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PHIL DALHAUSSERBorn: January 26, 1980 in Baden, Switzerland
Enshrined: 2023 Country: United States Category: Beach Player |
BIOGRAPHY
Most successful athletes are known for one or two things that make them stand out from the rest. But when someone earns a nickname like “The Thin Beast”, you know there are many more facets to their success. This is especially true for Phil Dalhausser.
Born in Switzerland to German and Swiss parents, Dalhausser moved to Florida at a young age. He didn’t pick up volleyball until he was a senior in high school and went on to play on the indoor club team at the University of Central Florida, earning MVP honors.
He made his professional beach volleyball debut in Ft. Lauderdale with partner Nick Lucena in 2003. The following season they shocked the beach volleyball world by not only defeating both U.S. Olympic teams, but also knocking off top-seeded Mike Lambert and volleyball royalty and 2001 IVHF inductee Karch Kiraly at the Hermosa Beach Open.
It was then that the volleyball community started to recognize the talented Florida kid who was shaking things up on the California sand.
Standing at 6-9 and described as “the skinny bald guy”, people quickly caught on to what Dalhausser could do. He was quick, he could pass, set and serve, and he formed a wall at the net that became known as one of the best and most formidable in the world.
Teaming up with fellow International Volleyball Hall of Fame inductee Todd Rogers in 2006, the duo quickly became one of the top teams in the world, and stayed there. They won half of the 128 tournaments they played together.
In 2008, Dalhausser and Rogers claimed the first five titles of the AVP season and also won seven international titles. They entered the Beijing Olympics on a 21-match FIVB winning streak, one shy of the record, but were upset in their first match. It was then that Dalhausser’s internal skills of calm and determination really shone through. The team bounced back to capture Olympic gold and Dalhausser picked up MVP honors.
One of the most decorated and successful beach volleyball players in the world, Dalhausser is a four-time Olympian with more than 100 career tournament wins. He won at least one FIVB title each year from 2006-2018, a 13-year streak only surpassed by 2016 IVHF inductee Emanuel Rego of Brazil.
While his successful streak is astounding, his list of individual accomplishments is equally as impressive and spans the disciplines of the sport. He earned FIVB Best Setter and Best Blocker seven times each. Dalhausser was named both the AVP Best Offensive Player and Best Defensive player, in the same season, five different times. He picked up four FIVB Most Outstanding Player and AVP Most Valuable Player nods throughout this career. The list goes on.
With a career stretching over 20 years, Dalhausser has certainly left his mark on the sport. But with a nickname like his, one would expect nothing less from the Thin Beast.
For his all-around dominance and sustained longevity, we are proud to induct Beach Player Phil Dalhausser from the United States to the International Volleyball Hall of Fame, Class of 2023.
Born in Switzerland to German and Swiss parents, Dalhausser moved to Florida at a young age. He didn’t pick up volleyball until he was a senior in high school and went on to play on the indoor club team at the University of Central Florida, earning MVP honors.
He made his professional beach volleyball debut in Ft. Lauderdale with partner Nick Lucena in 2003. The following season they shocked the beach volleyball world by not only defeating both U.S. Olympic teams, but also knocking off top-seeded Mike Lambert and volleyball royalty and 2001 IVHF inductee Karch Kiraly at the Hermosa Beach Open.
It was then that the volleyball community started to recognize the talented Florida kid who was shaking things up on the California sand.
Standing at 6-9 and described as “the skinny bald guy”, people quickly caught on to what Dalhausser could do. He was quick, he could pass, set and serve, and he formed a wall at the net that became known as one of the best and most formidable in the world.
Teaming up with fellow International Volleyball Hall of Fame inductee Todd Rogers in 2006, the duo quickly became one of the top teams in the world, and stayed there. They won half of the 128 tournaments they played together.
In 2008, Dalhausser and Rogers claimed the first five titles of the AVP season and also won seven international titles. They entered the Beijing Olympics on a 21-match FIVB winning streak, one shy of the record, but were upset in their first match. It was then that Dalhausser’s internal skills of calm and determination really shone through. The team bounced back to capture Olympic gold and Dalhausser picked up MVP honors.
One of the most decorated and successful beach volleyball players in the world, Dalhausser is a four-time Olympian with more than 100 career tournament wins. He won at least one FIVB title each year from 2006-2018, a 13-year streak only surpassed by 2016 IVHF inductee Emanuel Rego of Brazil.
While his successful streak is astounding, his list of individual accomplishments is equally as impressive and spans the disciplines of the sport. He earned FIVB Best Setter and Best Blocker seven times each. Dalhausser was named both the AVP Best Offensive Player and Best Defensive player, in the same season, five different times. He picked up four FIVB Most Outstanding Player and AVP Most Valuable Player nods throughout this career. The list goes on.
With a career stretching over 20 years, Dalhausser has certainly left his mark on the sport. But with a nickname like his, one would expect nothing less from the Thin Beast.
For his all-around dominance and sustained longevity, we are proud to induct Beach Player Phil Dalhausser from the United States to the International Volleyball Hall of Fame, Class of 2023.
