Ninja Jorgenson, 2023
She attended Los Angeles HS and started playing volleyball at Occidental College. She was later inducted into both of their Athletics Hall of Fames for her play. She was a major contributor as a middle blocker to the USA National Team from 1965-73, competing in six international events, and was a starter for the 1968 USA Olympic Team in Mexico City. She went to USC for her post-college education, then she coached the girls’ volleyball at Glendale High School from 1962-1998. There she helped start and coach basketball, badminton, and swimming too, which all began before Title IX was put into law in 1972. Competing for the USA team, she won a silver medal at the 1967 World Championships, and played in 1970 Worlds. The 6-1 Jorgensen earned a gold medal as part of the 1967 USA Pan-American Games team, and started on each of her USA teams. Playing for the Long Beach Shamrocks, she won four straight USVBA titles from 1967-1970 and was a six-time USVBA All-American. She was the 1963 National Amateur Athletic Player of the Year. She helped start officiating at all levels and was one of the first NCAA referees. She served as a USA Olympic Player Representative from 1984-88. She passed away in October, 2017.