Clay Stanley
Encyclopedia
Clayton “Clay” Iona Stanley (born January 20, 1978, in Honolulu, Hawaii
) is an American
volleyball
player. Stanley has been on the U.S. men's national team
since 2000 and has made two Olympic
appearances, in 2004 and 2008. He was the Most Valuable Player of the 2008 Summer Olympics
in Beijing, China, after guiding his team to the gold medal.
, to Jon Stanley and Sandra Haine. He has three brothers (Reese Haine, Wil Stanley and Jon Stanley), and two sisters (Taeya Stanley and Natasha Haine).
Stanley is a graduate of Kaiser High School in Honolulu and did not play volleyball in high school, as the school did not have a boys' team when he was there.
Stanley's father played on 1968 men's Olympic volleyball team
and is a member of the Volleyball Hall of Fame
. Stanley's step-grandfather, Tom Haine, was also on the 1968 men's Olympic volleyball team. His mother, Sandra Haine, played professionally for the Denver Comets as well as for Canada's national team. With Stanley's first Olympic appearance in Athens, Greece, he and his father became the first father-son Olympians in USA volleyball history.
, where he majored in Spanish
. Stanley was a freshman in 1997, but redshirted
his sophomore year. He decided to forego his 2000 senior redshirt year to play professionally.
In 1999, Stanley broke Hawaii's single-match kill record with 50 kills against UCLA. In 2000, he was Third-Team All-Mountain Pacific Sports Federation
and ranked in the Top 15 of the nation with a 5.53 kill average. He led the MPSF in aces and tied team record with 54. He finished his career 10th on all-time kill list at Hawaii.
in Beijing, China, helping Team USA to its first gold medal in 20 years. For his performances during the tournament, he was selected as the MVP, Best Scorer, and Best Server of the Olympics.
With the professional club Iraklis Thessaloniki
, he won the silver medal at the 2004–05 CEV Champions League and was awarded "Best Scorer" and "Best Server". The next season he also won the silver medal and was awarded "Best Scorer".
Playing with Dynamo-Tattransgaz
he won the 2007–08 Indesit Champions League and also was individually awarded "Most Valuable Player".
(2001–2004) Iraklis Thessaloniki
(2004–2006) Zenit Kazan (2006–2010) Ural Ufa
(2010–2011)
Honolulu, Hawaii
Honolulu is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Hawaii. Honolulu is the southernmost major U.S. city. Although the name "Honolulu" refers to the urban area on the southeastern shore of the island of Oahu, the city and county government are consolidated as the City and...
) is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
volleyball
Volleyball
Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
player. Stanley has been on the U.S. men's national team
United States men's national volleyball team
The United States men's national volleyball team is the national team for the United States of America, it is governed by USA Volleyball....
since 2000 and has made two Olympic
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
appearances, in 2004 and 2008. He was the Most Valuable Player of the 2008 Summer Olympics
2008 Summer Olympics
The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
in Beijing, China, after guiding his team to the gold medal.
Personal life
Stanley was born in Honolulu, HawaiiHonolulu, Hawaii
Honolulu is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Hawaii. Honolulu is the southernmost major U.S. city. Although the name "Honolulu" refers to the urban area on the southeastern shore of the island of Oahu, the city and county government are consolidated as the City and...
, to Jon Stanley and Sandra Haine. He has three brothers (Reese Haine, Wil Stanley and Jon Stanley), and two sisters (Taeya Stanley and Natasha Haine).
Stanley is a graduate of Kaiser High School in Honolulu and did not play volleyball in high school, as the school did not have a boys' team when he was there.
Stanley's father played on 1968 men's Olympic volleyball team
Volleyball at the 1968 Summer Olympics
Volleyball at the 1968 Summer Olympics was represented by two events: men's team and women's team. The Olympic Committee initially dropped volleyball for the 1968 Olympics, meeting protests.-Medal table:-Medal summary:-External links:*...
and is a member of the Volleyball Hall of Fame
Volleyball Hall of Fame
The Volleyball Hall of Fame was founded to honor extraordinary players, coaches, officials, and leaders who have made significant contributions to the game of volleyball. The hall is located in Holyoke, Massachusetts, where volleyball was invented in 1895 by William G...
. Stanley's step-grandfather, Tom Haine, was also on the 1968 men's Olympic volleyball team. His mother, Sandra Haine, played professionally for the Denver Comets as well as for Canada's national team. With Stanley's first Olympic appearance in Athens, Greece, he and his father became the first father-son Olympians in USA volleyball history.
College
Stanley attended the University of HawaiiUniversity of Hawaii at Manoa
The University of Hawaii at Mānoa is a public, co-educational university and is the flagship campus of the greater University of Hawaii system...
, where he majored in Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
. Stanley was a freshman in 1997, but redshirted
Redshirt (college sports)
Redshirt is a term used in American college athletics that refers to a delay or suspension of an athlete's participation in order to lengthen his or her period of eligibility...
his sophomore year. He decided to forego his 2000 senior redshirt year to play professionally.
In 1999, Stanley broke Hawaii's single-match kill record with 50 kills against UCLA. In 2000, he was Third-Team All-Mountain Pacific Sports Federation
Mountain Pacific Sports Federation
The Mountain Pacific Sports Federation is a college athletic conference whose member teams are located in the western United States. The conference participates at the NCAA Division I level.-History:...
and ranked in the Top 15 of the nation with a 5.53 kill average. He led the MPSF in aces and tied team record with 54. He finished his career 10th on all-time kill list at Hawaii.
International
Playing at the 2004 Summer Olympics, Stanley led the team and finished fifth overall in scoring with 110 points on 83 kills, 17 aces and 10 blocks. His 17 aces ranked second among all players in the tournament. At the 2008 Summer Olympics2008 Summer Olympics
The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
in Beijing, China, helping Team USA to its first gold medal in 20 years. For his performances during the tournament, he was selected as the MVP, Best Scorer, and Best Server of the Olympics.
With the professional club Iraklis Thessaloniki
Iraklis VC
Iraklis Thessaloniki Volleyball Club is a volleyball team based in Thessaloniki, Macedonia, Greece. It plays in A1 Greek Volleyball League and in CEV Champions League. Founded in the 1920s, it evolved in one of the most successful departments of G.S...
, he won the silver medal at the 2004–05 CEV Champions League and was awarded "Best Scorer" and "Best Server". The next season he also won the silver medal and was awarded "Best Scorer".
Playing with Dynamo-Tattransgaz
Dynamo-Tattransgaz Kazan
VC Zenit-Kazan is a professional Volleyball team based in Kazan, Russia. It plays in Russian Volleyball Super League...
he won the 2007–08 Indesit Champions League and also was individually awarded "Most Valuable Player".
Clubs
Panathinaikos AthensPanathinaikos VC
Panathinaikos Volleyball Club is the professional volleyball team of Panathinaikos, the Athens-based multi-sport club. Founded in 1919, it is one of the oldest volleyball clubs in Greece.-History:...
(2001–2004) Iraklis Thessaloniki
Iraklis VC
Iraklis Thessaloniki Volleyball Club is a volleyball team based in Thessaloniki, Macedonia, Greece. It plays in A1 Greek Volleyball League and in CEV Champions League. Founded in the 1920s, it evolved in one of the most successful departments of G.S...
(2004–2006) Zenit Kazan (2006–2010) Ural Ufa
Ural Ufa
Ural Ufa is a Russian volleyball club based in Ufa. The club was founded in 1992. Since 1996 the club plays in the Super League, the top Russian league.- Team roster season 2010–11 :...
(2010–2011)
Individuals
- 2010 FIVB World Championship "Best Server"
- 2008 Summer Olympics "Most Valuable Player"
- 2008 Summer Olympics "Best Scorer"
- 2008 Summer Olympics "Best Server"
- 2007–08 CEV Indesit Champions League Final Four "Most Valuable Player"
- 2005–06 CEV Champions League "Best Scorer"
- 2004–05 CEV Champions League "Best Scorer"
- 2004–05 CEV Champions League "Best Server"
Senior team
- 2009 FIVB World Grand Champions Cup2009 FIVB Women's World Grand Champions CupThe 2009 FIVB Women's World Grand Champions Cup was held in Tokyo and Fukuoka, Japan from November 10 to November 15, 2009.-Teams:-Competition formula:...
,
Bronze medal - 2008 Summer OlympicsVolleyball at the 2008 Summer OlympicsVolleyball competitions at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing were held from 9 to 24 August 2008. Indoor volleyball events were held at Capital Indoor Stadium and Beijing Institute of Technology Gymnasium...
,
Gold medal - 2008 FIVB World League, Gold medal
- 2007 NORCECA Championship2007 Men's NORCECA Volleyball ChampionshipThe 2007 Men's NORCECA Volleyball Championship was the 20th edition of the Men's Continental Volleyball Tournament, played by eight countries from September 16 to September 21, 2007 in the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, United States.-Competing nations:...
, Gold medal - 2007 America's Cup2007 Volleyball America's CupThe 2007 Volleyball America's Cup was the sixth edition of the annual Men's Volleyball Tournament, played by six countries from North, Central and South America...
, Gold medal - 2007 FIVB World League, Bronze medal
- 2005 NORCECA Championship2005 Men's NORCECA Volleyball ChampionshipThe 2005 Men's NORCECA Volleyball Championship was the 19th edition of the Men's Continental Volleyball Tournament, played by eight countries in the NORCECA zone, which encompasses North America, Central America and the Caribbean, from September 8 to September 16, 2005 in the MTS Centre in...
, Gold medal - 2005 FIVB World Grand Champions Cup2005 FIVB Men's World Grand Champions CupThe 2005 FIVB Men's World Grand Champions Cup was held in Nagano and Tokyo, Japan from November 22 to November 27, 2005.-Teams:-Competition formula:...
,
Silver medal
Clubs
- 2007–08 CEV Indesit Champions League - Champion, Dynamo-TattransgazDynamo-Tattransgaz KazanVC Zenit-Kazan is a professional Volleyball team based in Kazan, Russia. It plays in Russian Volleyball Super League...
- 2005–06 CEV Champions League - Runner-up, with Iraklis ThessalonikiIraklis VCIraklis Thessaloniki Volleyball Club is a volleyball team based in Thessaloniki, Macedonia, Greece. It plays in A1 Greek Volleyball League and in CEV Champions League. Founded in the 1920s, it evolved in one of the most successful departments of G.S...
- 2004–05 CEV Champions League - Runner-up, with Iraklis Thessaloniki