Phil Dalhausser celebrates at the FIVB World Tour Finals on Aug. 27, 2017 in Hamburg, Germany.
For the fourth time in his career and first since 2014, Phil Dalhausser was named the most outstanding men’s beach volleyball player on the FIVB World Tour, the organization announced Tuesday.
Dalhausser, a three-time Olympian and 2008 Olympic champion for Team USA, was also named best blocker for the seventh time and best offensive player for the fifth time, bringing his grand total to 30 post-season awards, more than any other player on the World Tour. He was also named most outstanding player in 2010, 2013 and 2014 and is one of only five players, both men and women, to receive the award in consecutive seasons.
Along with partner Nick Lucena, Dalhausser won the most events on the 2017 tour (Moscow, Gstaad and Hamburg) and also led the men in earnings ($202,000), match wins (35) and winning percentage (87.5 percent), according to the FIVB.
Two-time U.S. Olympic indoor volleyball player John Hyden, 44, was named most inspirational men’s player after finishing in the top five in four of six international tournaments with partner Ryan Doherty.
On the women’s side, two-time Olympic medalist April Ross was named best server for the fifth time in her career (2011, 2012, 2015, 2016 and 2017), and Sara Hughes received rookie of the year honors.
Ross and Lauren Fendrick won the silver medal at the 2017 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships. Hughes, who won an NCAA championship for the second year in a row this year with USC, made her official professional debut in May. She and teammate Kelly Claes recently finished their first AVP season with their first win on that tour.
The awards are determined from voting by players, coaches, referees and FIVB officials.
Karen Price is a reporter from Pittsburgh who has covered Olympic sports for various publications. She is a freelance contributor to TeamUSA.org on behalf of Red Line Editorial, Inc.
