Olympics: U.S. volleyball squad has blue hue
5 members were on BYU's '99 title team
Not that they're big favorites of the Prince pop hit of the 1980s. Rather, that was the year the five enjoyed the spoils of a champion as members of the first BYU men's volleyball team to claim an NCAA crown.
And the five would love to repeat similar successes at a higher international level this summer at the Beijing Olympics.
The U.S. quintet include former BYU players Ryan Millar and Rich Lambourne, Cougar head coach Carl McGown, assistant coach Hugh McCutcheon and volunteer assistant Rob Browning — all a part of the Cougars' inaugural NCAA championship season.
Nearly 10 years later, the roles have changed some — Millar is still manning the middle-blocker position, while Lambourne has had to move from playing outside hitter in college to the defensive-minded libero's spot in order to make the Olympic team.
Also, McGown is now assisting McCutcheon — the latter in his third season as head coach of Team USA and the former helping as a U.S. scout. And Browning, who is the women's volleyball coach at St. Mary's College in California, serves as team leader — the program's equivalent of a director of operations or team liaison during the Games.
All but Lambourne have been involved with the Olympics previously. "I'm the late-comer to the party," he said of making his Summer Games debut at Beijing.
"He's definitely put in his dues," said Millar of his BYU and now Olympic teammate. "It's a great time for him to show what he's got."
And Lambourne returns the compliments. "We need the experience — his steadiness at that position is phenomenal," he said of Millar. "He's the foundation of our whole blocking defense."
Both players are excited to be under McCutcheon's tutelage and enjoying the U.S. team's successes the past three years in World Cup, World Championship and other international competition. The Americans are coming off a first-ever FIVB World League title in late July.
"Hugh has preached a lot more about the collective whole as a group," said Millar of the tone and tenor of McCutcheon's taking over from former national coach Doug Beal. "It's about having your teammate's back — he's brought more of a team aspect, which is important for what we're trying to achieve."
Lambourne agreed. "He's brought a different, interpersonal approach. As a (U.S.) assistant previously, he had established good relationships. He's more relaxed, more of a go-between who befriended the guys.
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