Steven Salmons

Steven Edward Salmons (born July 3, 1958) is a former volleyball player from the United States, who was a member of the American Men's National Team that won the gold medals at the [Volleyball at the 1984 Summer Olympics|1984 Summer Olympics] , 1985 World Cup, and 1986 World Championships] . Salmons was a member on the national team for eight years and was key starter for the US in over 180 matches during that period and earned All-tournament honors in the 1983 USA Pre-Olympic tournament in Long Beach, California.

Salmons was a four-year starter on the UCLA volleyball team (1977-1979,and 1981). Playing as a middle blocker, he was named the "1979 NCAA Player of the Year" leading the Bruins to the National Championship with a 31-0 record – the first undefeated team in NCAA history. Salmons suffered a back injury while representing United States at the 1979 Pan American Games. After almost a year and a half of rehab and perseverance, Salmons returned to the Bruin line-up at the end of the 1981 season and then helped rally the team to a five game championship victory over USC in the 1981 NCAA Championship.

In addition to his 1979 NCAA Player of the Year selection, Salmons was named All-American in 1978 and 1979 and to the NCAA All-Tournament teams on three occasions (1978, 1979, 1981). Salmons was inducted in hollowed "UCLA Athletic Hall of Fame" in the year 2000.

Salmons was a US National Team Member during the summer of both 1978 and 1979 and a full time member from 1981-86. After USA team won the World Championships in Paris in 1986, Salmons stay and played professionally in Cannes, France.

After retiring from indoor volleyball because of reoccurring back injuries Salmons switch to the beach volleyball where he starred on the Bud Light 4-Man Beach tour for five years that included Olympians Dusty Dvorak, Bob Ctverlick, Scott Fortune, Eric Sato, Byan Ivie, Carlos Bricenos, Craig Buck,and Doug Partie.

ee also

* USA Volleyball [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UCLA_Bruins#UCLA_Athletic_Hall_of_Fame]