Star Of Fame #3: Ball

One of the greatest setters of all time!

Statistics:

Hometown: Fort Wayne, Indiana, USA
Date of Birth: February 17th, 1972
Height: 6-8 (203cm)
Weight: 210 lbs (95kg)
College: IPFW
USA National Team Debut: May 1993

Coach Hugh McCutcheon Says…

I really enjoyed working with Lloy, I thought he and I had a great working relationship. We achieved a lot during the time he set for us – so there are lots of good memories. One that sticks out in my mind is Lloy’s first tournament back with USA at the America’s Cup in Manaus, Brazil. We were playing BRA in the final and we were down 11-14 in the 5th set. We sided out and Lloy went back to serve and helped us battle our way back to 15-14. BRA sided out and, after they served, he set Ryan a perfect 31 from about 14 feet off the net to keep the lead. We trade side-outs until Lloy got back to the front row at which point he switched with Riley to block on the left and match up v. Samuel Fuchs. BRA set Fuchs, Lloy touched it, Rich dove and dug the ball off the block, Lloy set Riles on the right who killed it for the win – 19-17.

It was a great comeback but, more importantly, Lloy proved to his Team-mates that he was the right guy to set this Team. He played with passion, he competed with composure, and he was at his best when his best was needed.

It was the perfect beginning to his return to our Team.

lloy ball hugh mccutcheon — Coach McCutcheon & King LB at the 2008 Olympics

Mike Lambert Says…

I played alongside Lloy on the USA national team from ’95 to ’00 and in 2 Olympics. At 6’8″ with soft hands he changed the way we could run our offense. Overpasses were now ideal passes as he could still get to them and make the opposing blockers think twice about what to do. Lloy also had a natural connection with the middles and it was always easy for him to run quick sets from anywhere on the court. I admired his professional approach to the game and to the sport. He was focused, dedicated, and willing to do anything to get better. It was great to watch him quaterback the ’08 team to a gold medal in Beijing. A fitting finish demonstrating his perserverence to be the best setter of his time. Congratulations to Lloy on having such a long and successful career!

Major International Career Highlights:

2008 Olympic Games (Gold Medal) FIVB World League (Gold Medal NORCECA Continental Olympic Qualifying Championship (Gold Medal) 2007 FIVB World Cup NORCECA Continental Championship (Gold Medal) America’s Cup (Gold Medal) 2004 NORCECA Olympic Qualifying Tournament (Gold Medal) Olympic Games 2003 NORCECA Zone Championships (Gold Medal) World Cup ( Fourth Place) 2002 World Championships 2000 Americas’ Cup Continental Cup Olympic Games World League 1999 Americas’ Cup NORCECA Championship 1998 Americas’ Cup NORCECA Zone World Championship Qualifie World Championships 1997 NORCECA Zone Championship 1996 Olympic Games 1995 NORCECA Zone Championships Pan American Games World Cup World League 1994 FIVB World Super Four World Championship World League 1993 FIVB Grand Champions Cup NORCECA Zone Championship World University Games.

Major Individual Awards:

2010–11 CEV Champions League “Best Setter”
2008 FIVB World League “Best Setter”‘
2008 FIVB World League “Most Valuable Player”‘
2007 NORCECA Championship “Best Setter”
2007 NORCECA Championship “Most Valuable Player”
Inducted into IPFW Athletics Hall of Fame (2006, the inaugural class)[3]
2004–05 CEV Champions League “Best Setter”
2003 NORCECA Championship “Best Setter”
1999 FIVB World Cup “Best Setter”

Lloy Ball Quotes:

“I remember dad setting up pillows along the floor in the family room. Then, he and I would play one-on-one volleyball with a balloon. Slowly, I progressed to a heavier ball and more organized games.” -LB on how he discovered volleyball.

“One of the biggest reasons is not even volleyball-related, really. It’s the fact that I want my son (Dyer) to see me play in Beijing. He’ll be 7 years old and he doesn’t really remember the other Olympics. He’ll be going with my wife to watch his dad play in his last Olympics and hopefully he’ll be old enough to remember it. Second of all, I don’t know why, but the older I get, it seems like the better I get. I’ve had a lot of success overseas and continue to play well.” -LB on why he decided to rejoin the US team in 2008. (Side Dish: Coach Hugh flew all the way to Russia to invite him to come back.)

“My wife was the biggest proponent, saying, ‘It’s a great opportunity. They’re not going to ask you for 2012, that’s for damn sure. So you should do it if you really feel like you want to.’ I’m a lucky guy to be married 10 years, and with my wife 15, two great kids. Without her, or if she had said, ‘You know, I’m not real sure,’ then I probably wouldn’t be having this conversation with you.” -LB on his wife’s support in 2008.

“I always made fun of people after they’d win an NBA championship or something and say, ‘I don’t know what to say, it hasn’t sunk in yet. But I’d say, ‘That’s kinda stupid. Why would you say that?’ Now here I am saying the exact same thing … I don’t think until I get home and sit on my big sofa in front of the TV with the medal still around my neck, a cold beer in hand, and realize that after this long time I’m [an] Olympic champion, that it’ll sink in … It’s always one thing to be called an Olympian. You’re an Olympian for life. But to be called a gold medalist, I don’t know what goes on top of a cherry on a banana split, but it goes on top of that.” -LB on winning the 2008 Olympic Gold medal after 4 Olympics.