LEFT: EY reaches high in the 2004 Olympics.
photo curtesy of FIVB)

RIGHT: EY serves in match in 2008 Seoul Open.
(photo curtesy of FIVB)

Elaine Youngs is striving to compete in her third Olympics, the second straight in the beach game.  In 1996, EY was on the Indoor National Team that placed seventh. Following the Atlantic Olympics, EY turned her attention to the beach game and immediately made a mark, placing third in her first-ever beach event while partnering with fellow Bruin Liz Masakayan. EY and Liz grabbed a Bronze Medal in the 1999 World Championships, and the duo finished just 50 points shy of earning a berth in the 2000 Olympics (losing out to Holly McPeak and Misty May 2,606 to 2,556) despite being fourth in the world in the Olympic qualification. 

In 2004, EY and partner McPeak (also a former Bruin) were fourth in the world in the Olympic qualification, but this time it was enough to earn a spot in the Olympics in Sydney. The duo went 3-0 in pool play, and then 3-1 in bracket play, claiming a Bronze Medal. That marked the first hardware ever won by an American women's team.

Being the best in the country is nothing new for EY. At UCLA she led her team to a National Championship in 1991. As a senior in 1992, she was selected to her fourth straight AVCA All-America team. Before her only two other players were four-timeAll-Americans, and up until now just a total of 17 players have accomplished that.

LEFT: EY with a perfect pass during the 2008 Berlin Grand Slam (photo courtesy of FIVB)

RIGHT: EY with her potent serve with the Eiffel Tower serving as the backdrop (photo courtesy of FIVB)