Debbie Green-Vargas

Debbie Green-Vargas (born June 25, 1958) is a former American volleyball player and coach. She is regarded as the greatest American women's volleyball setter of all time.[1][2][3] Green-Vargas was a member of the U.S. National Team and won the silver medal at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.

Debbie Green-Vargas
Personal information
NationalityAmerican
BornJune 25, 1958 (1958-06-25) (age 61)
South Korea
College(s)USC
Medal record
Women's volleyball
Representing the  United States
Olympic Games
1984 Los AngelesTeam competition
Pan American Games
1983 CaracasTeam competition

Early life

Debbie Green was born in South Korea in 1958. She grew up in California and attended Westminster High School. At the age of 16 Green-Vargas was a part of the Adidas Junior Team which swept the USVBA Nationals. She was named an All-American, the youngest player ever to be so honored.

Collegiate career

Despite her small stature, Green was a two time All-American setter at USC. She perfected the jump set, allowing her to meet the ball higher in the vertical plane and create a higher tempo in the offense. In doing so she was able to consistently create opportunities advantageous for her hitters. In 1977, Green led the Trojans to a 38-0 record and an AIAW National Championships. Hers was the first college volleyball team to ever register a perfect season. Green led the Trojans to their second National Championship the following year in 1978. She won the Broderick Award, (now the Honda Sports Award) as the nation's best female collegiate volleyball player in 1978.[4][5]

Olympic career

Green was on the roster for the 1980 Olympic, but was disappointed by the 1980 Olympic boycott. In 1984, Green helped team USA to a silver medal, at the time the best finish in U.S. women's volleyball history (later matched by the 2008 team).

Professional

Green played for the Los Angeles Starlites of Major League Volleyball (MLV), a women’s professional indoor league, and helped the squad earn the league’s first two championships in 1987 and 1988

Green-Vargas was an assistant coach for the Long Beach State women's volleyball team for 23 years, retiring after the 2008-09 season.[6][7]

Personal life

Green-Vargas earned a BA in communications from Long Beach State in 1992.

Green married Joe Vargas and has two children, Nicole and Dana. Nicole played setter at Long Beach State, where Green-Vargas worked as an assistant coach. Dana was a setter for UCSB.

In 1986, she was selected to the United States Volleyball Association Hall of Fame, and in the spring of 1986 received the All-Time Great Volleyball Player award. On April 30, 1998, Green became the first woman to enter the Orange County Sports Hall of Fame.

References
  1. Wagner, Dick. "Here Are Two Olympic Stars Who Never Stopped Shining." Los Angeles Times 14 June 1987: C3.
  2. "Debbie Green: The best setter USA has ever had". Archived from the original on 2007-11-17. Retrieved 2008-08-06.
  3. 2003 inductees for USC Athletic Hall of Fame
  4. "Debbie Green, 2017 | Southern California Indoor Volleyball Hall of Fame". Retrieved 2020-03-28.
  5. "Volleyball". CWSA. Retrieved 2020-03-28.
  6. Debbie Green at the Official Website of Long Beach State athletics
  7. Debbie Green Leaves The Beach The long-time volleyball coach finishes a 23-year career today
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