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In Season

Mike Lambert

Beach Volleyball AVP (Retired)

Represented by MAG for 5 years

BIO
"Lambo" or the "Hawaiian Curtain" as he is fondly known by his rivals on the AVP Tour, has taken the beach volleyball community by storm and became one of the sports most promising players in his short career on the AVP Tour. He is the only player to capture multiple AVP wins in each of the last three years (2004-2006). In that span, he has played in 20 championships with four different partners, winning titles with each of them.

The 2004 AVP season will be known as "the year of Mike Lambert," after he was named AVP Best Offensive Player, AVP Most Valuable Player and part of AVP Team of the Year with his legendary partner Karch Kiraly. He was again part of the AVP Team of the Year in 2006 with Stein Metzger.

Lambert captured four first place finishes in 2004 including the prestigious Manhattan Beach Open which he describes as his greatest accomplishment alongside his role model, Kiraly. He also won the San Diego Open, the Aquafina Shootout in Las Vegas and the Santa Barbara Invitational. Had a podium finish in 10 of the 12 AVP events that season.

In 2005 he won three titles, winning with two different partners plus the individual event in Las Vegas. His title in Cincinnati came in just his second event playing with John Hyden. Lambert was third on the Tour in blocks in 2005 (with 334) while ranking fifth in kills percentage (.594) and ninth in hitting percentage (.434).

He continued his winning ways in 2006, winning five more events, all with Metzger. On the 2006 AVP Tour he was fourth in blocks (2.08 per game), third in kill percentage (.615), fifth in hitting percentage (.566) and ninth in aces (.57 per game).

When off the beach, Mike Lambert is a musician at heart and enjoys writing, singing, and playing guitar. He wrote and performed the official anthem of the Tour in 2004 and 2005: "We are the AVP" and "I love the AVP".

Lambert was born in Kaneohe, Hawaii and grew up alongside sisters Mia and Debbie, both of whom won national championships (Mia at UCLA in 1990 and Debbie at Stanford in 1996 and 1997). He graduated from Stanford in 1997 with a degree in Political Science. While there, he was a three-time All-American and with AVP player Matt Fuerbringer led the Cardinal to their first and only NCAA National Championship in 1997.

Before he transitioned to beach, Lambert was a member of the U.S. National Team for five seasons (1995-1996 and 1998-2000) and was an Olympian in 1996 and 2000. He also played professionally in Italy for four years.

Lambert currently resides in Costa Mesa, California with his wife Deborah and their newborn child.

Favorite Movie: North Shore... Favorite Band: Jack Johnson... Favorite Show: Animal Planet... Role Model: Karch Kiraly... Sponsors: Nautica, Gatorade, Visa, Oakley... Favorite Meal: Anything my wife Deborah makes

If you weren't playing professional volleyball, what would you be doing? Either trying to open shows for Jack Johnson or becoming a real estate mogul in Hawaii alongside my mom

AWARDS

* AVP Best Offensive Player 2002, 2004
* AVP Crocs Cup Champion 2006
* AVP Most Valuable Player 2004
* AVP Rookie of the Year 2002
* AVP Team of the Year 2004, 2006

More player info from BVBInfo.com