2018 BYU Hall of Fame

The all-time leader in blocks and sets played when he finished his career at BYU in 2008, Russell Holmes excelled for the Cougars and his country as an all-time great middle blocker.

A redshirt on BYU’s national championship team in 2004, Holmes played in every match as a freshman the following year. Over the next three seasons the California native was named an American Volleyball Coaches Association All-American and All-Mountain Pacific Sports Federation selection every season.

Holmes shattered multiple records during his time in Provo. He ranks first in the rally-scoring era in career hitting percentage (.494), career solo blocks (61), single season block assists (157 in 2008) and solo blocks (28 in 2007) and finished his career as the all-time leader in career block assists (477) and sets played (414).

After graduating with a degree in sociology in 2008, Holmes won multiple championships, medals and individual honors competing internationally, including Puerto Rico, Brazil, and multiple spots in Europe. After claiming two Austrian Cups, he won a league championship in Poland as well. Holmes was given Best Blocker honors and won silver medals at both the FIVB Club World Championship and the CEV Champions League, Europe’s top tournament.

A member of the United States National Team from 2009-15, Holmes has helped the U.S. to gold, silver and bronze medals at the FIVB World League and a gold medal at the FIVB World Cup in 2015. He reached the world’s biggest stage in 2012 as a starter on the U.S. Olympic Team competing in London. Returning to where we served his mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Holmes started every set for the Americans and led the team in blocks. Four years later he served as an alternate on the Olympic team that won the bronze medal.

Holmes has mentored many young people as a scoutmaster in the Boy Scouts and as a coach for multiple youth volleyball camps and clinics. He’s also served as keynote speaker for businesses, nonprofits and sports groups.

He and his wife, Krystal, have three children: Sadie, Shea and Liam.

Played in 30 matches and appeared in 98 games ... started 13 matches ... recorded 107 kills while hitting .368 ... totaled 67 blocks ... had a career-high 14 kills against Penn State, Jan. 6 ... provided a big lift off the bench in a win over Long Beach State, March 26, tallying four kills, three digs and four blocks ... had a career-best five blocks on five different occasions.

Played in every match during the 2005 season, appearing in 98 games ... started 13 matches in 2005 ... has career highs of 14 kills, three block solos and five total blocks ... named to the AVCA All-America Second Team ... earned second-team All-MPSF honors ... a Student Athlete Academic Center Scholar Athlete ... started all 27 matches and was the only player on the team to play in all 104 games ... finished sixth in the nation with a .456 hitting percentage and third in MPSF play at .462 ... averaged 1.49 blocks per game, eight in the nation ... was fourth in the MPSF in blocks per game, averaging 1.53 in league play ... had 155 total blocks, tied for second most in a BYU rally scoring season ... had 143 block assists, the fifth most in a BYU season ... recorded double-digit kills 12 times ... hit .400 or better 18 times ... set a career high with 12 blocks against Cal State Northridge, Jan. 13, ranking second in school history for most blocks in a match since the rally scoring era began in 2001 ... had 11 kills against Cal State Northridge, Jan. 13 ... hit .692 and had nine kills and eight blocks against Cal State Northridge, Jan. 14 ... totaled 18 kills and eight blocks in two matches against UC Santa Barbara ... had 11 kills against UCLA, Jan. 26 ... had seven blocks in both matches against UCLA ... hit .615 and had 10 kills and five digs against Pepperdine, Feb. 4 ... had 12 kills, seven blocks, four digs and hit .526 in 3-1 win over USC, Feb. 10 ... had eight kills and five blocks in 3-2 win over USC, Feb. 11 ... averaged 2.83 kills and 2.00 blocks per game in two wins over UC San Diego, Feb. 16 and 18 ... had a season-high 13 kills and hit a season-high .800 in 3-0 win over Stanford, March 4 ... hit .700 and averaged 3.83 kills per game in two wins over Stanford ... had 10 kills and four blocks against Ohio State, March 17 ... named to the Long Beach State Active Ankle Classic All-Tournament Team ... averaged 3.86 kills, 1.71 blocks per game and hit .615 in two matches against Pacific ... had a career-high 15 kills against Pacific, April 1 ... had 17 total blocks in two matches against Long Beach State ... recorded nine blocks against Long Beach State in the MPSF quarterfinals.

A second team AVCA All-America honoree for the second straight season ... named to the All-MPSF Second Team ... team captain ... played in all 29 matches, starting 28 ... played in a team-high 99 games during the season ... was named Sports Imports/AVCA National Player of the Week Jan. 29 for his performance against Penn State and Loyola-Chicago at the Outrigger Hotels Invitational in Hawaii ... named the Outrigger Hotels Invitational Tournament Most Outstanding Player award ... set a BYU season record for block solos with 28, beating out the previous record of 22 formerly held by current co-head coach Ryan Millar ... had a career-high four block solos twice this year ... the four block solos is one fewer than the BYU single match record ... leads the team in hitting percentage (.438), total blocks (144), blocks per game (1.45), block solos (28) and block assists (116) ... leads the nation in block solos (28) ... recorded double digits in kills in eight matches ... hit .500 or better in 11 matches ... set a career-high 16 kills while hitting .652 while tying a career-high with four block solos in the Cougars win March 29 over Long Beach State ... recorded a season-high 11 total blocks including four solo blocks in a Feb. 24 sweep over Hawaii ... had a season-high nine block assists in the Cougars' April 13 sweep over Pacific ... recorded a career-high and team season high four service aces in the Cougars sweep over UC Santa Barbara March 10 ... had a season-best .786 hitting performance while knocking down 12 kills in BYU's Jan. 12 sweep over UCLA.

Started in all 30 matches and all 113 games ... named AVCA First-Team All-American ... earned All-MPSF First Team accolades ... finished the season fourth in the nation in hitting percentage at .454 and second in the nation averaging 1.52 blocks per game ... awarded MPSF Player of the Week honors on Feb. 19 ... recorded two double-doubles on the season ... set new career highs with 19 kills vs. Stanford (Feb. 22), 33 attempts at UC Irvine (Feb. 15), 6 digs and 11 block assists at UC Irvine (Feb. 16), and 3 assists three separate times in the season ... 11 total blocks Feb. 16 tied for the third best mark in school history since adopting international rules in 2001 ... 172 total blocks is the second best mark in school history since adopting international rules and fourth all time ... led the team in hitting percentage (.454), blocks with 172 total (15 solo and 157 assists) on the season ... recorded 10 or more kills in 13 matches.

A member of the 2004 National Championship team as a redshirt freshman.