Meet the Class of 2017
HOLYOKE, Mass. (July 28, 2017) – The International Volleyball Hall of Fame announced today the names of five volleyball legends who will be inducted as the Class of 2017 into its hallowed halls on November 18 in Holyoke, Massachusetts USA, the sport’s birthplace.
The 32nd induction class consists of male beach player Jose Loiola of Brazil, male indoor volleyball player Ronald Zwerver of the Netherlands, female indoor volleyball player Irina Kirillova Parkhomchuk of Russia, coach Anders Kristiansson of Sweden, and leader Jizhong Wei of China. Kristiansson is the first person from Sweden to be inducted.
“The 2017 Volleyball Hall of Fame class represents five remarkable individuals who were among volleyball’s elite over a long period of time on the international stage,” said Doug Beal, co-chair of the International Volleyball Hall of Fame selection committee. “This induction class represents and upholds the highest qualities of the game through its athletes, coaches, and leaders and what the future generations of greats can look upon as true icons of the sport.”
The induction class is elected by a vote of past International Volleyball Hall of Fame inductees. All told, 135 individuals representing 23 different countries will have been inducted into the International Volleyball Hall of Fame after this year’s enshrinement ceremony.
“The class of 2017 honors a diverse group of international volleyball legends that include both indoor and beach disciplines, a coach, and a leader,” said George Mulry, executive director of the International Volleyball Hall of Fame. “These remarkable individuals have brought distinction to the sport over a number of years and we are humbled to honor them here in the birthplace of volleyball.”
“This 2017 class of inductees to the International Volleyball Hall of Fame has a perfect balance between indoor and beach, a remarkable coach, and longtime leader of FIVB,” said Al Monaco, co-chair of the International Volleyball Hall of Fame selection committee. “All have had lengthy careers with great successes, and each put a special and personal stamp on our sport. A very deserving class in every way.”
The International Volleyball Hall of Fame induction festivities, presented by Spalding, include a Mayor’s reception on Friday, Nov. 17, at Wistariahurst Museum in Holyoke, followed by the Ring and Plaque Ceremony inside the International Volleyball Hall of Fame from 11a.m. to 12:00 p.m. ET on Saturday, Nov. 18, with the formal Enshrinement Dinner and Ceremony taking place the evening of Nov. 18 following the Mizuno Meet & Greet at 5 p.m. ET.
The International Volleyball Hall of Fame, incorporated in 1978, continues to create a diversely representative institution with inductees of both genders and disciplines – indoor volleyball and beach volleyball – coming from a wide range of countries. For additional information on attending the 2017 International Volleyball Hall of Fame induction ceremony, contact the Volleyball Hall of Fame at info@volleyhall.org or click here for the Induction Celebration calendar.
The 32nd induction class consists of male beach player Jose Loiola of Brazil, male indoor volleyball player Ronald Zwerver of the Netherlands, female indoor volleyball player Irina Kirillova Parkhomchuk of Russia, coach Anders Kristiansson of Sweden, and leader Jizhong Wei of China. Kristiansson is the first person from Sweden to be inducted.
“The 2017 Volleyball Hall of Fame class represents five remarkable individuals who were among volleyball’s elite over a long period of time on the international stage,” said Doug Beal, co-chair of the International Volleyball Hall of Fame selection committee. “This induction class represents and upholds the highest qualities of the game through its athletes, coaches, and leaders and what the future generations of greats can look upon as true icons of the sport.”
The induction class is elected by a vote of past International Volleyball Hall of Fame inductees. All told, 135 individuals representing 23 different countries will have been inducted into the International Volleyball Hall of Fame after this year’s enshrinement ceremony.
“The class of 2017 honors a diverse group of international volleyball legends that include both indoor and beach disciplines, a coach, and a leader,” said George Mulry, executive director of the International Volleyball Hall of Fame. “These remarkable individuals have brought distinction to the sport over a number of years and we are humbled to honor them here in the birthplace of volleyball.”
“This 2017 class of inductees to the International Volleyball Hall of Fame has a perfect balance between indoor and beach, a remarkable coach, and longtime leader of FIVB,” said Al Monaco, co-chair of the International Volleyball Hall of Fame selection committee. “All have had lengthy careers with great successes, and each put a special and personal stamp on our sport. A very deserving class in every way.”
The International Volleyball Hall of Fame induction festivities, presented by Spalding, include a Mayor’s reception on Friday, Nov. 17, at Wistariahurst Museum in Holyoke, followed by the Ring and Plaque Ceremony inside the International Volleyball Hall of Fame from 11a.m. to 12:00 p.m. ET on Saturday, Nov. 18, with the formal Enshrinement Dinner and Ceremony taking place the evening of Nov. 18 following the Mizuno Meet & Greet at 5 p.m. ET.
The International Volleyball Hall of Fame, incorporated in 1978, continues to create a diversely representative institution with inductees of both genders and disciplines – indoor volleyball and beach volleyball – coming from a wide range of countries. For additional information on attending the 2017 International Volleyball Hall of Fame induction ceremony, contact the Volleyball Hall of Fame at info@volleyhall.org or click here for the Induction Celebration calendar.
JOSE LOIOLA (BRAZIL) - MALE BEACH PLAYERBrazil’s José Loiola was one of the most passionate beach volleyball players of the 1990’s. Loiola won 55 World Tour and AVP gold medals playing with some of the best the game has ever seen. Loiola and partner Emanuel Rego – a 2016 IVHF Hall of Fame inductee - won the World Championship title and the World Tour in 1999 and finished ninth at the Sydney Olympic Games in 2000. The following year Loiola claimed silver with partner Ricardo Santos at the World Championships in Klagenfurt. Named the Brazilian Junior National Champion in 1986, Loiola’s impact on the game outside of Brazil was quickly noticed as he was named the AVP "Rookie of the Year" in 1993 – the first international recipient of the award. Loiola was named the South American Beach Volleyball Champion in 1993 - Second place at the 1993 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships in Brazil with partner Eduardo Bacil and Fourth place at the 1992 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Series in Italy.
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RONALD ZWERVER (NETHERLANDS) - MALE INDOOR PLAYERZwerver, who is considered one of the best volleyball players in Dutch history, was a gold medalist at the 1996 Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta. He had previously won a silver medal with The Netherlands at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. Zwerver, a three-time Olympian, made his Olympic debut at the 1988 Seoul Olympics helping the Netherlands to a fifth place finish. After playing in 463 matches for the Dutch National Team, as well as six seasons in Italy and one in Belgium, he retired in 1999. He was named the Best Attacker in two World Championships – 1990 and 1994 – as well as the World League in 1990 and 1991. Zwerver was also named the Best Server at the Olympics in 1992, the World League in 1991, and the European Championships in 1993. To cap off his career highlights, he was named the MVP of the 1992 Olympic Games.
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IRINA KIRILLOVA PARKHOMCHUK (RUSSIA) – FEMALE INDOOR PLAYEROne of the world’s best setters in the 1980’s and 90’s, Irina Kirillova had golden hands in the golden age of the Russia Women’s National Team. Kirillova helped lead Russia to a stunning 3-0 straight set defeat of China in the semi-finals of the 1988 Seoul Olympics followed by an incredible five-set comeback win over Peru to secure the gold medal. She was named MVP of the 1990 FIVB World Championship in China in which the Soviet Union took home the victory. Kirillova later went on to compete for Croatia, helping the team to a fourth place finish at the 1995 FIVB World Cup. She won European gold in 1989 and 1991 and has won 27 different trophies with the numerous clubs she had played. She was also the assistant coach to her husband, Giovanni Caprara, when the Russian team won the world gold at the 2006 FIVB World Championship and was later named head coach of the Croatia Women’s National Team in 2011.
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ANDERS KRISTIANSSON (SWEDEN) – COACHAnders Kristiansson is a coaching legend in his native Sweden. He has 26 combined men’s and women’s championships in Sweden; 15 Titles in Belgium; 3 in Greece; and 4 CEV Champions League Final 4’s with two trips to the finals. Kristiansson coached the Swedish National Team to a seventh place finish at the 1988 Seoul Olympics and to silver at the 1989 European Championships, the nation’s best ever performance at a major international tournament. The team’s run at the 1989 European Championships included an incredible semifinal defeat of the powerhouse Soviet Union – a team that won the previous 11 European Championships. He was awarded the best sport coach in Sweden 1986 and received the King of Sweden’s Medal of 8th size in 1989. In 2013, Kristiansson was named head coach of Toyoda Gosei Trefuerza in Japan’s V Premier League leading the team to a 3rd place finish in 2015 followed by its first ever championship in 2016 and a runner-up finish in 2017.
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JIZHONG WEI (CHINA) – LEADERJizhong Wei of China became the third President of the FIVB after the 31st FIVB World Congress in Dubai in 2008. Wei ushered in a new era of development for the FIVB with specific concentration made to support national federations and confederations in their activities and the growth of volleyball around the world. He was active in the FIVB as an FIVB Board of Administration member from 1986 to 2008, Executive Committee member from 1996 to 2008 including serving as First Executive Vice President from 2002-2008, became member of FIVB Legal Commission in 1982 serving as Secretary and President through his term and continues to work on behalf of the FIVB as FIVB Honorary Life President. Wei served as the Deputy Secretary General of the Chinese Volleyball Association experiencing five consecutive years of gold medals at World Cup, Olympic Games and World Championship’s with the Chinese Women’s National Team. He served as President of the Asian Volleyball Confederation from 2001-2008 and various roles with the Chinese Olympic Committee including Secretary General and Vice President.
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