IVC volleyball coach Misty May reaches medal round in Athens

August 23, 2004

Irvine Valley assistant women’s volleyball coach Misty May competes today with teammate Kerri Walsh to be the first American women to win an Olympic gold medal in beach volleyball. On Monday, May and Walsh beat Americans Elaine Youngs and Holly McPeak to advance to the gold medal round. May and McPeak were teammates in 2000.

May has been coaching the women’s volleyball team at Irvine Valley for four years. IVC Head Volleyball Coach Tom Pestolesi coached May when she played at Newport Harbor High School. “She was an outstanding high school athlete and student, but when it comes to volleyball, May is a natural,” said Pestolesi. “She helped make me a good coach, and all I had to do was watch her,” he joked.

Over the years, May and Pestolesi have developed a strong friendship. May took a marine science class he taught at Newport Harbor, and she often babysat for the Pestolesis. Later, as a professional volleyball player, Pestolesi encouraged her to continue her education and become a coach. May has a bachelors degree in kinesiology and plans to obtain a masters.

Despite a recent muscle injury that could have kept her out of the Olympics, May has charged back, coming into the Olympics final with a perfect record of six straight-set victories, and with an eye only on the gold. May feels she has something to prove after being knocked out in the semifinal round in Sydney in 2000. She and Walsh are the current world champions and are confident that they can win against the team from Brazil. May and McPeak lost to a Brazilian team which won the bronze medal at the Sydney Olympics.

May was born is Los Angeles and lives in Long Beach. She is a graduate of California State University, Long Beach. Coach Tom Pestolesi can be reached at (949) 451-5629.