Ron Lang
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Born: February 5, 1937 in Los Angeles, California
Enshrined: 2005 Country: United States Category: Male Indoor/Beach Player |
Biography
Ron Lang is one of only a select few to be inducted into the International Volleyball Hall of Fame in both Indoor and Beach divisions. He is a champion twice over.
A member of the very first United States Men's Olympic team in 1964, he was also an outstanding player at the USA Men's Open Volleyball Championships. From 1958 to 1967, Lang earned nine First-Team All-American selections, one Second-Team All-America honor, and three Open National Championships for a variety of teams. He was also an eight-time Open National runner-up. The United States Volleyball Association named Lang an All-Time Great Male Player in 1982, and he was further honored in 2003 as a member of USVBA's 75th Anniversary Men's 1953 to 1977 All-Era Team.
At the same time Lang was making a name for himself in Indoor Volleyball, he was also a consistent winner on the beach. He started playing in junior high school and quickly developed a level of skill that took him to the top of the beach sport. In 1955 he entered his first Open with Dick Davis and finished third. The following year the two won first place at the inaugural Sorrento Men's Open. Later he paired up with Gene Selznick and Ron Von Hagen to form two of the most successful partnerships of all time. When he first started playing with Von Hagen, the two played every day, agasint the best players in California, and did not lose a game for a year and a half. At the end of the two and a half years of daily play and a season of tournaments, the team of Lang and Von Hagen had lost only 21 games.
Overall, Lang won more than 50 "Opens" between 1957 and 1970. With Selznick, who was inducted into the Volleyball Hall of Fame in 1988, he earned more than 20 tournament championships. With Von Hagen, who was inducted into the Volleyball Hall of Fame in 1992, he won 28 events. Lang was also named to teh USA Volleyball 75th Anniversary Men's 1928 to 1987 Beach All-Era Team.
Ron Lang made his mark on the sport of volleyball with nearly perfect hitting and the ability to take care of the "trouble sets". What set him apart was his physical skill and stamina, his intensity, and his tactical brilliance. He is honored today for all these accomplishments.
A member of the very first United States Men's Olympic team in 1964, he was also an outstanding player at the USA Men's Open Volleyball Championships. From 1958 to 1967, Lang earned nine First-Team All-American selections, one Second-Team All-America honor, and three Open National Championships for a variety of teams. He was also an eight-time Open National runner-up. The United States Volleyball Association named Lang an All-Time Great Male Player in 1982, and he was further honored in 2003 as a member of USVBA's 75th Anniversary Men's 1953 to 1977 All-Era Team.
At the same time Lang was making a name for himself in Indoor Volleyball, he was also a consistent winner on the beach. He started playing in junior high school and quickly developed a level of skill that took him to the top of the beach sport. In 1955 he entered his first Open with Dick Davis and finished third. The following year the two won first place at the inaugural Sorrento Men's Open. Later he paired up with Gene Selznick and Ron Von Hagen to form two of the most successful partnerships of all time. When he first started playing with Von Hagen, the two played every day, agasint the best players in California, and did not lose a game for a year and a half. At the end of the two and a half years of daily play and a season of tournaments, the team of Lang and Von Hagen had lost only 21 games.
Overall, Lang won more than 50 "Opens" between 1957 and 1970. With Selznick, who was inducted into the Volleyball Hall of Fame in 1988, he earned more than 20 tournament championships. With Von Hagen, who was inducted into the Volleyball Hall of Fame in 1992, he won 28 events. Lang was also named to teh USA Volleyball 75th Anniversary Men's 1928 to 1987 Beach All-Era Team.
Ron Lang made his mark on the sport of volleyball with nearly perfect hitting and the ability to take care of the "trouble sets". What set him apart was his physical skill and stamina, his intensity, and his tactical brilliance. He is honored today for all these accomplishments.
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