Ron Lang started his beach volleyball career on Hermosa Beach, in the early 1950's, when he noticed a group playing volleyball and decided to give it a try. He liked the game immediately and the rest is beach volleyball history.
Lang played every chance that he got. In 1955, Lang entered his first Open tournament with Dick Davis and finished in third place. In 1956, Lang and Davis took second place at the inaugural Sorrento Men’s Open. Eventually he paired-up with Gene Selznick and later Ron Von Hagen for two of the most successful partnerships of all time. He won his first "Open" with Selznick, at the 1956 State Beach Open. In 1957, Lang won 3 events, twice with Selznick and once with Mike O’Hara. In 1958, Lang won 3 events with Selznick.
On the 1959 beach volleyball circuit, Lang advanced to 4 tournament finals, winning 3 events, all with Selznick. In 1960, Lang reached 2 finals with Selznick, winning once. In 1961, he won 2 events with Selznick. On the 1962 beach volleyball circuit, he advanced to 3 finals, with Selznick, winning once. In 1963, He and Selznick won 2 events together. In 1965, Lang and Selznick won the Manhattan Open and finished in second place at the State Beach Open. He also came in second at the 1965 Santa Barbara Open with Ernie Suwara.
Lang teamed-up with Von Hagen for the 1966 beach volleyball circuit, advancing to the finals at 6 tournaments, winning all of them. He also won the 1966 Santa Barbara Open with Selznick. In 1967, Lang reached 6 finals with Von Hagen, winning 4 of them. In 1968, he and Von Hagen reached the finals of 6 tournaments, winning five times. Lang had two second place finishes in 1969. Once with Bob Clem and once with Butch May.
On the 1970 beach volleyball circuit, Lang advanced to the finals 6 times, winning 4 times, twice with Von Hagen and once with Bergman and once with Clem. In 1971, he reached the finals 4 times, winning 3 times with Von Hagen. Lang won his last tournament in 1972, when he won twice with Von Hagen. He reached his last championship match in 1973 when he finished second at the Marine Street Open with Von Hagen.
Lang won over 50 "Open" tournaments during his career, most of them with Selznick and Von Hagen. With Selznick, he earned over 20 tournament championships. With Von Hagen he won 28 events. Lang’s career included over 50 championship victories.
Ron Lang was an All-American from 1957-1968. He was on the 1964 Olympic team and was on the National Championship team in 1960, 1966, and 1968.
|
|
