The AVCA History Commission was formed as a subgroup to the AVCA Diversity Development Team on December 1, 2020. The History Commission’s purpose is to recognize, amplify, and celebrate the rich and diverse history of the sport of . The first phase of the Commission’s work will explore the contributions of Black Americans to the sport of volleyball. Phase 1 is timed to coincide with the 40th Anniversary of the founding of the American Volleyball Coaches Association.

PHASe 1 | Vol. 1.20 Danielle Scott Danielle Scott Danielle Racquel Scott is a native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. From a young age her values were centered around faith, family, and friends. Running around the neighborhood, skating, playing board games with relatives and friends were common in her elementary years. She enjoyed singing in the church choir and continues to enjoy music and singing to this day. Scott adds, “Those elementary years were a blast. And being so active from my younger years probably helped lead to getting into sports.” At Kennilworth Middle School, Danielle became active in after school activities and sports, becoming a team manager with the hope of also learning and practicing when given the opportunity. As an eighth grader she got involved with the team and was named the most improved player. That would be the beginning of a journey filled with accolades and accomplishments that continues to this day. From middle school, Danielle would spend one year at Baton Rouge High School before moving on to Woodlawn High School. It did not take long for volleyball, , and softball coach Bonnie Hunter to take notice of the 6’2” Scott. She would compete in all three of those sports along with the track and field team. She even had designs on joining the marching band continuing that theme of wanting to be active and involved in as many activities as possible. Danielle would graduate from Woodlawn in 1990 as an honor roll student, an all-state performer in volleyball, basketball, and track & field (shot put), and the first female athlete of the year. In 2019, she would be inducted into the LHSAA Hall of Fame and the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame. In the fall of 1990, Danielle moved to Southern California on a scholarship to attend Long Beach State University playing both volleyball and basketball. The volleyball program was led by AVCA Hall of Famer Brian Gimmillaro, and it was clear from her arrival at “The Beach” that Danielle was a transcendent talent. She would post 1,778 kills, 604 total blocks, and 693 digs during in her four-year career. Leading the 49ers to the 1993 NCAA D-I Championship while garnering AVCA National Player of the Year honors, the three-time first-team AVCA All-American and two-time Big West Conference volleyball player of the year (1992, ‘93), Scott would go on to be named the Honda Award winner as the outstanding women’s collegiate volleyball player for 1993-94. In addition to her volleyball prowess, Danielle was all-conference in basketball in 1993-94 becoming the first Big West athlete to be named all- conference in two sports. She even competed on the LBSU track team in sprints and jumping events in her last semester before graduating with a degree in Liberal Studies with an emphasis in Sociology. With one year of eligibility remaining in basketball, Danielle chose to forgo it and joined the USA Women’s National Volleyball team in June of 1994. Making her debut at the 1994 , Danielle was poised for an unprecedented run as a member of the U.S. national team. That first season would also include competing in the World Grand Prix, and the World Championships and within the almost 20 years following, Danielle would compete in international tournaments that encompassed over 420 matches. In 1996, Danielle was named to her first Olympic Games in Atlanta, . Soon after that she played her first professional season in Rome, with team Gierre Roma Pallavolo. Danielle Scott From there she also played in the Brazilian, Japanese and Puerto Rican professional leagues and numerous other countries while representing the USA during the summer USA Women’s Volleyball National Team international season. In the summer of 1997, Danielle played in the four-person league for team Norelco. In 1998, Danielle tried out with the WNBA’s Los Angeles Middle Blocker Sparks, but was not selected to the team. The following year, she tried out again but was not selected. Finally, after her third and final attempt Danielle went to training camp with the Portland Fire but was released just before the first preseason game. She commented, “It’s just unfortunate the season wasn’t long enough for a coach to take a chance on me…” 5-time Olympian (1996, 2000, ’04, ‘08, ‘12) After refocusing on volleyball, Danielle went on to make four more Olympic appearances 2000 Sydney, 2004 Athens, 2008 Beijing and 2012 London. (Count ‘em…That’s FIVE!) Scott has been inducted into multiple halls of fame including the International Volleyball Hall of Fame in 2016 and the USA Volleyball Hall of Fame ( Award) in 2020.

Her daughter is her daily inspiration and Danielle lists her mother and father as her “awesome role models”. She embodies their strong faith, courage and perseverance. Danielle has retired from international and professional volleyball but remains her busy self. Whether its motivational speaking, coaching and training young athletes, or being an ambassador for the sport of volleyball, Danielle continues to be active, involved and focused on faith, family, and friends.

Thanks to USA Volleyball, Long Beach State University Athletics, IVBHOF, washingtonpost.com, and DanielleScottVolleyball.com for contributing to this article AVCA DDT HISTORY COMMISSION

Deitre collins-Parker, Chair Associate head Coach Coastal Carolina university 2008 avca hall of famer

Ray gooden Head women’s volleyball coach Northern Illinois University

Maggie Couture Head Women’s volleyball coach Jacksonville university

Sarah graves

AVCA DDT History commission Advisors: Brian GimMillaro, pat kendrick,, rose magers Powell, ruth nelson

Nickie Sanlin, AVCA Diversity development team chair

Kennedy d. wells, avca staff liaison