Ball defies his age on volleyball court, making his 4th Olympics

Ball defies his age on volleyball court, making his 4th Olympics

Not only is he back for a fourth Olympics, but, at 36, he might be playing the best volleyball of his career.

The former IPFW All-American led the United States to its first World league title Sunday. He was voted tournament MVP and best setter after Team USA defeated Serbia 26-24, 23-25, 25-23, 25-22 at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The United States scored a semifinal upset of Brazil, the five-time defending champion and 2004 Olympic gold medalist. Bronze medals in 1992 and 2007 were the previous best finishes by the United States in a tournament that begin in 1990.

The United States made it to the semifinals at the 2004 Olympics but did not win a medal. After three years away, Ball returned to the national team in April 2007 and helped Team USA qualify for the Beijing Olympics.

"I think he's a better setter now than he was at Athens," U.S. coach Hugh McCutcheon told nbcolympics.com. "And he's also a better teammate. The guy approaches the game now with a nice level of maturity, I think, with an understanding of what has to happen."

As long ago as 1989, when he was 17, Ball played for the national team on a one-week trip to Japan. He joined the team on a full-time basis in 1994.

For years, he has continued his pro career, playing most recently for Russia's Dinamo Kazan, which won the European league title this year.

Ball told nbcolympics.com he sought one more Olympics so that son Dyer, 7, could see him play.

"I have a very strong belief that if I'm healthy and if I'm still playing well and if my national team asks me to come back, like they did this time, then I'm going to do that," he was quoted as saying.
Sports of all sorts

Climbing: Carmel's Nathan Hadley, 16, finished fifth in the youth nationals in the speed category at Sunnyvale, Calif., to qualify for the national team. Making finals in their age group were Luke Hadley, 10, Carmel, fifth; Megan Carr, 12, Carmel, second; Kate Carr, 16, Carmel, 10th; Liz Sasseman, 17, Carmel, seventh.

Diving: Indiana University graduate Cassandra Cardinell announced her retirement during the national championships at Pasadena, Calif. She won the Wendy Wyland award, presented annually for courage. Indiana Diving was team champion. IU graduate Lindsay Weigle and the Hoosiers' Landon Marzullo won high-point awards.

Running: Marathoner Dathan Ritzenhein tuned up for the Beijing Olympics by finishing third Sunday in a half-marathon at New York in 1 hour, 1 minute, 38 seconds. Ethiopia's Tadesse Tola won in 1:00:58. Fasil Bizuneh (Ben Davis) was 14th in 1:04:48.

Soccer: FC Indiana (15-0-1) won the United Soccer League Central Conference by beating the Ottawa Fury 4-3 in overtime Sunday at West Lafayette. Spaniard Laura Del Rio scored twice, including a tying goal in the 90th minute. Del Rio finished second in the league in scoring with 13 goals and nine assists. . . . Two Hoosiers, Barry Wilkins and Trevor Holtgrave, and former IU player Josh Reiher were on the U.S. team that finished fourth in the first deaf world championship at Patras, Greece.

Tennis: Indianapolis' Brooke Austin, 12, won U.S. Tennis Association national clay court singles and doubles titles in her age group at Boca Raton, Fla. She won singles 6-2, 6-1 over her doubles partner, Taylor Townsend, Stockbridge, Ga.

Trampoline and tumbling: Lawrence North sophomore Alexander Renkert, 15, won three gold medals in the Junior Olympics at Kansas City, Mo.