Volleyball has been played at the Outrigger Canoe Club for more than a century and is the major non-ocean sport sponsored by the Outrigger. Sand or beach volleyball was invented at the OCC on a day in 1915 when the surf was flat and members of the ocean-front Club were grumbling about not having anything to do. In response, George “Dad” Center, the Club’s head coach, bought a volleyball net and a couple of volleyballs, and put the net up between the surfboard lockers and the canoe shed parallel to the beach.
The game caught on and in no time, it outgrew the space so the court was relocated to a larger area in front of the Hau Tree Lanai where it continued to attract both males and females of all ages. Before long the game, which started as something to do when the waves were down, became not only a sport for fun and recreation, but a competitive sport for doubles, fours and six-man teams.
In 1964 when the Club moved to its current Diamond Head location, a volleyball stadium was built with two regulation courts, a “baby” court and covered bleachers that seat 150 fans.
Volleyball is still a huge sport at the OCC, with beach tournaments scheduled throughout the year, including the “Daddy” Haine 4-Man Tournament held each Labor Day weekend.
The Club entered its first national indoor tournament in 1956 and continues to field indoor teams that compete in local and national tournaments.
What makes us proud:
- Outrigger volleyball teams have won 37 national indoor volleyball titles.
- Four OCC volleyball players have been elected to the International Volleyball Hall of Fame.
- The USA Volleyball All-Time Great Player Award is named in honor of OCC’s Tom “Daddy” Haine who was captain of the 1968 U.S. Men’s Olympic Volleyball team and a perennial All-American and All-Tournament selection. Other OCC members who have received the award are Haine’s Olympic teammates Pete Velasco (1970), Jon Stanley (1985), and John Alstrom (2011), and 1968 women’s volleyball Olympian Miki McFadden (2014).
- The USA Volleyball All-Time Great Coaches Award went to OCC’s Dave Shoji in 2002.
- The USA Volleyball Medal of Honor (Player) Award went to OCC’s Dodge Parker in 1990.
- Eleven Outrigger members have played on U.S. Olympic Volleyball Teams.
- Three Club members are currently on the U.S. National Indoor Volleyball team.
- Ten members are currently playing professional volleyball.
- Outrigger was the perennial champion of the Haili Volleyball Tournament, winning the Men’s Open Division 21 times in 26 years, and finishing second five times. Since there was only one division, OCC’s AA, A, Masters and Golden Masters teams often competed against each other for the title. When the Masters Division was established, Outrigger won seven Masters titles.
- Dozens of junior players have gone on to lead their college teams to national championships, and earn All America honors.
- Beach volleyball is still played 365 days a year on the OCC courts.