Misty May-Treanor

Player

Birthday July 30, 1977

Birth Sign Leo

Birthplace Los Angeles, California, U.S.

Age 46 years old

Nationality United States

Height 5 ft 9 in

Weight 159 lb

#35452 Most Popular

1922

Seeded 22nd, McPeak/May finished 9th.

1977

Misty Elizabeth May-Treanor (née May; born July 30, 1977) is a retired American professional beach volleyball player.

She is a three-time Olympic gold medalist, and, was the most successful female beach volleyball player having won 112 tournaments in domestic and international competition.

May was born in 1977 in Los Angeles to Barbara (née Grubb), a nationally ranked tennis player, and Butch May, a member of the 1968 United States men's national volleyball team.

She has two older half brothers, Brack and Scott.

She grew up playing beach volleyball with her parents at the Santa Monica Pier, and at age 8 teamed with her father to play in her first beach volleyball tournament.

May also played soccer and tennis, as well as participating in dance.

She attended primary school at Brightwood Elementary School in Monterey Park and Roosevelt Elementary School in Santa Monica.

As a child, she was baby-sat by Karch Kiraly, future national volleyball player and United States women's national volleyball team head coach.

1988

In 1988, her father committed to living his life sober after an automobile accident in which he struck and nearly killed a motorcyclist.

1991

May grew up in Costa Mesa, California, attending Newport Harbor High School from 1991 through 1995.

1992

She helped her team win the state championship in volleyball in both her sophomore and senior years, 1992 and 1994.

1993

During her junior year in 1993 she was named the Division I All-CIF team Player of the Year, and the following year she was selected by USA Today as the best high school girls' volleyball player in the nation.

While at Newport Harbor High she also competed in track and field, excelling in the high jump.

At the CIF California State Meet in 1993 she finished second in the high jump to future heptathlete, Tracye Lawyer.

1995

May-Treanor played volleyball for the Long Beach State 49ers from 1995 to 1999.

1998

The 1998 team that May captained was the first women's NCAA volleyball team to have an undefeated season.

During her tenure there, she racked up numerous Big West Conference and NCAA awards and honors, including the Honda Sports Award for the nation's best female volleyball player, and the Honda-Broderick Cup for the best overall female collegiate athlete for 1998–99, and back-to-back National Player of the Year awards in 1997 and 1998.

As the starting setter in 1998, May-Treanor led Long Beach State University to the Division I NCAA Women's Volleyball Championship with a 36–0 record.

She shared the NCAA Championship Most Outstanding Player award after setting a tournament record with 20 service aces.

She attended Concordia University in Irvine, California to earn a master's degree in coaching and athletic administration.

1999

May played her first professional match on the AVP tour in May 1999 while still a college senior.

After graduating from Long Beach State in 1999, she joined the United States women's national volleyball team.

After a few months she quit the national team to focus on beach volleyball, teaming with Holly McPeak.

The pair played their first tournament together on the FIVB tour in Salvador, Brazil in November 1999.

2000

The 2000 season saw the team of May and McPeak find success, both in domestic and international competitions.

They won their first tournament together in April at a USAV event, followed by two wins on the FIVB tour, and one on the now-defunct BVA.

May was selected as the BVA Rookie of the Year for 2000.

2002

She graduated with a BA in kinesiology and fitness in 2002 and was inducted into the Long Beach State Athletics Hall of Fame in 2004.

2003

They also won the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships in 2003, 2005 and 2007.

2004

May-Treanor and teammate Kerri Walsh Jennings were gold medalists in beach volleyball at the 2004, 2008 and 2012 Summer Olympics.

2007

The pair set various records throughout their partnership, including a win streak of 112 consecutive matches (19 consecutive tournament titles) in 20072008, breaking their own previous record of 89 consecutive match wins.

They have been called "the greatest beach volleyball team of all time."

2010

In her 2010 autobiography, May-Treanor stated both of her parents were alcoholics.

She also asserted her mother would at times become violent when drinking.

From the age of 4 to 15, she lived with her grandparents.

2012

May-Treanor retired from competitive play on August 8, 2012, after she and Walsh Jennings won gold in the 2012 Summer Olympics.

2013

Her degree was conferred on May 4, 2013.

2014

May-Treanor was later inducted into the inaugural class of the Newport Harbor High School's Hall of Fame in 2014.

2016

She was inducted into the Volleyball Hall of Fame in 2016.