Bob Samuelson

Who is Bob Samuelson?

Robert "Bob" Lewis Samuelson is an American volleyball player who competed in the 1992 Summer Olympics.

He was born in Port Jefferson, New York.

In 1992 he was part of the American team which won the bronze medal in the Olympic tournament. He played all eight matches. Samuelson led the US Team in blocks, and aces, and finished second in total kills behind Steve Timmons, and hitting percentage behind Doug Partie. Chosen with Bryan Ivie to represent the United States on the World Gala Team, consisting of the world's top 12 players as chosen by the coaches.

With an abundance of enthusiasm and energy, Samuelson was frequently the catalyst to rally the team to victory. Being one of the most popular players among his teammates and fans, he and Bryan Ivie became the faces of USA Volleyball.

At the Barcelona olympics he was the central character in the controversial prelimary round match against Japan which the USA "won" until the result was overturned on appeal.

Samuelson left the US National Team to compete for the Suntory Sunbirds of the Japanese Professional Volleyball League in 1994, where he played for three seasons. Samuelson led the team to the championship in hist first season, and was named the league's Most Valuable Player.