USA Volleyball honors May-Treanor, Speraw

Two locals were nominated to be named as U.S. Olympic Committee athletes and coaches of the year.

USA Volleyball honored former Newport Harbor High standout Misty May-May Treanor and UC Irvine men’s coach John Speraw.

May-Treanor, 30, was named the women’s beach volleyball player of the year. She and her teammate Kerri Walsh, 29, were named the beach volleyball team of the year.

After dominating the Assn. of Volleyball Professionals tour and Fédération International de Volleyball competition last season, May-Treanor was named the FIVB best defensive player, best offensive player, and sportsperson of the year for 2007.

In May, May-Treanor became the winningest woman in professional beach volleyball with her 73rd tournament victory. In August, she became the all-time earnings leader.

The team of May-Treanor and Walsh was one of the most dominant in world competition last year. The defending Olympic champions won their third-straight FIVB world championship in July without losing a set in eight matches.

May-Treanor and Walsh won seven out of the eight FIVB events they entered. Walsh finished second behind May-Treanor in voting for sportsperson of the year.

The team won the AVP championship after winning 13 of 15 tournaments.

May-Treanor and Walsh posted a 123-4 match record in 2007.

Speraw drew a nomination for U.S. Olympic Committee National Coach of the Year after splitting his duties in 2007 between leading UCI to an NCAA title and being an assistant coach with the U.S. men’s national team.

Speraw led UCI to its first NCAA men’s volleyball championship in May. He became the second person to ever win an NCAA men’s volleyball championship as a player, assistant coach, and head coach.

Three players from the Anteaters’ 2007 championship team also played on the U.S. World University Games team that won the bronze medal.

— From staff reports