By Cindy Luis

cluis@starbulletin.com

IT was born in America in 1895, the year before the first modern Olympic Games. But volleyball didn’t become an Olympic sport until 1964, when the Japanese petitioned for it to become part of the Tokyo Games.

The men’s team, captained by Hawaii’s Pedro Velasco Jr., finished ninth. The trio of Gail O’Rourke, Sharon Peterson and Verneda Thomas, who went on to impact the sport in the islands, were part of the women’s team that finished fifth.

It’s been a roller-coaster ride for the U.S. since then. The men doubled up with gold medals in 1984 and ‘88, the women earned a silver in ‘84.

Neither team has been on the medal stand since the 1992 Barcelona Games, where University of Hawaii athletes - Carlos Briceno and Teee Williams-Sanders - helped the U.S. to twin bronzes.

The Games of the XXIX Olympiad could mean the first medals for the U.S. since then, perhaps the first gold in 20 years.

The U.S. men certainly have a shot at being on the podium’s top step, given their gold-medal performance at last month’s FIVB World League. Ranked third in the world, Team USA upset host and No. 1 Brazil en route to beating Serbia in the title match.

The U.S. swept the tourney awards: Lloy Ball (best setter and best player) and Rich Lambourne (best libero). Former UH opposite Clay Stanley came up big in the tournament as well, including putting down the final three kills of the championship match, finishing with 12 kills, three blocks and an ace.

The U.S.’s biggest competition should come from Brazil, Serbia, Russia and Poland. Team USA opens with Venezuela on Sunday.

The women’s competition appears more wide open, with Brazil, Italy, China and Russia the most consistent since the Athens Games. Cuba and Poland should be added to the mix, with the U.S. perhaps the second “home team” … Lang Ping, considered China’s best-ever player, is coach of Team USA.

Lang led China over the U.S. for the gold medal in 1984. On that American team was current U.S. assistant coach Sue Woodstra.

Lang tried various lineups during the past four months before deciding on the final 12-player roster. Making the cut are five with Hawaii ties: former UH All-Americans Robyn Ah Mow-Santos, Heather Bown and Kim Willoughby; Punahou graduate Lindsey Berg; and Stanford great Logan Tom, who is part-Hawaiian.

The U.S., fourth at last month’s Grand Prix, opens with Japan on Saturday.