Former MP grad spearheading U.S. men's volleyball

Reid Priddy, the standout volleyball player? Of course. Reid Priddy, the Olympian? Fred Mann saw it coming.

Priddy, a star for Mountain Pointe who led the Pride to their first state championship in the sport in 1995 and a runner-up finish in 1996, is once more an Olympian, leading the U.S. men's squad into Beijing. But it was Mann, his coach in those ‘95 and ‘96 seasons and MP's coach to this day, who foresaw Red, White and Blue in his future.

"When he graduated out of high school (in 1996)," Mann said, "I told him one day, when he plays on the national team, I want to come watch him play."

This was during a time when Priddy, an outside hitter, was struggling to get recruited. Though schools like USC, UC-Santa Barbara and Cal State Northridge showed interest, boys volleyball had only been a varsity sport in Arizona for two years.

"He was barely struggling to get into college at that time," Mann said, "just because he was from Arizona."

Eventually, Loyola Marymount University opened its eyes and offered him a scholarship. As a senior, he led the team in kills, kills per game and aces, and was named an All-American.

A year earlier, in 1999, part of Mann's vision came true: Priddy joined the U.S. national team for the Pan American Games. Then, in 2000, Priddy was named one of four alternates for the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, but he wasn't on the team.

Between playing professionally overseas and on the AVP Tour, Priddy continued to play for the national team. In 2001, he led the team in kills and digs as it participated in a number of events, including the Volleyball World League.

In 2002, he led the team in points per game, and was captain of the American squad at the Pan Am Games the year after that.

Finally, 2004 came along for Priddy, and he was no longer an alternate, making the U.S. team for the Summer Olympic Games in Athens, Greece.

After three more years of international play, Priddy is once again on the verge of Olympic competition, this time in Beijing.

Priddy helped the U.S. men to gold in the World League in late July, and is the team's leading scorer heading into the 2008 Olympics.

A few years ago, Mountain Pointe retired his jersey.

"He's set himself apart," Mann said. "We've had kids, very, very good players come through here and go to Division I programs ... but there is such a select few that get to go to the Olympics, never mind be a starter, never mind be the leading scorer."

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