A Team to Remember

Forty Years Ago, Pali High Alums Chris Marlowe, Dave Saunders and Steve Salmons Led USA Volleyball to Its First Olympic Gold

By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor

Sunday marks the 40-year anniversary of the United States’ first Olympic gold medal in men’s volleyball.

Inside jam-packed Long Beach Arena, a 35-mile drive south on I-405 from Pacific Palisades, Team USA swept Brazil in the finals of the 1984 Games in Los Angeles with its talented 12-man roster, one-fourth of which was made up of players hailing from Palisades High.

That is no typo. Yes, three members of that American squad graduated from Palisades—middle blocker Steve Salmons, outside hitter Dave Saunders and team captain Chris Marlowe, a setter and outside hitter. All three played for legendary coach Howard Enstedt, who piloted the Dolphins to nine City 4A titles from 1974-93.

Marlowe (Class of 1969) started on both the varsity volleyball and basketball squads, leading the Dolphins to three volleyball titles (before the sport became officially sanctioned by the City Section) and also shooting the basketball team to the school’s first City title his senior year. In 1973 his leadership was instrumental  to San Diego State winning the NCAA volleyball title. The Aztecs rallied to beat UCLA in the regional finals.

Now 72, Marlowe is the play-by-play announcer for the Denver Nuggets of the NBA.

Salmons (Class of 1977) was voted City Player of the Year after leading the Dolphins to the inaugural Southern California Regional Championship his senior year. He was named NCAA Player of the Year in 1979 when UCLA became the first unbeaten team in college volleyball history. He powered the Bruins to another national title in 1981, then helped the national team achieve volleyball’s “triple crown” with golds at the 1984 Olympics, 1985 World Cup and 1986 World Championships.

Saunders (Class of 1978) not only helped Palisades capture three straight City titles, he was a key piece of three NCAA championship teams at UCLA and twice was an All-American as the primary passer and starting outside hitter. He was a member of two Olympic gold medal indoor teams (1984 and 1988) and represented the USA in the 1983 and 1987 Pan American Games. He ended his international career in Italy before retiring and going into the radio business. Younger brother J.B. was a senior hitter on Pali High’s undefeated 1986 team.

Joining Palisades’ trio on the ‘84 Olympic team were setter Dusty Dvorak (USC); hitter Paul Sunderland (Loyola Marymount); middle Rich Duwelius (Ohio State); middle Steve Timmons (USC); middle Craig Buck (Pepperdine); middle Marc Waldie (Ohio State); hitter Aldis Berzins (Ohio State); hitter Patrick Powers   (USC); and hitter Karch Kiraly (UCLA). Coaching the team was 1970-76 national team member Doug Beal. 

Team USA went 3-1 in Pool A, beating Argentina, Tunisia and South Korea but getting swept by Brazil, which also went 3-1 but finished first on set differential.

In the semifinals, the Americans swept Pool B winner Canada while Brazil downed Pool B runner-up Italy.

Given a chance to avenge their defeat in pool play, the Americans turned the tables on Brazil in the gold medal match, prevailing 15-6, 15-6, 15-7 in the side-out scoring format. Timmons was selected the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.