Kerri Walsh Jennings is a well-known beach volleyball player worldwide. She is best known for dominating the sands and inspiring many people to play volleyball on both the court and the beach. Kerri grew up in a very athletic environment. Her father played in minor league baseball, while her mother was a star volleyball player at Santa Clara University. Following her mother’s path, Kerri attended Stanford University, where she played indoor volleyball and helped her team achieve consecutive National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) titles. In 2001, she teamed up with her current partner, Misty May-Treanor, on the sand. They initially ranked fifth in the world but they eventually reached the top spot in 2002. Their drive to win led them to a 90-win streak and eight tournament victories. Their success brought them to the 2004 Athens Olympics, where they became the first American female tandem to win gold medals in beach volleyball! They continued their success, by winning two more world titles in 2005 and 2007. Their winning streak reached 112 before they were defeated by Elaine Youngs and Nicole Branagh in the Association of Volleyball Professionals (AVP) Crocs Cup Shootout in Mason, Ohio. This was a significant accomplishment considering they had only formed their team in 2001. After Misty May-Treanor retired, Kerri Walsh continued to play but suffered her first-ever Olympics loss in the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympic Games. Jennings is so inspiring to so many female athletes around the world. She really shows the message of practice makes perfect.
