Icy ad has sun shining on beach volleyball stars
Beach volleyball players Misty May and Kerri Walsh may be best known for playing in an unusual environment. The duo starred in a memorable ad, broadcast during the Super Bowl, in which they played on ice in their standard skimpy beachwear. Each player spoke separately with USATODAY.com's Beau Dure.
 
May-Walsh Win 2003 World Beach Title     "Rio de Janeiro, Brazil -- Former Stanford and Archbishop Mitty star Kerri Walsh and her partner, Misty May, capped their incredible 2003 season Sunday, winning the FIVB World Beach Volley Championship with a 2-0 victory over the legendary Brazilian duo of two-time world champions Adriana Behar and Shelda Bede."
USA's Misty May and Kerri Walsh Win FIVB World Championship     "Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – Misty May and Kerri Walsh became the first team from the United States to claim a title at the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships presented by SWATCH by defeating two-time world champions Adriana Behar and Shelda Bede in the finals at Copacabana Beach on Sunday."
"For Kerri and Misty, it wasn't about the Streak"
-- A look at Kerri and Misty     It ended somewhat inconspicuously here, one of the greatest winning streaks in sports halted in – can you believe it? – the semifinals.... Misty May and Kerri Walsh play beach volleyball for a living and it's difficult to convey just how dominant they have been the past 12 months.
May, Walsh, beach a winning combination     "You ask Misty May how many pro beach volleyball matches she and her partner, Kerri Walsh, have won in a row, and she pauses a moment before saying, "I honestly don't know.'"
Taking Sand by Storm     "The snow, it seems, was only the tip of the iceberg as far as beach volleyball was concerned.  Assn. of Volleyball Professionals players Misty May and Kerri Walsh were shown playing volleyball in the snow for a television commercial that made its debut during the Super Bowl and continues to air four months later."
Tip: Kerri Walsh on moving from indoor to beach volleyball     "Women's pro beach volleyball player Kerri Walsh knows what it takes to make a switch from hardwood to sand...  in 2001, the 6-foot-3-inch Californian ditched the indoor jersey for a sport bikini, and began teaming with 2000 beach volleyball Olympian Misty May."

From Shy to Showtime     "The first five years of Kerri Walsh's life, she barely spoke. Her brother Marte, 11 months older, did Kerri's talking for her, like a lawyer."
Top Six All-Time Women's Volleyball Players  It should come as no surprise that both Misty and Kerri are on this list of remarkable NCAA volleyball players from the 1980's and 1990's.  (Also note that three of the six were NCAA players of the year from Long Beach State, the other two being Daniel Scott and Tara Cross-Battle.  One of them -- Bev Oden -- is also, like Kerri, an alumna from Stanford.)  
A fun interview with Kerri
"UGO: What was it like getting that gold medal put around your neck?

Kerri: I've gotten that question about two million times, and I still don't have an adequate answer. It can't be described, except that it's better than anything you can imagine. It's way more special and satisfying than I imagined."
A fun interview with Misty     "I love Star Wars. I own the new trilogy set. I like the older ones better. Return of the Jedi is my favorite. In Empire Strikes Back, I don't like to see the big wooly animals they ride [Taun-Tauns] die. Return of the Jedi is cool because Han Solo and Princess Leia get together. I like the Ewoks too."
Beach Olympians: world class players     "They have six Olympic appearances, nine All-American selections and five national player of the year awards and, for the first time, they all appeared on the same 'Dream Team.'"  The "Dream Team,"  it should be pointed, included at that time recent graduate Misty May, Daniel Scott, and Tara Cross-Battle, all three of whom -- along with Kerri Walsh! -- are considered among the top six NCAA women's volleyball players of the last two decades.
Homecoming sweet for LB State alumnae     The "Dream Team" showed how it got its name Tuesday, as the alumnae beat the current Long Beach State women's volleyball team in four games, 15-11, 15-9, 14-16 and 15-6.  
Maxson and May to be bobble heads     Article in the online version of the daily LB State newspaper, announcing the honoring of Misty and college president, "Fightin' Bob" Maxon with Bobbleheads.  OK, I admit it, I have two of them!
misty may is a warrior     An odd but mesmerizing poem by Glen Zucman, otherwise known as Artboy, which perfectly captures Misty's never-say-die approach to volleyball.  After reading it, I don't think anyone would be inclined to bet against her not only playing in the Athens Olympics -- despite her injuries -- but also coming home with the coveted gold medal.
Beach volleyball by the letters     Beach volleyball was born in this country. It reached its zenith in this country at the sport's raucous Olympic debut in Atlanta in 1996.
Barbara lived life as champion     Moving tribute to Misty's Mom, Barbara May