Dec. 7, 2005

LAUSANNE, Switzerland – Misty May-Treanor of the United States capped another incredible beach volleyball season by being voted as the SWATCH-FIVB Most Outstanding Player on the women’s World Tour, the FIVB announced Tuesday.

May-Treanor, who teamed with Kerri Walsh to win the 2004 Olympic gold medal in Athens, Greece, was also selected as the women’s Best Offensive Player and Best Setter in voting held last month by players, officials and referees associated with the international beach volleyball tour.

During the 2005 season May-Treanor earned SWATCH event Most Outstanding Player awards in France, Austria, Brazil and South Africa. She finished third in voting for the end-of-the-year Most Inspirational Player and the Sportswoman of the Year awards.

Also the reigning world champions, May-Treanor and Walsh won six gold medals, one silver medal and $263,000 while competing in only seven SWATCH-FIVB World Tour stops in 2005. The duo finished second in the voting for the Best Team award, which went to 2005 points champions Juliana Felisberta Silva and Larissa Franca of Brazil.

Walsh, selected as the Most Outstanding Player at the 2004 Olympic Games, was voted as the World Tour’s 2005 Sportswoman of the Year, Best Blocker and Best Hitter.

Fellow American Elaine Youngs, the 2004 Olympic bronze medalist with then-partner Holly McPeak, finished second in the Best Blocker voting, while the USA’s Jennifer Kessy finished third in Rookie of the Year voting.

On the men’s side, Jake Gibb of the United States shared Rookie of the Year honors with Matteo Varnier of Italy.

Gibb and partner Stein Metzger finished as the 11th-ranked men’s team with three podium placements in seven SWATCH events in 2005, including a silver medal finish at the Grand Slam stop in Paris in July. The Americans also earned bronze medals in Brazil and South Africa.

Another American, Todd Rogers, was voted as the World Tour’s Best Setter. Rogers teamed with Sean Scott to twice finish fourth this season – in Portugal and Austria. The duo also posted a pair of fifth-place finishes in 2005 at the Paris and South Africa stops.

The Most Outstanding Player on the men’s World Tour, Ricardo Santos of Brazil, also captured three additional awards to cap a season that included six FIVB gold medals, two silver medals and three bronze medals with partner Emanuel Rego.

Ricardo was also voted as the tour’s Best Offensive Player and Best Hitter and earned Best Team accolades with Emanuel, the 2005 SWATCH-FIVB Sportsman of the Year.

2005 SWATCH-FIVB Women’s Post-Season Awards

Most Outstanding Player – Misty May-Treanor (USA)

Most Improved – Vassiliki Arvaniti (Greece)

Most Inspirational – Shelda Bede (Brazil)

Rookie of the Year – Talita Antunes (Brazil)

Sportsman of the Year – Kerri Walsh (USA)

Best Defensive Player – Shelda Bede (Brazil)

Best Offensive Player – Misty May-Treanor (USA)

Best Blocker – Kerri Walsh (USA)

Best Setter – Misty May-Treanor (USA)

Best Hitter – Kerri Walsh (USA)

Best Server – Ana Paula Connelly (Brazil)

Best Team – Juliana Felisberta Silva and Larissa Franca (Brazil)

2005 SWATCH-FIVB Men’s Post-Season Awards

Most Outstanding Player – Ricardo Santos (Brazil)

Most Improved – Fabio Magalhães (Brazil)

Most Inspirational – Mark Heese (Canada)

Rookie of the Year – Jake Gibb (USA) and Matteo Varnier (Italy)

Sportsman of the Year – Emanuel Rego (Brazil)

Best Defensive Player – Marcio Araujo (Brazil)

Best Offensive Player – Ricardo Santos (Brazil)

Best Blocker – Fabio Magalhães (Brazil)

Best Setter – Todd Rogers (USA)

Best Hitter – Ricardo Santos (Brazil)

Best Server – Conrad Leinemann (Canada)

Best Team – Emanuel Rego and Ricardo Santos (Brazil)