Too small.
Too slow.
Too injured.
But never too discouraged to prove everyone wrong. And in such a huge way.
Lindsey Berg has the U.S. women’s volleyball team heading to the London Games ranked No. 1 in the world. It’s the third Olympics for the Punahou School graduate, and it’s somewhat unexpected.
Many thought that Beijing would be it for the 5-foot-8 setter, who had post-Olympic knee surgery and sat out most of 2009. Even Berg, who backed up former Hawaii All-American Robyn Ah Mow-Santos the past two Games, thought so.
LINDSEY BERG
SPORT
Indoor volleyball
POSITION
Setter, captain
HAWAII CONNECTION
Punahou School 1999
AGE
32; born July 16, 1980
ACHIEVEMENTS
Played for Team USA from 2003 to 2012.
2004 Olympics: fifth.
2008 Olympics: silver
OLYMPICS
Third appearance
2012 COMPETITION DATE
July 28-Aug. 11
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Was there really anything more to prove?
"The past four, five years have been draining, physically and mentally," Berg conceded. "After Beijing and winning silver … I never imagined I’d be back and be in this position.
"The Olympics was never a dream for me, never thought it was possible to get to this point, and now it’s become more than a dream. I’ve been able to continue doing something I love and we’re going to London to prove a point. To show that the USA is still up there."
The U.S. women have never won a gold medal, dating back to 1964 when the sport made its Olympic debut in Tokyo. The Americans lost to Brazil in the 2008 championship match 3-1, that runner-up finish the highest for the U.S. since also taking silver in 1984.
The U.S. went undefeated in the FIVB Grand Prix, which finished earlier this month. Even with Berg sitting out the final two weeks of competition, the U.S. won the event for the third consecutive time.
"Even though we didn’t play our best, it’s exciting how well it went," Berg said. "Hopefully we’ll play really great in London, hope we peak there.
"The silver (in 2008) was unexpected and now to have a chance for the gold … I am so blessed to have this experience."
"Lindsey has earned it," U.S. coach Hugh McCutcheon said. "She’s our captain, provides such leadership out there, embraces the moment of competition.
"For all the potential weaknesses people say she might have, at the end of the day she’s there because of her skill and because of her heart. There are no style points in volleyball. Either you can play volleyball or you can’t. She can."
Berg has done it well, particularly since graduating from the University of Minnesota in 2001. Although never selected an AVCA All-American, the three-time All-Big Ten selection has had a successful pro career in Italy as well as with Team USA, where she was twice named the USA Volleyball’s Female Indoor Player of the Year (’08, ’11) and NORCECA Best Setter (’05, ’11).
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In September, she will be inducted into Minnesota’s M Club Hall of Fame.
"This is all gravy now," Berg’s father, Dennis, said. "We were prepared for her to retire after the surgery. She’s been playing hurt, had backed up Robyn for six years … and she wound up coming in and being a significant force to win a medal in Beijing. To me, that was about as close as you could get to a nice storybook ending, finishing up on the grand stage.
"But she decided she wanted to keep going. She saw the potential she had to start, she still loved playing and competing. She had all these positives to stay and I give her credit for surviving the naysayers who said she was too small, slow or old. She’s proved herself."
Lindsey Berg grew up playing on two courts, volleyball with dad and tennis with mom, Tina. As did her older sister Erin (North Carolina), Lindsey eventually followed her father’s footsteps; Dennis Berg was a multi-USVBA All-American for Outrigger Canoe Club and coached the UC Santa Barbara club team, which included Rainbow Wahine head coach Dave Shoji and Mike Hebert, Lindsey’s coach at Minnesota.
"Gold would be great, it would be the perfect ending for Lindsey," Dennis Berg said. "She’s worked so hard to get where she is and this is the best team the USA has had.
"She’s proud of representing her state and her roots."
Gold or not, this is it for Berg in volleyball. There are no plans for coaching or staying involved with the sport.
"I have a passion for fashion and will be opening a boutique in Los Angeles," said Berg, who has a business degree. "It’s going to be a lifestyle store, a one-stop shop where you can buy a vintage shirt for $50 or a $2,000 dress.
"I’m ready to be done with volleyball. I never imagined that this would be the way I’d get to end it. I’ve been so blessed to do something I love for so long."’
