h o l ly M c p e a k

by Quinn roberTs

A part of the professional beach volleyball scene for close to two decades, Holly McPeak helped bring the sport to new heights. Now, over two years after her retirement from the game, McPeak is officially in domestic bliss, still living in Manhattan Beach, married and raising her young son. McPeak is the first one to admit that she doesnt get out and play on the sand as much as she would like, yet with the Manhattan Beach Open (the crown jewel of beach volleyball) breezing through town last weekend, South Bay Digs figured what better time to catch up with the legend to get her thoughts on the South Bay, the future of professional beach volleyball and just how much she still loves the sport.

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how have you seen the volleyball scene in the south bay change from when you grew up here to now? It has changed so much. When I grew up here it was a lifestyle. We would go with our parents to the beach on the weekend and wed spend the entire day playing volleyball at the beach. Wed boogie board and eat lunch on the beach. that is how Id spend my days. When I got older, Id be on the beach from 9a.m. to 7p.m. playing volleyball with anyone on Marine St. that is where I grew up playing and I loved it. Everyone was playing for the love of the sport and that is when I fell in love with the sport. It was just a fun way of life and when I got done with school I was lucky that it turned into a career quick. What have been some of the biggest changes you have seen while living here? Manhattan Beach has totally changed since I grew up here. It used to be a sleepy beach town. It was a great place to grow up, but now it is no longer a secret. Everyone knows about it. Its the spot. did you ever think that beach volleyball could turn into a career? I always knew I could play, but did I think it would be a career for me? No. Did I think Id travel around the world playing? No. I just had no expectations and fortunate for me, I started doing pretty well right away to do it full time and make enough money for basically 20 years. Me growing up, I felt fortunate to play beach volleyball. I was getting paid to do something I loved. I was playing for free all summer long when I grew up. your story is so great as well because of your size. in a sport full of tall athletes, you were only 5ft. 7in.? Indoor they always say they arent going to look at you if you are under 5ft. 10in., well Im not even 5ft. 7in. I felt and I truly believed that I was athletic and skilled enough to be able to compete. I was confident in myself and did the work. I knew I could make a difference and help my team win. I didnt let it bother me even though I heard that Id never win on the beach. It didnt even faze me. I just ignored it and did what I was going to do. I was a student of the game and figured out how I wanted to train. By the time I was done with college, I came up with a really good system to maximize what I had because I wasnt the best volleyball player. I worked hard and approached the game really well. I felt like I was maximizing what I had and thats what my career always has been. did you take special pride in knowing you succeeded when people didnt think you could? I loved proving people wrong. It wasnt my motivating factor. I thought it was funny. When you are the best, people are going to do whatever they can to knock you down. It is just something I had to deal with it. you were always so gritty when you played. do you feel like that is what personified how you were on the court? I was all about doing whatever it took. I remember my practices were three hours and they were

grueling. I would then go eat lunch and then go to the gym. I was training 51/2 hours a day because I wanted to be the best. I felt like no one was going to outwork me in terms of conditioning. I had the reps and the desire and the drive to want to be the best. I wanted it more and prepared myself to win. I came from a very competitive family with a twin brother and younger sister and we competed with everything. that was just in me. I just had killer instinct from the beginning.

I WaS a faN, a gIRLfRIEND aND THEN a PLayER. I felt really comfortable in the volleyball scene and i wasnt intimidated by anyone.

the sport has completely changed since I grew up. Now that it is an Olympic sport, it is played all over the world. the professional tour has been a roller coaster and continues to be. For me its sad because for 20 years, I worked really hard to be the best ambassador for my sport and my husband (Leonard Armato) did too, so to see the sport, specifically see the AVP tour go bankrupt last year, was heartbreaking. Players and promoters cant get on the same page. We have been here before. A lifestyle sport like beach volleyball, you cant afford to do that too many times to your fans, sponsors and tv. It is sad to see even though I had already retired in 2009. did you see it coming? I knew it was coming. I think the saddest thing is that so many people grew up watching the sport and high school and college girls who dreamt about playing ball and now they are still trying to make it happen on a smaller and more difficult scale. In terms of the beach tour, it is in a tough spot right now. What in your mind do you see as the future of the sport? I dont know what is going to happen with the sport. I know one thing, the players need to try and get on the same page, along with the promoters and sponsors and need to coordinate. they shouldnt have conflicting events. Right now, my gut is saying that I dont know if itll ever be as big as it was because no one is on the same page. how great was it to have tournaments all throughout the country to really grow the sport when it was at its peak? It is expensive for the tour to travel all over, but if people havent seen the sport or been exposed to it, it isnt the same. A beach volleyball event isnt as great on tv as it is in person, so we wanted to expose people to that summer sport and lifestyle. We were bringing the summer to them and the beach. It was really important to the growth of the sport. If we had just stayed in California, we werent touching new fans. did you go over and see what was going on at the tournament this year? I walked over and saw all of the same employees from the AVP and I train some girls a few days a week. I know everyone, from the tournament director to the DJ at the tournament, so its fun. I still enjoy the sport and want to see it grow. What has the transition away from the sport these last few years been like since you retired in 2009? It was time for me to go when I did. I wasnt competing the way I wanted to. Second, it was heartbreaking to see the tour go under. third, my son is my focus now. It is an amazing new chapter. As a professional athlete, you never know when you are going to know. Even that last year, I could compete with everybody. I still think I can. For a lot of different reasons, my mental focus wasnt what it was and I wasnt competing how I wanted to. I was frustrated, but I didnt enjoy playing how I once used to, so I knew. I was becoming an underachiever.

how special was it for you to compete in tournaments in the south bay, especially Manhattan beach because it is where you grew up? I was a fan, a girlfriend and then a player. I felt really comfortable in the volleyball scene and wasnt intimidated by anyone. I remember being in high school and I hung out at Marine Street all day long and when the pros needed a body for drills, they would say Holly, get in here. It was great because it taught me not to be intimidated by anyone. I got to compete and was ready to go. how unique is the Manhattan beach open? Its big time. Its the Wimbledon of beach volleyball. It is the one that everyone wants to win. I have lived here for along time, so I got to walk down to the tournament and sleep in my own bed and my family and friends were there. I traveled all over the world and to be able to play in your hometown was really special. What was the energy like at the tournament when you would compete? It was fantastic and it really was special. Manhattan Beach and the rest of the South Bay has really knowledgeable fans, who grew up around the sport, so it was a fun environment to play in. they appreciated great volleyball. how do you think the sport has evolved and how do you see it now?

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how tough is it to come to that realization? It is really tough. It is a bad feeling. I didnt like being bad. Im not a bad player and that is how I was competing. It was really hard, but I knew immediately. For a few weeks, I was second guessing myself. But, I wasnt helping my partner, which I took pride in. It was time. how involved are you in the sport now? I do tv commentary for womens college indoor volleyball on FSN and ESPN and FIVB International events too. It is fun. I know all the best teams and get to see the level of play. I really get to see the young, best talent. I usually talk to a lot of people after the matches. I do miss training five hours a day. I loved that, but now I get to the gym for 11/2 hours and I miss my son. I have to think about dinner and other things. If I have two hours, I wanna be spending that time on the beach. Ill even help girls train and run them through a good workout and prepare them for a tournament. how often would you say you just go out and play for fun? I dont. Right after I retired, I didnt play for a while, and then I played with friends messing around on the beach three or four times. It is just funny. I can literally see the beach from my house and I just dont get out there. Right now the focus is on my son and walking. When I get the chance to work out, I run to the gym or a beach run and do what I can do. If I had the chance, Id play. What were some of the highlights of your career? I loved winning every single tournament. I loved winning. Winning my first year in 1993 was probably the most exciting because I had trained so hard and I knew I could win. As you go on, you have a target on your back. Even with that, I was still able to win. I enjoyed that a lot. It was great too when beach volleyball became an Olympic Sport. the Olympics are every four years and timing is everything. When 2004 rolled around, we won the bronze. Being on the podium was so amazing. I wanted to be on top of the podium. Winning the Manhattan and Hermosa Open are always a great feeling as well. do you feel like the south bay is a hotbed for beach volleyball? It is a hotbed for volleyball and it is perfect for it. We have the weather and culture. Courts are also everywhere. What has kept you in the south bay your whole life? Its funny. I feel like I could live anywhere and be happy. For what I was doing, you cant beat it. Id practice and play right out in front of my house. you cant beat it. So many places I love going and visiting, but Manhattan Beach is a special place. I love and appreciate it. traveling has really given me perspective on things and seeing different cultures and enjoying different places.
holly mcpeaK SoarS high in competition

photo By Kieron mcKay megan Wallin and chara harriS talK Strategy in thiS yearS manhattan Beach open: day 2

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