velasco first played in the U.S. National Championships in Seattle in 1956 with the Denver YMC team while he was a freshman at the University of Denver.Pete Velasco

Velasco returned to Hawaii and played with the Central Hawaii YMCA Team and then the Outrigger Canoe Club. He earned All American honors at the 1962-72 National Championships and was named the tournament’s most valuable player in 1965.

After 1968, he returned to play at Church College in Hawaii in 1969-70. He was named collegiate All-American both years and named the Outstanding College Athlete of America in 1970. That same year, the U.S. Volleyball Association (now USA Volleyball named him an All-Time Great Player.

Velasco retired from volleyball following the 1972 National Championships. In 1978, he became the first volleyball player elected to the Hawaii Sports Hall of Fame and Museum. He was named to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame in 1980 and inducted into the International Volleyball Hall of Fame in 1997.

Services for Velasco will be April 22 at Ballard Mortuary in Hilo, Hawaii. The public is invited for an open viewing from 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

Magazine cover with photos of 1964 OlympiansMagazine cover with photos of 1964 Olympians

The Sapp Family. Photo courtesy of the Rocky Mountain Region
Wendy Sapp, second from left, and her family. Photo courtesy of the Rocky Mountain Region

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (March 3, 2023) – USA Volleyball was saddened to learn of the death of Wendy Sapp on February 28. We send our deepest condolences to her family and friends.

Wendy Sapp was the longtime office manager for the USA Volleyball Rocky Mountain Region. She is survived by her husband Glenn, the former RMR commissioner, and her daughters Jasmine (Jazzy) and Nikky, who both played volleyball collegiately. Jazzy also worked for USA Volleyball.

A note on the RMR website reads “Wendy was ‘the heart and soul’ of the RMR for some 20 years. Along with her ‘Commissioner Husband’ Glenn, she built many of the programs that are central to RMR operations, including our ever-popular RMR-Showdown. Wendy’s hard work and tireless dedication helped make the RMR what it is today!”

A “Celebration Service” will be held Saturday March 18, 2-5 p.m., at The Island in Aurora, Colorado.

A GoFundMe has been set up for the family at https://gofund.me/b7bc965a.

Joe and Joanie Williams

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Oct. 28, 2022) – USA Volleyball was saddened to learn of the death of Joanie Williams, longtime registrar and office manager for the Delta Region.

Williams, 65, died Oct. 27 of glioblastoma brain cancer at her home in Jonesboro, Ark. Her husband, Joe, the Delta Region commissioner, was by her side. The couple celebrated their 47th wedding anniversary this year.

Williams was known for her infectious joy and passion for the sport and the people who loved it as much as she did. She made thousands of friends through volleyball.

Williams founded the Delta Region High Performance Camp, bringing together the best players in three states. She created initiatives that helped Delta become one of the fastest-growing regions in the United States.

In 1982, Joanie, Joe and the late Joe Thomas founded the Arkansas Junior Olympic Volleyball program, the first junior volleyball club in the Midsouth. The club participated in hundreds of regional and national tournaments. Nearly 200 players from the program enjoyed college volleyball careers.

A celebration of Joanie William’s life will be held at 2 p.m. Monday (Oct. 31) at Temple Baptist Church, 2834 Race St., Jonesboro, AR 72401. Public visitation will be 5-7 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, you may consider your favorite charity in her name, or Temple Baptist Church, St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, St. Bernards Foundation or the NEA Baptist Charitable Foundation.

 

Wink Davenport (No. 12; top row, second from right) was on the 1968 U.S. Men's Volleyball Olympic Team.

USA Volleyball is saddened to learn of the death of Wink Davenport, a 1968 Olympian and longtime volleyball official.
Winthrop “Wink” Davenport passed away on May 3.

He began playing volleyball in the late 1950s at the Binghamton, N.Y. YMCA. After playing basketball and golf at Wesleyan University, Davenport graduated and moved to California where he earned a spot on the U.S. Men’s National Team. He won gold with the MNT at the 1967 Pan American Games and made the 1968 Olympic roster. Davenport helped the squad win four matches in Mexico City, including a 3-2 win over the Soviet Union, which went on to win the gold.

Davenport also competed in the 1969 FIVB World Cup before retiring in 1971. Before the end of his career, Davenport captained Santa Monica’s USVBA club team to a national title and earned All-America honors.

Davenport didn’t leave the game after he stopped playing. He earned national certification as a referee in 1970, starting a longer and more illustrious career as an official. He officiated at world junior championships, world cup, world championships and the 1988 Olympic Games, not to mention several NCAA men’s and women’s championship matches.

Davenport also was involved in volleyball at the administrative level, serving on the U.S. Volleyball Association (the precursor to USA Volleyball) board from 1971-77 and as the organization’s vice president from 1973-76. Internationally, he was secretary of the International Federation of Volleyball Officials and was referee delegate to the 1996 Olympics.

Davenport’s lengthy service to volleyball has been widely recognized. In 1986, he was one of the USA Volleyball’s inaugural Glen G. Davies Referee Service Award winners. A decade later, he received the Wilbur H. Peck Referee – Emeritus Award, USAV’s top award for officials. After another 12 years, Davenport received the James E. Colman USA National Team Award for his “unusual performance of excellence and uncompromising commitment to the USA national team programs.”

He’s been inducted into the Southern California Indoor Volleyball Hall of Fame and Wesleyan University Athletics’ Hall of Fame.

The SCVA has created a GoFundMe in honor of Wink Davenport to promote the education and advancement of officials: GoFundMe

Those wishing to honor Wink Davenport can also do so with a donation to Orange County (Calif.) Make-A-Wish Foundation or the Southern California Indoor Volleyball Hall of Fame.

Tributes to Wink Davenport

Former USA Volleyball CEO Doug Beal

“Wink was a special part of USA Volleyball and a very dear friend!! I cannot think of anyone else who transitioned from an Olympic player to a regional commissioner and on to a significant and well-respected international referee. He played a key role in supporting the USA National Team Training center during especially our time in San Diego during the 1980’s and into the 90’s when both teams were achieving Olympic medal success. Wink was a passionate supporter of the teams and always available and ready to help. He accompanied our teams on numerous international trips and was invaluable in logistical support and as a key staff support resource. I will miss his sense of humor and friendship and wise advice and counsel.”

Teammate Rudy Suwara

“I first met Wink Davenport at the West Side YMCA “B” VB tournament in Fall of 1959. He was one of the tallest players on the East Coast and was a force at the net. Wink’s blocking and spiking were so much higher than we had experienced at this time, late fifties in the east. Over the next five years, we (three Suwara brothers, John, Rudy and Ernie) often played against the Binghamton Y in tournaments in the northeast area. At one event in January of 1963, we played at the Binghamton Y, and were disappointed that Wink was off playing Basketball for Wesleyan College, where he was one of their best players ever, setting many scoring and rebounding records. Our West side team was able to beat the Ottawa team from Canada in the Finals after John Suwara broke a finger of the best Ottawa player with a spike. In summer of 1963, Ernie Suwara went to California and was selected to the 1964 USA Men’s Team for Tokyo at the first Olympics for volleyball. Next Rudy Suwara (1965), and Wink Davenport (1966) moved to California to train and make the 1968 Olympic Team by winning the gold medal at the 1967 Pan-Am games in Winnipeg, Canada. So sad to lose our good friend Wink Davenport on May 3, 2022, two days after he was selected to the Southern California Indoor Volleyball Hall of Fame.”

Paul Albright
Paul Albright officiates at an international event

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (April 18, 2022) – USA Volleyball was saddened to learn of the death of Paul Albright, a national and international volleyball referee and former USAV staff member.

According to his obituary, Albright, 55, of Elgin, Illinois, passed away peacefully at home on April 14 after battling esophageal cancer.

Paul Albright
From left, the late Dan Apol, the late Paul Albright, Katy Meyer, Pati Rolf and Steve Owen – Photo courtesy of Pati Rolf

Albright served as USA Volleyball’s first director of officials from 2016-18.

Albright was considered one of the top FIVB referees in the world. He worked many international events including several men’s and women’s world championships, Olympic qualifiers, World League, Volleyball Nations League and more.

He also officiated domestically for all levels of indoor and beach volleyball, including countless NCAA Women’s Division I Volleyball Championship assignments.

He frequently officiated sitting volleyball events throughout his career.

In addition to his accolades as a referee, Albright gave back to his volleyball family through training and education, influencing the careers of countless volleyball officials in the United States and around the world.

Albright won the USA Volleyball Junior Outstanding Referee Award in 1996 and the USAV Golden Whistle Award in 2007.

He received the 2021 Honor Award from the Professional Association of Volleyball (PAVO) and was inducted into the PAVO Hall of Fame.

Albright is survived by his wife Devonie McLarty, son Andrew (Renee) Albright and father Gary Albright among other family.

View Paul Albright’s full obituary.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Sept. 23, 2020) – USA Volleyball was saddened to learn of the death of Laura “Shorty” Lindsay on May 26 in Wichita Falls, Texas. She was 96.

Laura Lindsay was a volleyball scorekeeper who received the George G. Fisher Leader In Volleyball Award (1979), the Edward P. Lauten Scorer’s Service Award (1982) and the Nancy S. Sharpless Scorer-Emeritus Award (1986).

Laura Lindsay was the wife of the late Robert “Bob” Lindsay, the eighth president of USA Volleyball (1981-1984) and a former regional commissioner, who died in 1994. The pair was known for traveling to U.S. Volleyball Association tournaments in their camper.

The Lindsays traveled overseas to help the United States prepare to host the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games. Laura was also active with the YMCA throughout her life.

She is survived by her two boys Robert Phil (Bob) Lindsay and wife Theresa of Argyle, Texas and Jerry Vern Lindsay and wife Kris of Colleyville, Texas. She also had seven grandchildren and six great grandchildren.

Read her full obituary at dignitymemorial.com.

Back row from left: Devin Joslyn, Spencer Olivier, Luke Denton, J.T. Martin, Dr. Denise Wunderler, Sam Lewis, Kyler Presho, Jaylen Jasper, J.P. Reilly, Head Coach Jonah Carson
Front row from left: Assistant Coach Kris Berzins, Kevin Lamp, Blake Crisp, Joe Kelly, Garland Peed, Technical Coordinator Jeremy DeRoche

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Aug. 25, 2020) – Less than a year after an unthinkable personal tragedy, Dr. Denise Wunderler was back courtside.

Dr. Wunderler is a board-certified Primary Care Sports Medicine physician out of New Jersey. She has traveled as the team doctor with several USA Volleyball high performance national teams to various international competitions.

Her trip to Cuba in August 2018 with the Men’s Junior National Team for the NORCECA U21 Continental Championship was special, coming less than a year after the unexpected death of her 2-year-old daughter Vienna.

Taking the trip was part of Wunderler’s and her husband Michael Savino’s efforts to show their surviving two children that life needed to continue even though their hearts were broken.

“Since Vienna died, I feel we are a resilient family,” Wunderler said. “We are doing the best with what life has thrown us. We are teaching our kids to not just fold over and lie in your bed and cry. For us, it is not an option.”

Vienna died Nov. 12, 2017 of Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood (SUDC). While all three children were being watched by their babysitter at home, Vienna fell asleep watching TV and never woke up.

Although most people have heard of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), little is known about SUDC, a category of death in children/adolescents/teenagers, ages 1-18. The death remains unexplained after a thorough investigation, including an autopsy, death-scene investigation and a medical-record review of the child and family.

Since Vienna’s death, Wunderler has devoted herself to raising awareness of SUDC. This category of death is not taught in medical training and is rarely known even in the medical community. Wunderler and her husband, both physicians, had not heard of SUDC until it happened to them.

On the trip to Cuba, she brought Team Vienna T-shirts with her in hopes that the 12-player team and staff would be willing to wear them after she shared her story (Team Vienna 4 SUDC Awareness Inc. is her family’s 501c3 nonprofit that Wunderler founded in 2019).

“I knew some of the guys were medically minded and interested in biology and going to med school,” Wunderler said. “This is an important thing. Even though they are just in college, very few people in the world know about SUDC. It was such a gift to talk to them about my own personal experience. And they really listened.”

Wunderler grew up as an athlete and played basketball for Muhlenberg College in Pennsylvania. She became interested in sports medicine through her father, a physical therapist for the Air Force. She got involved with USA Volleyball through Dr. David Dyck, who helps find doctors for the USAV HP national teams.

She has greatly enjoyed her work with USAV HP teams because she likes helping the athletes, and they give her the chance to refine skills she does not use in her everyday physician job, like taping ankles. She also has had to use her ingenuity to solve problems.

“In Cuba, one of the players was having sinus issues and getting all stuffed up during matches,” she remembered. “The only thing I had was saline solution for contact lenses. Before each match, I would have him lie with his head upside down and wash his sinuses out with the saline solution. It worked!”

Her connection with the 2018 Men’s Junior National Team was strong and after she told them about Vienna’s death and her fight to raise awareness of SUDC, the team did not hesitate to show its support.

“It was really a special group,” Wunderler said. “They were a great group of people. We really gelled.”

“When I gave them the Team Vienna shirts, Kyler Presho said, ‘You support us Doc, we support you.’ It made my eyes well up in tears.”

“I told the athletes, ‘you don’t realize it yet, but what you did – supporting Team Vienna and my family — helps so many other SUDC families who feel the lack of support. A U.S. team acknowledging SUDC is huge.”

For more information on Team Vienna, visit vienna.team/.

For more information on Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood, visit sudccoalition.com/.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Sept. 28, 2017) – USA Volleyball was saddened to learn of the death of Olympian and Volleyball Hall of Fame member Mike Bright, 79, on Sept. 22.

When volleyball became an Olympic sport in 1964, Bright represented the United States, in Tokyo. He was also a member of the 1968 Olympic team in Mexico City and the 1972 U.S. Qualifying Team.

Bright was a member of the 1960 U.S. National Team that played in the World Championship in Brazil, and won a silver medal at the 1963 Pan American Games.

Bright was also a successful beach volleyball player and won the Manhattan Beach Open tournament with partner Mike O’Hara five years in a row (1960-64). He was enshrined in the Volleyball Hall of Fame in 1993.

Along with volleyball, Bright participated in paddle boarding and surfing and competed in both when they were exhibition events at the 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne, Australia.

Bright, who spend most of his life in Hermosa Beach and Malibu, Calif., was paralyzed from the waist down at age 37 after getting the bends while scuba diving. He continued to run his dive shop, swim and be active in sports.

Daughter Bonnie Bright remembered her father’s determination and sense of humor.

“He tried this jet propelled diving device that he would hold onto and propel himself through the water,” she said. “He realized it would just spin him in a spiral.  That made him laugh so hard!”

But volleyball dominated in the Bright family as Mike married 1964 and ’68 U.S. Olympic volleyball player Patricia (Patti) Lucas, who went on to become a top coach and is also enshrined in the Volleyball Hall of Fame. Patti Bright died in 2004.

Patti coached daughter Bonnie’s high school volleyball team, but Bonnie also remembers Mike coaching her club team.

In recent years, Mike and Bonnie’s family have shared a home with a beach volleyball court and Bright Volleyball Club in the back yard.  “Dad would watch from the deck and shout pointers,” she said.

Mike Bright played his first national tournament in 1960 with the Hollywood YMCA. During the next 13 years, he led his team to eight championships and three runner-up finishes. He was named an all-American nine times in that period and was awarded the U.S. Volleyball Association’s (later, USA Volleyball) “All-time Great Player” Award in 1983.

Bright is survived by his four children, Jodi, Lari, David and Bonnie and his sister Donna Bright Dobson. He also has seven grandchildren and one great grandchild.

Memorial events are pending. The family is expecting to hold a paddle-out in Hermosa Beach at 9 a.m. on Oct. 28.

Bonnie is forming a Mike Bright Beach Volleyball Foundation to provide beach volleyball scholarship money to Bright VBC’s college-bound players.

Donations can be made to US Bank, Mike Bright Beach Volleyball Foundation Routing # 122235821 Account # 157513852564.