BIRTH: Feb.14, 1970

HOMETOWN: El Toro, Calif.

RESIDES: Durango, Colo.

HEIGHT: 6-0

COLLEGE: UCLA

THE SKINNY: Elaine or “EY” as she’s known on the sand, was named 2002 AVP MVP, Best Offensive Player and Best blocker, but her greatest accomplishment was winning the Bronze Medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens alongside her former partner Holly McPeak. The two made history as the first U.S. women to medal in beach volleyball.

She has won at least one title in all nin of the seasons she has played professional beach volleyball in which there was a domestic tour. She currently ranks fourth among U.S. women in international victories, with 11. In Seaside Heights in 2006, Youngs became the third American woman to surpass $1 million in career earnings.

In 2005, Youngs and her partner Rachel Wacholder were the only team to beat Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh, ending the gold medalists’ 50-match win streak. Youngs and Wacholder finished the 2005 season with three first-place finishes in Cincinnati, Ohio, Huntington Beach, Calif., and Boulder, Colo. The duo was in the top three at every tournament of the 2005 AVP Tour. They won twice more in 2006 before splitting up, with Youngs pairing with Nicole Branagh for the remainder of the season.

The 2002 season was her most accomplished as she and McPeak earned five titles domestically and four international first place finishes.

Statistically, Youngs led the 2006 AVP Tour in aces (1.06 per game), while ranking sixth in blocks (.87 per game), second in kill percentage (.606) and fourth in hitting percentage (.473).

FAVORITES:

MOVIE - Winged Migration

BAND - Dave Matthews Band

TV SHOW - Six Feet Under

MEAL - Sushi