Rich Lambourne needed a little more time to establish himself with the national team than former Brigham Young teammate Ryan Millar.

But he's going to the Beijing Olympics, just the same.

An outside hitter in college, the 33-year-old Lambourne is now a libero, the defensive and passing specialist who wears a different colored jersey than the rest of his teammates. But he's no less effective. Having helped the Cougars win their first of two national championships in 1999, he's been called the best passer on Team USA by coach Hugh McCutcheon, who also coached him and Millar at BYU.

While Millar became an instant star on the national team after college, Lambourne needed to work his way up.

Having quit playing baseball to take up volleyball so he could be with his friends growing up in California, Lambourne spent three years establishing himself before being named only an alternate for the 2004 Athens Games. But he has been an irreplaceable part of the lineup for the last four years - playing every match for the Americans since then.

Now, he has a chance to win a medal in his first Olympics, not far from where he served his LDS Church mission in Japan. The Americans are ranked third in the latest world rankings.

Web site: None

Competition dates: Aug. 9-24

Timeline:

Born May 6, 1975, one of four children to Paul and Ann Lambourne in Louisville, Ky. Has one brother and two sisters.

Suffers severe facial and shoulder injuries in bike accident in 1981. Later gives up baseball to play volleyball with his friends.

Plays for U.S. Junior Olympic team in 1992. Graduates Foothill High School in Santa Ana, Calif.

Begins serving two-year LDS Church mission to Japan in 1994.

Enrolls at Brigham Young in 1996, embarking on three-year career as outside hitter with Cougars, twice leading team in digs.

Helps Cougars win first of their two NCAA championships in 1999 as a junior, but skips final year of eligibility, having earned degree in Japanese.

Joins national team program in 2000.

Makes breakthrough with national team in 2003, earning regular starting role as libero and helping qualify for World Cup, an Olympic qualifying tournament.

Selected only as an alternate in 2004 for the Athens Games in Greece, but responds by starting for national team at libero in every match of the next two years and playing in every one for the next four.

Plays in world championships in 2006, but Americans finish only 10th. Named the next season as the best libero in the World League.

Named best libero this year at the qualifying tournament for Beijing Games, then chosen for first Olympics.