It's time to reclaim our game

The U.S. volleyball program is enjoying an unexpected resurgence here. And it’s about time.

Volleyball originated in 1895 in the same Massachusetts YMCA gym where basketball was invented four years earlier. Unlike basketball, America has not dominated the volleyball competition at the Olympic Games.

Since volleyball was added to the Olympics in 1964, the U.S. men have won gold medals just twice, 1984 and 1988, and they added a bronze in 1992.

The U.S. women have never won a gold medal, taking the silver in 1984, and a bronze in 1992.

We’ve done better at beach volleyball. Since it entered the Olympics in 1996, the U.S. men have won golds in 1996 and 2000, and a silver in 1996. U.S. women won gold and bronze medals in 2004.

But at the Beijing Olympics, the Americans are reminding the world that volleyball is our game. The U.S. men are 6-0 in pool play and will take on Russia in the semifinals on Friday. The U.S. women swept Cuba in the semifinals Thursday and will play for the gold medal Saturday night.

Americans Phil Dalhausser and Todd Rogers will face a Brazilian pair Friday for the gold medal in men’s beach volleyball. And Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh won their second straight gold medal – and 108th consecutive match – downing a Chinese duo in a steady rainstorm Thursday.

Kerri Walsh - two-time gold medalist in beach volleyball

I can understand why we struggle in sports like field hockey and team handball, which were originated overseas. But volleyball is our homegrown sport. It’s high time we bring the volleyball gold medals back home where they belong.