Elaine Youngs, Professional Beach Volleyball Player

Elaine or "EY" as she's known on the sand, was named 2002 AVP MVP, Best Offensive Player and Best Blocker, but her greatest accomplishment was winning the Bronze Medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens alongside her former partner Holly McPeak.  The two made history as the first U.S. women to medal in beach volleyball. 

The 2005 season marks Elaine's ninth year playing professional beach volleyball.  She has 30 Pro Beach Volleyball titles.  The 2002 season was her most accomplished as she and Holly earned five titles domestically and four international first place titles.

EY was born in El Toro, California on Valentines Day (February 14, 1970) and grew up alongside four brothers, Ricky, Roy, Roger, and Ryan.

EY attended UCLA and graduated in 1993 with a degree in history.  While at college, she was a four-time All-American and her team took home the National Championship in 1991.

Before her transition to the beach, EY spent three years on the National Indoor Team and competed at the Olympics in Atlanta.  She went on to live in Rome and played in an Italian professional indoor league and then moved to Ankara, Turkey to play indoor professionally for an additional year.

Elaine currently resides in Durango, Colorado with her three dogs Piggy, Zach, and Mesa.

 

Favorite Movie: Winged Migration  Favorite Band: Dave Matthews Band  Favorite Show: Six Feet Under  Role Model: my Mom (Carolyn Youngs) is the strongest person I'll ever know. I try everyday to be the type of person she is  Sponsors: Nautica, Oakley, Liftoff  Favorite Meal: Sushi

If you weren't playing professional volleyball, what would you be doing?

Playing for the WNBA

• AVP Best Blocker 2002

• AVP Best Offensive Player 2002

• AVP Most Valuable Player 2002

• WPVA Rookie of the Year 1997

1997

WPVA

6

2

0

1

1

0

0

1

$17,741

132

1998

SG

1

0

0

0

0

0

1

0

$8,000

1999

AVP

4

0

0

1

0

0

0

1999

USAV

3

0

1

0

0

0

1

391

2000

AVP

1

0

1

0

0

0

0

0

$13,200

2000

BVA

4

1

1

0

1

1

0

0

$17,250

256

2000

USAV

2

0

0

0

1

0

0

1

$6,125

204

2001

AVP

5

1

2

2

0

0

0

0

$41,025

630

2001

BVA

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

80

2002

AVP

7

2

0

0

0

0

0

1,164

2003

AVP

9

1

7

1

0

0

0

0

$50,813

1,609

2004

AVP

11

4

4

2

0

1

0

0

$69,408

1,679

2005

AVP

4

0

2

2

0

0

0

0

$22,450

594

1997

FIVB

4

0

0

0

1

2

0

0

$16,090

360

1998

FIVB

8

0

0

1

0

2

0

2

$27,025

663

1999

FIVB

7

0

1

2

1

2

0

0

$44,000

869

2000

FIVB

11

3

0

0

0

1

0

3

$59,500

1,157

2001

FIVB

10

2

2

3

2

1

0

0

$88,750

1,426

2002

FIVB

8

4

1

2

0

1

0

0

$73,508

1,155

2003

FIVB

7

0

1

0

2

1

0

0

$44,000

1,085

2004

FIVB

8

2

1

3

1

0

0

1

$66,250

1,185

Overall

Red denotes ranked 1st