U.S. coach Doug Beal compares Donald Suxho (7) with two-time gold medalist Karch Kiraly.
The last time the U.S. men's volleyball team medaled, Donald Suxho was an Albanian citizen playing in his hometown of Korce.
Now he is among America's best hopes at earning a medal for the first time in 12 years. Coach Doug Beal calls him one of the most physically talented setters he's seen and has compared him to the legendary Karch Kiraly, a two-time gold medalist.
Suxho, 6-foot-5, immigrated to the United States in 1996. He played volleyball at USC, then became a citizen in 2001.
Suxho's skills as a setter are a result of years of intense training. His father Peter, now a hospital manager in Boston, was a setter on national and club teams for 20 years and later coached Donald and his brother Randall.
"Mostly I hated him because he killed me at practice," Donald said. "I was always the first one there and the last to leave. I cried, but now I'm happy and love him for pushing me."
Suxho, 28, is a former starter with the Albania national team but hasn't been back to his native land since he left. His hometown is about 30 minutes from the Greek border.
Suxho joins veteran setter Lloy Ball, who at 6-8 is unusually tall at the position and as a two-time Olympian brings a wealth of experience to the team.
The U.S. men are hoping to rebound after a dismal performance at the 2000 Games in Sydney, where it lost all five matches in the preliminary round. Neither the American men or women have won a medal since 1992, when both won bronzes. The men's team is currently ranked No.6 in the world.
RELYING ON EXPERIENCE: The U.S. women's team is laden with veterans, led by Tara Cross-Battle, who will turn 36 on Sept.16. Widely regarded as the team's best defensive player and one of the best hitters in the world, Cross-Battle is the first athlete in USA Volleyball to be named to four Olympic teams. She won bronze in Barcelona in 1992, then became an assistant coach in 2001. Two years later, she cut back on the coaching after deciding to play in one more Olympics. She and the team are hoping to improve on a disappointing fourth-place finish in 2000.
Three-time Olympian Danielle Scott is part of the 12-member squad that includes seven players with Olympic experience. The U.S. women are ranked second in the world rankings. The team opens Aug.14 with a showdown against No.1 China.
RISING AGAIN?: Cuba is the only nation that has won three consecutive golds in a women's team sport in the Olympics and arrives in Athens trying to extend that streak. It won't be easy because the team is without superstar veterans Mireya Luis and Regla Torres. To hone its skills with a core of new players, the Cuban national team participated in more than 40 international matches leading up to the Games. It is currently sixth in the world rankings. With Cuba struggling, the race for gold is wide open. No.3 Brazil is the only 2000 medalist (bronze) to finish in the top three in the 2003 World Cup.
WHAT'S IN A NAME?: When it won the gold in 2000, it was called Yugoslavia. Now known as Serbia and Montenegro, the team returns to defend its medal but will face stiff competition from Brazil, Russia and Italy in the men's competition.
HOMECOMING: Keba Phipps will make her first Olympic appearance since 1988. Phipps was a 19-year-old star when she competed in 1988 but was cut from the national team two years later after testing positive for marijuana. During the years, she's refused several invitations to rejoin the team, but in 2002 the 35-year-old outside hitter agreed to return. During her hiatus Phipps played professionally in Italy for 13 years.
- Information from nbcolympics.com was used in the report.
