Women’s beach volleyball: May makes Olympics

Tony Altobelli

Over the past year, Misty May has traveled to and competed in

Brazil, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Canada, Switzerland, China, Germany and

even Chicago.

Now she can add Sydney, Australia to her travel log.

The former Newport Harbor High and Long Beach State girls volleyball

standout, along with Holly McPeak, will compete at the 2000 Sydney

Olympic Games in 2-on-2 beach volleyball.

“She’s logged some miles and turned some heads in a very short time,�

May’s dad, Butch, said. “It’s very well deserved and it’s a feat that she

will get to enjoy the rest of her life.�

The United States will send two two-women teams to Sydney, May and

McPeak, along with Annett Davis and Jenny Jordan Johnson.

Out of the teams’ best eight tournaments, the two teams that

accumulated the most points over the past two years qualified for Sydney.

For May and McPeak, all their points were earned in just 10

tournaments this year.

“It’s like beating Michael Johnson in the 400-meters and giving him a

200-meter head start,� Butch May said with a laugh. “What Misty and Holly

did in 10 events, it took the other teams 25-30 events.�

May and McPeak made the Olympic squad following a come-from-behind

semifinals win over Zi Xiong and Rong Chi of China at the China Open,

17-16. They trailed, 14-8, before stunning the home team.

Next up for May is some much-needed rest and recovery from a pulled

stomach muscle she suffered a month ago.

“She’ll be heading back home and the same doctor that checked out Shaq

(Los Angeles Lakers star Shaquille O’Neal) will be helping out Misty,�

Butch said. “Her first match won’t be for another five weeks or so.

Hopefully, that will be enough time for her to get healthy again.�

Will Butch and his wife, Barbara be making the trip with Misty?

“You betcha,� he said. “We haven’t even gotten our passports filled

out yet. It’s been a long year of late nights checking out the Internet

to see how she’s been doing, but it’s been well worth it.�

According to the proud father, look for the May-McPeak duo to make

quite an impact in Australia.

“If Misty gets back to the point where she can run, jump and serve to

her capabilities, they have a great shot at the gold medal, or at least a

trip to the podium,� he said.