Bob Samuelson | |||||
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Personal information | |||||
Nickname | Bob | ||||
Born | Robert Lewis Samuelson July 30, 1966 (age 58) Port Jefferson, New York, U.S. | ||||
Height | 6 ft 5 in (196 cm) | ||||
College / University | California State University, Northridge | ||||
Volleyball information | |||||
Position | Outside hitter | ||||
Number | 9 (national team) | ||||
Career | |||||
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National team | |||||
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Medal record |
Robert "Bob" Lewis Samuelson (born July 30, 1966, in Port Jefferson, New York)[1] is an American former volleyball player. Samuelson won a bronze medal with the United States national team in the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain.[2][3]
At the Barcelona Olympics, Samuelson was the central character in the controversial preliminary round match against Japan in which the United States won until the result was overturned on appeal.[4] A jury set up by the International Volleyball Federation ruled that by Samuelson having received his second yellow card, a red card and an automatic point to Japan should have been given, thus giving Japan the point they needed to win the match.[4] The entire United States men's team then shaved their heads in solidarity with Samuelson.[4]
College
[edit]After finishing high school at Westchester High School in Westchester, Los Angeles, Samuelson played volleyball for Los Angeles Pierce College, leading the team to the state title in 1986.[5] He was also selected as California's junior college player of the year.[5]
Samuelson then played college volleyball at Cal State Northridge (CSUN), where he was a two-time All-American.[6] He set the school record with 44 kills in a match against George Mason in 1989.[7]
Samuelson was inducted into the CSUN Hall of Fame in 1994.[6]
Japanese V.League
[edit]Samuelson left the national team to compete for the Suntory Sunbirds of the Japanese V.League in 1994, where he played for three seasons.[1][2] Samuelson led the team to the championship in his first season, and was named the league's Most Valuable Player.[1][2]
Beach volleyball
[edit]Samuelson briefly played beach volleyball in 1994, and then again between 2004 and 2006.[8]
Personal life
[edit]Samuelson is a father of triplet boys.[8]
Awards
[edit]- Two-time NCAA All-American
- FIVB World Cup bronze medal
- Olympic bronze medal
- FIVB World Championship bronze medal
- Japan V.League Champion
- Japan V.League MVP
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "Bob Samuelson". Olympedia. Archived from the original on March 6, 2023. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
- ^ a b c "Robert Lewis Samuelson". Olympics.com. Archived from the original on July 10, 2021. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
- ^ Preston, Mike (August 10, 1992). "U.S. Defeats Cuba; Brazil Wins Gold : Men's volleyball: Americans come back after losing first game. In championship match, the Dutch yield 14 consecutive points in third game". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 31, 2023. (subscription required)
- ^ a b c Bailey, Sandra (July 29, 1992). "Barcelona: Volleyball; 12 Angry (Bald) Men Set Out to Make Point". The New York Times. p. 11. Retrieved July 23, 2023. (subscription required)
- ^ a b Henderson, Martin (July 19, 1991). "Samuelson Turns Loss Into Asset for U.S. Volleyball Team". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 6, 2024. (subscription required)
- ^ a b "Members of the Matador Hall of Fame". CSUN Athletics. Archived from the original on November 4, 2022. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
- ^ "CSUN Sets Record in Volleyball Win". Los Angeles Times. February 15, 1992. Retrieved August 31, 2023. (subscription required)
- ^ a b "Bob Samuelson". Beach Volleyball Database. Archived from the original on April 26, 2021. Retrieved July 23, 2023.