It’s easy to notice and appreciate the massive Long Beach presence on USA Olympic Swimming and Water Polo teams, but a lot of city residents might not realize that Long Beach State has an even bigger presence on the USA Volleyball team.  This August in Beijing, the men’s team will sport 3 LBSU grads, and the women’s another 2.  That means that over a fifth of the 24-athlete program will have come out of the ‘Myd, an astounding number that should have the school’s fans wearing red, white, and blue all Summer and Fall.

On the men’s team, the Beach will be represented by Tom Hoff (class of ’96), David Lee (’04), and former LBSU star outside hitter Scott Touzinsky (’04).  Hoff played in the 2000 and 2004 Olympics, and is the second-most experienced Olympian on the squad.  His fellow 49ers are both first-time Olympians, who join a team that’s been very competitive in international play lately, and are definitely a medal contender.

On the women’s side, Danielle Scott-Aruda and Tayyiba Haneef-Park will be joining the Beijing-bound USA team.  It’s Haneef-Park’s second Olympics, and the record-tying fourth appearance representing her country for Scott-Aruda, 35.  She ties the record for most appearances with the women’s USA Volleyball team previously set by—you guessed it—another hyphened LBSU volleyball player, Tara Cross-Battle.  “I am overly elated to be selected to my fourth Olympic Games,” Scott-Aruda said in a release from USA Volleyball.  

The Beach representative that will turn the most heads, of course, is another Long Beach State grad, Misty May-Treanor, who along with teammate Kerri Walsh will seek to become the first beach volleyball tandem ever to win back-to-back Olympic gold medals.  The duo is heavily favored.