Honorees

The 1988 United States Men’s Olympic Team

1999 Court of Honor Recipient

In 1978, the United States Volleyball Association established the first year-round training centers for developing National Teams. Out of this effort came two powerful United States Men’s Olympic teams, which captured the Olympic Gold Medal in 1984 and 1988. Capitalizing on the achievements of the 1984 team, the 1988 team was able to capture global preeminence in the sport, thus demonstrating some of the central values in world class volleyball: loyalty, partnership, and perseverance.

After winning the Gold in 1984 (the year the Soviet Union boycotted the Olympic Games) the team experienced significant turnover among the players and coaches. Nevertheless, owing to its depth of talent, the National Team that would became the 1988 Men’s Olympic team went on to win the 1985 USA Cup, the 1985 NORCECA Championship, and the 1985 Wold Cup. In 1986, they won the World Championships, and in 1987 the Savvin Cup in the Soviet Union. This string of successes gave the 1988 Olympic Team tremendous momentum and a psychological edge in its pursuit of the 1988 Gold Medal at the Seoul Olympic Games.

These two Olympic teams, although linked by the continuity of Steve Timmons, Karch Kiraly, Craig Buck and Dave Saunders, were separate and distinct groups. Building upon the success of the 1984 team, however, the 1988 team sealed the American dominance of volleyball in the 1980’s by winning a second, consecutive, Gold Medal for the United States. The 1988 Team won against a full Olympic field, beating the powerful Soviet team that had been dominant for two decades. They never lost in seven matches, beating Japan, Holland, Argentina, France, Tunisia, Brazil, and the Soviets.

The team members were Craig Buck, Middle Blocker -- Bob Ctrvlik, Outside/Swing Hitter -- Scott Fortune, Middle Blocker -- Karch Kiraly, Outside/Swing Hitter -- Ricci Luyties, Setter --Doug Partie, Middle Blocker -- Jon Root, Outside Hitter -- Eric Sato, Setter/Specialist -- Jeff Stork, Setter -- Dave Saunders, Outside/Swing Hitter -- Troy Tanner, Outside/Swing Hitter -- and Steve Timmons, Outside Hitter.

Today we welcome the 1988 United States Men’s Olympic Team into the Volleyball Hall of Fame Court of Honor.