Stacy Sykora
Encyclopedia
Stacy Denise Sykora (born June 24, 1977) is an American
volleyball player. She was a two-time All-American at Texas A&M University
and she competed in both the 2000
and the 2004 Olympics
as part of the U.S. women's national team
. She made her third Olympic appearance at the 2008 Olympics
, helping Team USA to a silver medal.
She won the gold medal with her team at the 2001 and 2010 FIVB World Grand Prix.
, to Ed Sykora and Sherian Richards. She was raised in Burleson
(a Fort Worth suburb) with her two older sisters, Kim and Keri. As a student at Burleson High School, Sykora dreamed of becoming an Olympic athlete, but was unwilling to choose between volleyball, basketball, and track and field. After graduating from high school, she accepted a scholarship to play volleyball at Texas A&M University under coach Laurie Flachmeier Corbelli, a member of the USA Volleyball team which won the silver medal at the 1984 Summer Olympics.
, Sykora competed in volleyball, basketball
and track, winning a Big 12 Conference
title in the heptathlon
. As a true freshman Sykora played in all but one of the volleyball team's 30 matches,leading the team in kills in four matches and in digs three times.
As a sophomore, Sykora set a school record with 24 digs in a three-game loss to Michigan State in the NCAA Tournament. Against nationally-ranked Loyola Marymount, she posted a career-high 30 kills, leading the Aggies to victory. After leading the Big 12
in digs with an average of 4.01 digs per game, Sykora was named that Texas A&M Volleyball defensive player of the year, and earned AVCA All-District 5 honors.
In her junior year, Sykora led the team and ranked second in the Big 12 in digs, with an average of 3.80 per game. For her performance throughout the year she was named MVP of the Georgia Invitational, First-Team All Big 12, AVCA All-District 5, and AVCA Second-Team All-American.
The following year, her last year of college eligibility, Sykora ranked 9th in the country in digs per game (4.37). She also led the Aggies in kills, with 4.74 per game, and earned First-Team All Big 12 honors. She was also named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association
's All-District 5 team and was an AVCA Second-Team All-American.
. Although the team placed fourth at the Olympics, Sykora was ranked second amongst all the players for her 123 digs, including a career-high 26 against Korea in the five-set quarterfinal win. In the bronze medal match against Brazil, Sykora posted her 1000th career dig.
At the close of the international competitive season, Sykora joined the professional volleyball team Mirabilandia Teodora Ravenna in Italy's Serie A1.
. Sykora was named Best Digger at the Montreux Volley Masters.
and Cuba
and losing to China
, the Dominican Republic
, and Russia
). Their 2-3 record landed them the lowest seed in quarterfinal play, matching them with unbeaten Brazil. After losing their first two sets to Brazil in the quarterfinals, the US team won the next two, but dropped the final set to Brazil, 15-6, leaving the US team tied for fifth in the Games. Despite the team's lackluster showing, Sykora's performance earned her the Best Digger honor for the Olympic games. Following the Athens Games, Sykora left the US national team.
in Japan. The top three teams at the world cup will play at the 2008 Summer Olympics
in Beijing
. The U.S. team finished in 3rd place. In the medal round, the team eventually reached the gold medal match, losing to Brazil and capturing the silver medal.
.
, Sykora was injured when the bus carrying her team overturned on its way to the first match for the semifinals of the Brazilian Volleyball Superleague
on April 12. She was taken to Hospital Sírio-Libanês
where it was detected that she had head trauma and some bleeding in the left side of the brain. The player was sedated and admitted to the Intensive care unit
. After a week in the ICU, Sykora's state had improved and she was able to breathe and eat on her own and could walk around the hospital's halls with the help of nurses. Sykora left the ICU and was transferred to a semi-intensive care unit on April 19. She was finally discharged from hospital on May 6.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
volleyball player. She was a two-time All-American at Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University is a coeducational public research university located in College Station, Texas . It is the flagship institution of the Texas A&M University System. The sixth-largest university in the United States, A&M's enrollment for Fall 2011 was over 50,000 for the first time in school...
and she competed in both the 2000
2000 Summer Olympics
The Sydney 2000 Summer Olympic Games or the Millennium Games/Games of the New Millennium, officially known as the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated between 15 September and 1 October 2000 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
and the 2004 Olympics
2004 Summer Olympics
The 2004 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, was a premier international multi-sport event held in Athens, Greece from August 13 to August 29, 2004 with the motto Welcome Home. 10,625 athletes competed, some 600 more than expected, accompanied by 5,501 team...
as part of the U.S. women's national team
United States women's national volleyball team
The United States women's national volleyball team represents the United States of America in international volleyball competitions and friendly games, and is governed by USA Volleyball.-Current Squad:...
. She made her third Olympic appearance at the 2008 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...
, helping Team USA to a silver medal.
She won the gold medal with her team at the 2001 and 2010 FIVB World Grand Prix.
Early years
Stacy Sykora was born in Fort Worth, TexasFort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth is the 16th-largest city in the United States of America and the fifth-largest city in the state of Texas. Located in North Central Texas, just southeast of the Texas Panhandle, the city is a cultural gateway into the American West and covers nearly in Tarrant, Parker, Denton, and...
, to Ed Sykora and Sherian Richards. She was raised in Burleson
Burleson, Texas
Burleson is a city in Johnson and Tarrant counties in the U.S. state of Texas. It is considered a suburb of Fort Worth and is located in the rapidly growing suburban expanse just south of the city. As of the 2010 census, the population was 36,690, having increased from the 20,976 residents counted...
(a Fort Worth suburb) with her two older sisters, Kim and Keri. As a student at Burleson High School, Sykora dreamed of becoming an Olympic athlete, but was unwilling to choose between volleyball, basketball, and track and field. After graduating from high school, she accepted a scholarship to play volleyball at Texas A&M University under coach Laurie Flachmeier Corbelli, a member of the USA Volleyball team which won the silver medal at the 1984 Summer Olympics.
Texas A&M University
While attending Texas A&M UniversityTexas A&M University
Texas A&M University is a coeducational public research university located in College Station, Texas . It is the flagship institution of the Texas A&M University System. The sixth-largest university in the United States, A&M's enrollment for Fall 2011 was over 50,000 for the first time in school...
, Sykora competed in volleyball, basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
and track, winning a Big 12 Conference
Big 12 Conference
The Big 12 Conference is a college athletic conference of ten schools located in the Central United States, with its headquarters located in Las Colinas, a community in the Dallas, Texas suburb of Irving...
title in the heptathlon
Heptathlon
A heptathlon is a track and field athletics combined events contest made up of seven events. The name derives from the Greek hepta and athlon . A competitor in a heptathlon is referred to as a heptathlete.-Women's Heptathlon:...
. As a true freshman Sykora played in all but one of the volleyball team's 30 matches,leading the team in kills in four matches and in digs three times.
As a sophomore, Sykora set a school record with 24 digs in a three-game loss to Michigan State in the NCAA Tournament. Against nationally-ranked Loyola Marymount, she posted a career-high 30 kills, leading the Aggies to victory. After leading the Big 12
Big 12 Conference
The Big 12 Conference is a college athletic conference of ten schools located in the Central United States, with its headquarters located in Las Colinas, a community in the Dallas, Texas suburb of Irving...
in digs with an average of 4.01 digs per game, Sykora was named that Texas A&M Volleyball defensive player of the year, and earned AVCA All-District 5 honors.
In her junior year, Sykora led the team and ranked second in the Big 12 in digs, with an average of 3.80 per game. For her performance throughout the year she was named MVP of the Georgia Invitational, First-Team All Big 12, AVCA All-District 5, and AVCA Second-Team All-American.
The following year, her last year of college eligibility, Sykora ranked 9th in the country in digs per game (4.37). She also led the Aggies in kills, with 4.74 per game, and earned First-Team All Big 12 honors. She was also named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association
American Volleyball Coaches Association
The American Volleyball Coaches Association is an organization of nearly 5,000 members, incorporated as a private non-profit educational corporation in 1981, as the Collegiate Volleyball Coaches Association....
's All-District 5 team and was an AVCA Second-Team All-American.
1999
In late 1998 international volleyball introduced a new position, known as the libero, which specialized in defensive skills. Sykora's coach, Corbelli, encouraged her to try out for this new position on the US volleyball team. In January 1999 Sykora joined the USA women's volleyball team playing this new position. During her first year of international play, she recorded a team-high 456 digs, including 153 at the World Cup. She was named the Best Receiver at the BCV Volley Masters, also placing third in digging. While on the Japan Tour, she recorded a career-high 22 digs in the June 30 match, before becoming the team's primary passer and defensive player on the bronze-medal winning Pan American Games squad.2000
In her second year of professional competition, Sykora again led the team in digs, with 553. She was named best Libero at the Nike Americas' Volleyball Challenge, helping her team to qualify for the 2000 Sydney Olympics2000 Summer Olympics
The Sydney 2000 Summer Olympic Games or the Millennium Games/Games of the New Millennium, officially known as the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated between 15 September and 1 October 2000 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
. Although the team placed fourth at the Olympics, Sykora was ranked second amongst all the players for her 123 digs, including a career-high 26 against Korea in the five-set quarterfinal win. In the bronze medal match against Brazil, Sykora posted her 1000th career dig.
2001
The following year, Sykora earned the Best Libero Award at the Montreux Volley Masters after leading both the serve-receive and digging categories. She was named the Best Digger at both the World Grand Prix and the World Grand Champions Cup, and earned the Best Receiver award at the NORCECA Championships. With her assistance, the team won first place at the NORCECA Championships, the World Grand Prix, and the World Championships Qualifying Cup.At the close of the international competitive season, Sykora joined the professional volleyball team Mirabilandia Teodora Ravenna in Italy's Serie A1.
2002
In 2002, Sykora helped her team to the silver medal at the Women's Volleyball World Championships. She spent the offseason playing professionally for Starfin Ravenna in Italy's Serie A1.2003
During the 2003 season, Sykora led the USA volleyball team in digs (533) and digs per set (3.46), and finished sixth on the team with 89 total points in 11 matches (85 kills, 3 blocks, 1 ace) as the United States went 8-3. Her team earned the gold medal at the Pan American Cup and the NORCECA Zone Championships and the bronze medal at the World Grand Prix and the World Cup, earning the USA a berth in the 2004 Athens Olympics2004 Summer Olympics
The 2004 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, was a premier international multi-sport event held in Athens, Greece from August 13 to August 29, 2004 with the motto Welcome Home. 10,625 athletes competed, some 600 more than expected, accompanied by 5,501 team...
. Sykora was named Best Digger at the Montreux Volley Masters.
2004
Although the US national team was ranked first entering the 2004 Athens Olympics, they played poorly, losing three of their first five matches (beating GermanyGermany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
and losing to China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, the Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
, and Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
). Their 2-3 record landed them the lowest seed in quarterfinal play, matching them with unbeaten Brazil. After losing their first two sets to Brazil in the quarterfinals, the US team won the next two, but dropped the final set to Brazil, 15-6, leaving the US team tied for fifth in the Games. Despite the team's lackluster showing, Sykora's performance earned her the Best Digger honor for the Olympic games. Following the Athens Games, Sykora left the US national team.
2007
After being three years away from the program, Sykora was named to the 12-player roster of the U.S. women's national team that played at the 2007 FIVB Women's World Cup2007 FIVB Women's World Cup
-Qualifying:12 teams participated in the World Cup:*The five champions of their respective continental championships in 2007: , , , , *Four highest-ranked second-place teams of their respective continental championships in 2007: , , , *The host nation's team:...
in Japan. The top three teams at the world cup will play at 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
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
. The U.S. team finished in 3rd place. In the medal round, the team eventually reached the gold medal match, losing to Brazil and capturing the silver medal.
2010
She was named Best Digger and Best Libero at the 2010 World Championship2010 FIVB Women's World Championship
The 2010 FIVB Women's Volleyball World Championship was the 16th edition of the FIVB World Championship. Like the previous 2006 FIVB Women's World Championship, the 2010 edition also was held in Japan, from October 29, 2010 to November 14, 2010, though the range of venues and locations was modified...
.
2011
After some time playing for Brazilian volleyball team Vôlei FuturoVôlei Futuro
The Grêmio Recreativo e Esportivo Reunidas, currently playing as Vôlei Futuro is the volleyball team of Araçatuba, São Paulo.-2011-2012 Women team:As of June 2011* Coach: Paulo Coco* 1st Assistant coach: Jorge Edson Souza de Brito...
, Sykora was injured when the bus carrying her team overturned on its way to the first match for the semifinals of the Brazilian Volleyball Superleague
Superliga Brasileira de Voleibol
The Superliga Brasileira de Voleibol is the top level Brazilian volleyball competition and it is organized by the Brazilian Volleyball Confederation. There are both men's and women's competitions...
on April 12. She was taken to Hospital Sírio-Libanês
Hospital Sírio-Libanês
The Hospital Sírio-Libanês is one of the most important hospitals in Brazil and South America, located in the Bela Vista district, next to Paulista Avenue, central zone of São Paulo city, Brazil....
where it was detected that she had head trauma and some bleeding in the left side of the brain. The player was sedated and admitted to the Intensive care unit
Intensive Care Unit
thumb|220px|ICU roomAn intensive-care unit , critical-care unit , intensive-therapy unit/intensive-treatment unit is a specialized department in a hospital that provides intensive-care medicine...
. After a week in the ICU, Sykora's state had improved and she was able to breathe and eat on her own and could walk around the hospital's halls with the help of nurses. Sykora left the ICU and was transferred to a semi-intensive care unit on April 19. She was finally discharged from hospital on May 6.
Individuals
- 2001 FIVB World Grand Prix "Best Digger"
- 2001 NORCECA Championship "Best Receiver"
- 2004 Olympic Games "Best Digger"
- 2010 FIVB Women's World Championship "Best Libero"
- 2010 FIVB Women's World Championship "Best Digger"