All-American made home at The Beach

By Michelle Fithian, On-Line Forty-Niner

Monday, November 30, 1998

In the spotlight with Tina Turner singing "Simply the Best" in the background and draped in a Hawaiian lay, senior setter Misty May stood with her parents Butch and Barbara to watch her jersey number (No. 5) be retired before the match against Illinois State on Saturday night in The Pyramid.

"I'm happy," May said. "It will be nice to come back to see it. It represents all the setters."

As a tarp covering the jersey was removed, the crowd roared at the sight of May's jersey among the three other women's volleyball jerseys hanging from The Pyramid rafters. All of this for a setter who was not a setter at the beginning.

She left Newport Harbor High School and came to The Beach as an outside hitter. She was the 1994 Mizuno High School National Player of the Year and at the head of Volleyball Monthly Fab 50 list. And as a senior, May led the Sailors to the 1994 California State Division I Title and a 30-1 record. She was a star, and she was an outside hitter.

49er Head Coach Brian Gimmillaro had other plans for May. With the help of legendary setter and assistant coach Debbie Green, May would become a setter.

"Misty is the best player in the country," Gimmillaro said. "She is the best ever to play college volleyball."

May became more than a setter. She was named Big West Freshman of the Year and first team All-Big West, only the third freshman to ever receive such an honor. Not only could she set, but she also could dig and nail kills.

In 1996, she was named Big West Player of the Year and led the way for The Beach to lead the Big West in team hitting percentage. She ranked among the top 10 in the conference in hitting percentage (5th), assists per game (5th), and digs per game (9th). She posted the top single-game marks in the BWC, while establishing career-high's in assists and hitting percentage.

Her junior year was nothing less than spectacular. She was named the AVCA NCAA Division I Collegiate Player of the Year, and was a first team All-America pick. She led the 49ers to the NCAA National Semifinals in Spokane, Wash. She hit .363 on the season and averaged 2.06 kills, 2.14 assists, 3.18 digs, 0.43 aces and 0.58 blocks per outing. She recorded five "triple-doubles" on the season and nine "double-doubles."

She continues this season by putting up solid numbers as she looks to defend her title as AVCA Player of the Year. In the Big West title over Nevada she had her fifth "triple-double" with 13 kills, 16 digs and 38 assists. She is currently averaging 2.12 kills, 12.22 assists, 3.01 digs and 0.82 blocks per game while hitting .415.