Jane Ward

Jane Ward was the greatest female volleyball player in the embryonic years of the sport in the United States. Ward graduated from the University of Buffalo in 1952 and then started playing volleyball for US teams from 1954 through 1968. During that time she played on US championship teams 13 times. She was also named All-American 13 times, and was MVP at the national championships five times. In addition to her two Olympic appearances, Ward played at the Pan American Games in 1955, 1959, 1963, and 1967, winning three silver medals and a gold medal in 1967. After her playing career ended Ward taught school and coached volleyball. She also became a high-level amateur golfer. She was inducted into the US Volleyball Hall of Fame in 1988.