Marilyn McReavy Nolen has passed away.
Apr 13, 2023 12:11:17 GMT -5
Xplaya, VBCOACH, and 4 more like this
Post by Phaedrus on Apr 13, 2023 12:11:17 GMT -5
Most of you won't know the name Marilyn McReavy Nolen. She is yet another pioneer in the Women's Volleyball world. I would say that if it wasn't for Marilyn and her yeoman's work on behalf of Women's volleyball, the USAV NT would not be having the results that they are having.
Byron Shewman wrote about that history in his book on the history of volleyball in the USA. Here is my very poor attempt at recalling the history.
Marilyn was on the 1972 USA NT that went to Tokyo, where the results were less than satisfactory. The team was put together haphazardly to first qualify and then to represent the USA. No one cared enough to find a way to pay for and train a team year round. Marilyn put together the very first barnstorming team named E Pluribus Unum. She told some great stories of those days. They would crowd into a small apartment and then travel around the country to compete against the best USVBA teams. She was also the one who convinced Arie Selinger to come to the USA to be the full time NT team coach while also convincing the USVBA to invest in Arie. In theend it was parts of the E Pluribus Unum team and Chuck Erbe's USC team that became the 1980 USA WNT.
I met her much later, when she was the HC at Saint Louis University. She was always kind to me and indulged my interest in volleyball by introducing me to some of the luminaries of volleyball that were her friends and colleagues. It was through her that I had gotten the opportunity to learn the history of volleyball in the USA.
Rest well. Coach.
From the original Facebook post by Ruth Nelson
Our dear friend and colleague Marilyn M Nolen Marilyn McReavy has passed early this morning. She never gave up fighting and hoping she could win at her battle with cancer.
She has played a role with so many and I personally will miss her tremendously as she was always so positive about life. These past two years has been such a challenge for her and I know she is now in God hands.
Prayers out to randy and the boys as she was truly the life of the party.
Marilyn you are and will always be such a great inspiration and i am so happy and lucky to have been on the same team for so many years. We competed against each other in coaching and never a moment that we didn't share our knowledge of the sport.
God Bless you as you are now at peace my friend
If anyone has any photos you would like to share ..please send to info@brvc.com
Byron Shewman wrote about that history in his book on the history of volleyball in the USA. Here is my very poor attempt at recalling the history.
Marilyn was on the 1972 USA NT that went to Tokyo, where the results were less than satisfactory. The team was put together haphazardly to first qualify and then to represent the USA. No one cared enough to find a way to pay for and train a team year round. Marilyn put together the very first barnstorming team named E Pluribus Unum. She told some great stories of those days. They would crowd into a small apartment and then travel around the country to compete against the best USVBA teams. She was also the one who convinced Arie Selinger to come to the USA to be the full time NT team coach while also convincing the USVBA to invest in Arie. In theend it was parts of the E Pluribus Unum team and Chuck Erbe's USC team that became the 1980 USA WNT.
I met her much later, when she was the HC at Saint Louis University. She was always kind to me and indulged my interest in volleyball by introducing me to some of the luminaries of volleyball that were her friends and colleagues. It was through her that I had gotten the opportunity to learn the history of volleyball in the USA.
Rest well. Coach.
From the original Facebook post by Ruth Nelson
Our dear friend and colleague Marilyn M Nolen Marilyn McReavy has passed early this morning. She never gave up fighting and hoping she could win at her battle with cancer.
She has played a role with so many and I personally will miss her tremendously as she was always so positive about life. These past two years has been such a challenge for her and I know she is now in God hands.
Prayers out to randy and the boys as she was truly the life of the party.
Marilyn you are and will always be such a great inspiration and i am so happy and lucky to have been on the same team for so many years. We competed against each other in coaching and never a moment that we didn't share our knowledge of the sport.
God Bless you as you are now at peace my friend
If anyone has any photos you would like to share ..please send to info@brvc.com
