Cross & Crescent

One week after winning the gold medal in beach volleyball, Phil Dalhausser (Central Florida 2002) and teammate Todd Rogers finish their first rounds of the AVP Tour in Cincinnati.

Numerous reporters ask for interviews. Then he begins signing autographs for fans and tells the AVP press liaison that he won’t do any media interviews until he finishes with the fans. He continues signing on the court for 20 minutes when his next match begins.

After the next game, a security guard is sent to escort the team to a signing area. The idea of being escorted made him chuckle.

Following an hour of signing autographs and TV and radio interviews, I got my chance to talk with the gold medalist. I told him how impressed I was that he put the fans first.

“I know these people are here and paid their money to hang out with the players. I want to do the autographs and take pictures with fans before I do the questions and answers,” he says. “That’s what our sport is about, that accessibility to the players.”

Finding Volleyball

The 6’9” Dalhausser is known in the volleyball world as the “Thin Beast.” With his height many wonder why he didn’t play the mainstream sport of basketball.

“I was a tall skinny kid so everybody wanted to push me around and I wasn’t to into that, so I never played basketball,” says Dalhausser. “I grew up playing soccer and baseball.”

His first response when approached about playing volleyball was, “Volleyball is for girls.” He came around quickly, playing one year in high school and then on the indoor club team at the University of Central Florida, where he was named Most Valuable Player.

After graduating from Central Florida with a degree in business, Dalhausser worked for a friend’s father at a construction company — working on roads. He had worked for the company during the summers through college and knew the strings.

“I worked there to keep afloat and make a little cash,” says Dalhausser. “I did that for about six months, and then I moved to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, to pursue the whole volleyball thing.”

Professional Volleyball

Dalhausser began his professional volleyball career in 2003. He competed in six AVP tournaments that first year, with little success, earning $780 that season.

2005 became the break out year for Dalhausser. He won his first AVP tournament with partner Nick Lucena. Soon thereafter, veteran beach volleyball player Todd Rogers, nicknamed “The Professor,” was looking for a new partner and tapped the up-and-coming beast of sand. Dalhausser quickly gained a reputation for powerful spikes and blocks. He was named AVP Best Offensive Player and has held that title since.

Rodgers has helped Dalhausser complete his game to where it is now, the best in the world. He was awarded AVP Most Valuable Player in 2007; FIVB Best Blocker in 2006 and 2007; FIVB Best Hitter in 2007; AVP Most Improved Player in 2006; and FIVB Most Improved Player in 2006.

The teams of the Professor and the Thin Beast have become a force to be reckoned with, winning the 2007 AVP championship. During that year, the team won the first FIVB World Championship for a U.S. men’s beach team.

In 2008, the team competed in six FIVB World Tour events as they worked to secure Olympic qualification, winning the Grand Slam events in Paris, France; Stavanger, Norway; Moscow, Russia.

Bejing Memories

Dalhausser didn’t have much free time when he arrived in China for the Olympics. He remembers one of the few days he made it out, he visited a silk market.
“If I looked into a shop, people would start following you down aisles trying to sell stuff. Yelling, ‘I will give you a good deal,’” laughs Dalhausser. “They would not leave you alone until you were actually mean to them.”

Dalhausser’s trip wasn’t for the silk markets though. He was hoping to make a better memory, a dream come true.

Dalhausser and Rogers went into the 2008 Olympics as heavy favorites. In their first round of group play the team was defeated by the 23rd-ranked Latvian team.

“I’ve been saying the whole time it was a blessing in disguise,” says Dalhausser. “It lit a fire under us and got us going.”

The teamed won out from there.

“The early loss put us in an easier bracket actually,” says Dalhausser, “If we had won that match we would have been in the bracket with all the Brazilians; we would have played the team we played in the finals in the quarter finals; and would have played the defending gold medalist in the semis. So we had a much easier road to the finals.”

The gold medal match with was a match Dalhausser will never forget. “Brazil is very, very good at beach volleyball,” Dalhausser says. “You can’t be overconfident against a Brazilian team.”

The Americans started slowly but rebounded in the opening set to win 23-21. They lost the second set 17-21. In the third and deciding set Dalhausser came alive. He had three consecutive massive blocks to open up a lead in the final set. His ninth block came on match point. The Rogers/Dalhausser celebration began. (Click to watch highlights on NBC)

“When he gets on a roll, I just pull out my pompoms and give a little cheer and keep smiling and clapping,” Rogers said after the match. “That’s what good blockers do: When they get on a roll, good luck to you.”

“It is good to bring it (the gold medal) home,” says Dalhausser. “Winning an Olympic gold medal was the best experience ever…times 100. That’s the only way I can describe it.”

Dalhausser was named the Olympic Tournament MVP.

Instant Fame

Since returning to the states, Dalhausser has become an instant celebrity. He appeared on Oprah with other Olympians and has been swarmed with reporters.

“Its been pretty crazy,” says Dalhausser. “I was in Costco the other day, and when I got my shopping done I signed autographs and took pictures for 20-30 minutes.”

He says traveling is been met with fanfare.

“Going through the airport has been pretty crazy, people recognize tall guy, bald head,” says Dalhausser. “It’s going to take a little getting used to; hopefully it dies off first.”

Fraternal Memories

Upon entering the University of Central Florida, Dalhausser joined Lambda Chi Alpha. He thought fraternity was an easy way to make friends.

“I figured it an easy way to make friends. I did, and we had a lot of fun,” says Dalhausser.

“I just remember…my fondest memory was playing sports,” he continued. “I felt the closest to everyone when we were on a team representing the Fraternity.”

He played intramural indoor volleyball and basketball representing the Fraternity. It was just a great time. He also honed his beach volleyball skills with Fraternity brother George Steinbarger (Central Florida 2001).

“I got my start on sand volleyball before the Fraternity but it was right around the time I started” says Dalhausser. “We played out on the courts a lot and intramurals once a week. It was fun.”

“I am not that media savvy and don’t have some great line,” says Dalhausser. “I had a great time with all guys from college. I just want to thank the brotherhood for all the support.”