Holly McPeak

Holly McPeak
Personal information
Full name	Holly McPeak
Nationality	United States
Born	(1969-05-15) May 15, 1969 Manhattan Beach, California, U.S.
Hometown	Manhattan Beach, California, U.S.
Height	5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)
Beach volleyball information
Previous teammates
Years Teammate 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2002–2004 2001 2000 1999 1997–1998 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1987–1988 Angie Akers & Jenny Kropp Angie Akers Logan Tom & 3 others Nicole Branagh, Logan Tom, Dianne DeNecochea Jennifer Kessy Elaine Youngs Lisa Arce, Misty May-Treanor, Kerri Walsh Misty May-Treanor Nancy Reno, Gabrielle Reece, Misty May-Treanor, Karolyn Kirby Lisa Arce Nancy Reno & Lisa Arce Reno & Angela Rock Cammy Ciarelli Rock, Ciarelli, Linda Chisholm, Reno 6 partners Bonnie Fisk, then Barbra Fontana did not compete 2 partners Jill Horning
Medal record Women's volleyball Representing United States Olympic Games 2004 Athens Beach volleyball World Championships 1997 Los Angeles Beach volleyball

Holly McPeak (born May 15, 1969 in Manhattan Beach, California) is a retired American beach volleyball player.

A three-time Olympian, McPeak has 72 career beach volleyball titles and $1.4 million USD in career earnings, which places her third (behind Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh) and second (behind May-Treanor) respectively of any woman in the history of professional beach volleyball. She also won a bronze medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics with partner Elaine Youngs. McPeak, at 5 feet 7 inches, is considered short for beach volleyball, which makes her success all the more remarkable.

College and Olympics

McPeak signed with the California Golden Bears out of Mira Costa High School, where she was teammates with her Mira Costa classmate and future beach partner Lisa Arce. At Cal, she was named National Freshman of the Year in 1987, before transferring to UCLA in 1990.

In 1990, she helped the UCLA Bruins to a national championship, the school's fifth of six titles.

At the 1996 Summer Olympics, McPeak partnered with Nancy Reno and did not win a medal despite high expectations. Team conflict is often cited as a cause of this, and McPeak's breast enlargement surgery – earning her the nickname of "Twin Peaks" – has been cited as a potential cause of this conflict.

At the 2000 Summer Olympics, McPeak partnered with Misty May-Treanor and finished in fifth place.

Professional career

During the 2005 season, McPeak teamed up with Jennifer Kessy and with Nicole Branagh for the 2006 season. After Branagh left to partner with Elaine Youngs, McPeak partnered with indoor volleyball player Logan Tom for the 2007 AVP season. She then partnered with Angie Akers.

McPeak was planning to retire after the 2008 AVP season, but decided to continue for the 2009 season. After three-straight ninth-place finishes in her first three AVP events of the season, she retired for good on May 6, 2009, a week shy of her 40th birthday.

Since retiring from beach volleyball, McPeak works as a color commentator for Pac-10 volleyball shown on Fox Sports West, including most televised games of UCLA. She also does color for SEC coverage on the SEC Network.

In 2014, McPeak served as a sand volleyball game analyst for Pac-12 Network.

Personal

McPeak is married to former AVP commissioner Leonard Armato.

Awards and honors

McPeak was inducted into Volleyball Hall of Fame on October 30, 2009.

At UCLA, she was named to the All-NCAA Tournament Team following the '90 championship run, also earning All-Pacific Region and All-Pacific-10 first-team honors.

External links

• AVP profile