Famous Faces From Orange County: Misty May-Treanor

Although it may seem that Orange County lacks an emergence of athletic stars, one woman can change that image: Misty May-Treanor. Although she was born in Los Angeles, her parents moved to Costa Mesa after her eighth grade year and enrolled her at Newport Harbor High School. Her mother Barbara May, a nationally ranked tennis player, and her father Robert May, a member of the 1968 U.S. Men's National Volleyball team, were big influences in her athletic endeavors. At Newport Harbor, she helped her varsity women's indoor volleyball team to two state championships in 1992 and 1994. After high school she majored in kinesiology and physical education at Long Beach State University where she was the captain of the women's volleyball team, the first women's NCAA volleyball team to go undefeated in 1998.

Sydney, Australia was her first Olympic games in 200 where she partnered with Holly McPeak and placed fifth overall. This was the last time in a long time that May-Treanor experienced defeat as after she teamed up with Keri Walsh-Jennings the following year, nobody seemed to be able to beat them. The unstoppable duo rode an 89-game winning streak into the 2004 Olympics in Athens and swept through to the finals where they ultimately topped Brazil. Also during that year, May-Treanor married baseball player Matt Treanor who (at the time) played for the Florida Marlins, and later on for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Again in 2008 the two won Gold, this time against China, and broke their own record of winning 19 straight tournaments and 112 straight matches. The two parted ways and in 2010 May-Treanor teamed up with Nicole Branagh, but it just wasn't the same for May-Treanor who ended up pairing with Walsh-Jennings again in 2011. 2012 marked the London Olympics and also the 3rd straight Gold that the two would win together for the last time, beating fellow Americans out for the top honors.

Here's a list of May-Treanor's professional accomplishments:

AVP Best Defensive Player 2006, 2007 AVP Best Defensive Player (Defender) 2008 AVP Best Offensive Player 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 AVP Crocs Cup Champion 2006 (Kerry Walsh Jennings), 2007 (Kerry Walsh Jennings), 2008 (Kerry Walsh Jennings) AVP Most Valuable Player 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 AVP Team of the Year 2003 (Kerry Walsh Jennings), 2004 (Kerry Walsh Jennings), 2005 (Kerry Walsh Jennings), 2006 (Kerry Walsh Jennings), 2007 (Kerry Walsh Jennings), 2008 (Kerry Walsh Jennings) BVA Rookie of the Year 2000 FIVB Best Defensive Player 2007, 2008, 2011 FIVB Best Offensive Player 2005, 2007, 2008 FIVB Best Setter 2005 FIVB Most Inspirational 2012 FIVB Most Outstanding 2005, 2008 FIVB Sportsperson 2007, 2008, 2010 FIVB Tour Champion 2002 (Kerry Walsh Jennings)