Rita Crockett | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Full name | Rita Louise Crockett (-Buck) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Nickname | The Rocket | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Nationality | American | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Born | Rita Louise Crockett November 2, 1957 (age 66) San Antonio, Texas, U.S. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weight | 141 lb (64 kg) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Volleyball information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Position | Outside hitter | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Number | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
National team | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Rita Louise Crockett (born November 2, 1957, in San Antonio, Texas)[1] is an American former competitive volleyball player. Crockett was a silver medalist at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.[2]
Though Crockett is only 5'9" (1.75 m), she was able to dunk a basketball on a 10' rim. This exceptional vertical jump gave her a competitive advantage against taller players on the volleyball court, and it was why she was given the nickname "The Rocket".[3]
In 2011, Crockett was inducted into the International Volleyball Hall of Fame.[3]
Crockett played college volleyball with the Houston Cougars, and was an AIAW All-American in 1977.[2]
Crockett was inducted into the University of Houston Athletics Hall of Honor in 2008.[4]
Internationally, Crockett played in Japan, Switzerland, and Italy over 16 years.[2] She was a teammate of fellow Olympian Flo Hyman with Daiei in the Japanese V.League, and led her team to a championship title in 1986.[2] In 1991, she was MVP of the Italian Women's Volleyball League with Matera, and helped Rome win the European Club Championship in 1993.[2]
Between 1989 and 1994, Crockett played professional beach volleyball, winning $90,000 in prizes.[5] In 1989, she won the World Beach Volleyball Championship of the Women’s Professional Volleyball Association with Jackie Silva as her partner.[5] She was selected as the AVP Sportswoman of the Year in 1993 and 1994.[5]
Crockett was the executive director, president, and head coach of the North Florida Volleyball Association, and is now the head coach of indoor and beach volleyball at Florida International University.[1][6]
Crockett is known professionally by her married name, Rita Buck-Crockett.[1][6]