Eric Sato

Eric Sato

Olympic Volleyball Player

Eric Sato was born in Santa Monica, California (1966) into a family of volleyball players. When he was a child, they played nerf volleyball in their room and used a jump rope for a net. Sato was the shortest and youngest player when he joined the Olympic Volleyball Team, but he helped his team win gold in 1988 and bronze in 1992. Sato's brother, Gary, was an assistant coach on the same 1988 Team USA, and sister, Liane, also played soccer at the 1988 and 1992 Games, winning bronze in 1992. All three are currently coaches of soccer teams. 

(Portrait by Triya Marco, SFSU 2016)