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Liu brings golden touch back to Lopes
8/24/2021 9:03:00 AM | Volleyball, Paul Coro
GCU assistant quickly returned after helping U.S. win Olympic gold
With the "We are the Champions" song and a "U-S-A" chant as the background, Jeff Liu returned to the Olympic Village in Tokyo with the team and staff that had just won the first Olympic gold medal in U.S. women's volleyball history.
Three days later, Liu walked into Antelope Gymnasium to get back to work on Grand Canyon women's volleyball history.
The stature of the GCU program changed along with the national team's legacy when Liu, the Lopes assistant coach, served as performance analyst for America's first women's volleyball Olympic champions since the sport debuted in the Olympics 57 years ago in Tokyo.
"The emotions hit pretty hard when you're at the top of the podium and your flag is being raised up and your national anthem is being played for the gold-medal ceremony," Liu said after being quickly re-engaged at GCU practices. "I don't think there was one set of dry eyes of anybody from USA, especially knowing that was the first gold medal for USA Volleyball on the women's side. That's the coolest part."
In the aftermath, GCU stayed on Liu's mind amid the celebration and joy. He won a selfie battle with Lopes freshman McKenize Wise when he borrowed Chiaka Ogbogu's gold medal at the airport for a photo.
Even with leeway from Lopes head coach Tim Nollan to take more time, Liu landed in Los Angeles on a Monday afternoon, packed up at the USA Volleyball offices on Tuesday morning and drove through a monsoon to Phoenix later Tuesday to join two-a-day GCU practices last Wednesday. After all, there was a Saturday scrimmage to prepare to playor the team that starts its season this Friday in Idaho.
"I, for sure, wanted to get back as soon as I feel I could be conscious and coherent during the day," Liu said.
Those Olympic moments keep coming in Liu's down time, like the hits he sends over the net during practices. Liu has served on USA Volleyball's staff since 2017 in an ascension toward this Olympics, where the American team did not lose a set in the quarterfinals, semifinals and championship.
It was the first event where Liu's post during matches was moved from the floor-level baseline to a higher level, creating a cleaner court look for the television broadcast. During matches, Liu relays offensive information to head coach Karch Kiraly, who often was shown on television checking the tablet that Liu sets up with instant replays and wearing the earpiece where he takes Liu's suggestions on strategies and substitutions.
This was the first event when Liu had a second scout, Justin Chang, with him. Before the final match, he told Chang that he would like to join the bench if an unexpected blowout happened in the deciding set. As the rout developed in a 25-21, 25-20, 25-14 win against Brazil, Chang nudged Liu and said, "Hey, you want to get down there?" Liu glanced at the score and said, "Holy cow, yeah," with it being just enough time for him to hear Jordan Larson call "Go, go, go" before putting away the gold medal-winning kill.
The celebration lingered for hours until the coaching staff broke off for its own special dinner – Domino's pizza.
"That was the last time and the only time that you're going to ever have that exact crew together at the Olympics celebrating winning a gold medal," Liu said. "hat's the only time you're ever going to have that experience. To be together and share that moment together was emotional. You want to share that moment as long as possible with the people you went to battle with for the last four years. They become your family."
Now, Liu rejoins his other family for his second season at GCU, one he hopes can be just as momentous for a program continually making breakthroughs.
He has the ultimate experience to relay for Lopes players and anecdotes for a lifetime. The Olympic feats flood his mind in isolated moments or messages.
"Just woke up this morning and realized what we accomplished and it gives me chills," a fellow staffer messaged his USA Volleyball text group.
Less than three weeks after upending the volleyball world, Liu will bring the same expertise and focus to the Lopes in Moscow, Idaho, as they begin a season and a quest to write GCU volleyball history too.
Three days later, Liu walked into Antelope Gymnasium to get back to work on Grand Canyon women's volleyball history.
The stature of the GCU program changed along with the national team's legacy when Liu, the Lopes assistant coach, served as performance analyst for America's first women's volleyball Olympic champions since the sport debuted in the Olympics 57 years ago in Tokyo.
"The emotions hit pretty hard when you're at the top of the podium and your flag is being raised up and your national anthem is being played for the gold-medal ceremony," Liu said after being quickly re-engaged at GCU practices. "I don't think there was one set of dry eyes of anybody from USA, especially knowing that was the first gold medal for USA Volleyball on the women's side. That's the coolest part."In the aftermath, GCU stayed on Liu's mind amid the celebration and joy. He won a selfie battle with Lopes freshman McKenize Wise when he borrowed Chiaka Ogbogu's gold medal at the airport for a photo.
Even with leeway from Lopes head coach Tim Nollan to take more time, Liu landed in Los Angeles on a Monday afternoon, packed up at the USA Volleyball offices on Tuesday morning and drove through a monsoon to Phoenix later Tuesday to join two-a-day GCU practices last Wednesday. After all, there was a Saturday scrimmage to prepare to playor the team that starts its season this Friday in Idaho.
"I, for sure, wanted to get back as soon as I feel I could be conscious and coherent during the day," Liu said.
Those Olympic moments keep coming in Liu's down time, like the hits he sends over the net during practices. Liu has served on USA Volleyball's staff since 2017 in an ascension toward this Olympics, where the American team did not lose a set in the quarterfinals, semifinals and championship.
It was the first event where Liu's post during matches was moved from the floor-level baseline to a higher level, creating a cleaner court look for the television broadcast. During matches, Liu relays offensive information to head coach Karch Kiraly, who often was shown on television checking the tablet that Liu sets up with instant replays and wearing the earpiece where he takes Liu's suggestions on strategies and substitutions.
This was the first event when Liu had a second scout, Justin Chang, with him. Before the final match, he told Chang that he would like to join the bench if an unexpected blowout happened in the deciding set. As the rout developed in a 25-21, 25-20, 25-14 win against Brazil, Chang nudged Liu and said, "Hey, you want to get down there?" Liu glanced at the score and said, "Holy cow, yeah," with it being just enough time for him to hear Jordan Larson call "Go, go, go" before putting away the gold medal-winning kill.
The celebration lingered for hours until the coaching staff broke off for its own special dinner – Domino's pizza.
"That was the last time and the only time that you're going to ever have that exact crew together at the Olympics celebrating winning a gold medal," Liu said. "hat's the only time you're ever going to have that experience. To be together and share that moment together was emotional. You want to share that moment as long as possible with the people you went to battle with for the last four years. They become your family."Now, Liu rejoins his other family for his second season at GCU, one he hopes can be just as momentous for a program continually making breakthroughs.
He has the ultimate experience to relay for Lopes players and anecdotes for a lifetime. The Olympic feats flood his mind in isolated moments or messages.
"Just woke up this morning and realized what we accomplished and it gives me chills," a fellow staffer messaged his USA Volleyball text group.
Less than three weeks after upending the volleyball world, Liu will bring the same expertise and focus to the Lopes in Moscow, Idaho, as they begin a season and a quest to write GCU volleyball history too.
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