Stanley, Clayton

Clayton Stanley spent his childhood and youth in Hawaii . Clayton has three brothers (Reese Hein, Will Stanley and John Stanley) and two sisters (Thea Stanley and Natasha Hein). His father, John Stanley - a famous volleyball player, participant in the 1968 Olympic Games , a member of the Hall of Fame ; his mother, Sandra Hein, has previously played for Canada's volleyball team . Following the example of his parents, Clayton started playing volleyball in early childhood, but at the age of 14 he switched to basketball and water polo and returned to volleyball only three years later ^[3] . Stanley graduated from Henry J. Kaiser High School and the University of Hawaii at Manoa ; in 1996-2000 he played on the university’s team.

As a member of the US national team, he made his debut in 2001 at the World League tournament and in the same year began his professional club career by signing a contract with the Greek PAOK. In 2002, Clayton joined the main team of the United States, participated in the World Cup in Argentina , and in 2003 won the first career title in the NORCECA zone championship and the title of the most valuable player in this tournament.

At the Olympic Games in Athens , where the US team took 4th place, Stanley showed the seventh result in terms of productivity and the second in the number of aces among all participating players, gaining 97 points: 73 in attack, 15 with serve and 9 on block ^{[4] [ 5]} .

After the Olympics, together with team partners Lloy Ball and Tom Hoff, he was invited to the Greek “Iraklis” . In 2004 and 2005, the team from Thessaloniki played in the final matches of the Champions League and both times Clayton became the most productive player in the “Final Four” of the main European Cup.

In 2006, Stanley and Lloy Ball moved to the Russian club Dynamo Tattransgaz (now Zenit) from Kazan ^[6] , which included the most significant success in their club careers, winning the Champions League in March 2008. Clayton, who earned 21 points in the five-set final match against the Italian Piacenza, was recognized as the most valuable player of the Final Four in Lodz ^[7] .

In the same 2008, the US team won the World League for the first time in its history, and then won the title of the strongest at the Beijing Olympic Games . Clayton Stanley became the most productive player in the Olympic tournament and once again confirmed the reputation of an outstanding master of power delivery - in this element he was also the first among all participants. In just 8 games, Stanley scored 146 points: 116 in the attack, 15 on the block and 15 with a pitch ^[8] .

In 2010, the United States team, which took 6th place at the World Cup in Japan, showed the sixth result in the number of points scored and the best in the number of aces. In 2011-2012, he was the captain of the US team. In August 2012, he participated in the Olympic Games in London , at which the American team reached the quarter finals, where they lost to the Italians .

As part of Dynamo Tattransgaz and Zenit, Stanley continued to perform until May 2010, playing 153 matches in 4 seasons and winning, apart from the Champions League, three championships and two Russian Cups ^[9] . From “Zenith” he moved to Ufa “Ural” ^[10] , where he spent two incomplete seasons - in early 2012, due to an injury, Stanley’s contract with “Ural” was terminated ^[11] .

In July 2012, Clayton Stanley entered into an agreement with Novosibirsk Lokomotiv ^[12] , but due to a protracted recovery from another injury at the London Olympics, he was unable to join the team ^[13] . In the season 2013/14, he played for the Japanese club Santori Sunbirds ^[14] . August 31, 2016 announced the completion of a gaming career ^[15] .

With US Team

• Olympic champion (2008) .
• Winner ( 2008 ), silver ( 2012 ) and bronze ( 2007 ) World League medalist.
• Silver medalist of the World Champions Cup (2005) .
• 3-time champion of NORCECA ( 2003 , 2005 , 2007 ), silver medalist of the NORCECA championships ( 2009 , 2011 ).
• America's Cup Winner (2007) .

With clubs

• 2-time champion of Greece (2003/04, 2004/05), silver medalist (2005/06).
• Greek Cup Winner (2004).
• Winner of the Super Bowl of Greece (2005).
• 3-time champion of Russia ( 2006/07 , 2008/09 , 2009/10 ), bronze medalist of the championship of Russia ( 2007/08 ).
• 2-time winner of the Cup of Russia ( 2007 , 2009 ).
• Champions League winner (2007/08), finalist (2004/05, 2005/06).
• Finalist of the European Volleyball Confederation Cup (2003/04).
• Bronze medalist of the world championship among clubs (2009) .

Personal

• MVP , the best serving and most successful player of the Olympic Games (2008).
• The best bowler of the world championship (2010).
• MVP Championship NORCECA (2003).
• The best bowler of the NORCECA Championship (2007).
• The best serveer of the “Final Six” of the World League (2012).
• The most productive player in the Final Four of the Champions League (2005/06).
• The most productive player and the best serveer of the “Final Four” of the Champions League (2004/05).
• Champions League Final Four MVP (2007/08).
• The best forward of the Cup of Russia (2007).
• Member of the Stars of Russia (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011).

• Profile at USA Volleyball.org
• Clayton Stanley - Olympic stats on Sports-Reference.com