Ryan Doherty

Background

Doherty, was born and raised in Toms River, New Jersey, grew up playing baseball, including at Toms River High School E.

Career

Start in baseball

He is believed to have been the tallest player in the history of the National Collegiate Athletic Association baseball history. While at Notre Dame, he did not play collegiate volleyball due to his baseball commitments. In 2002, he was named an All-American.

He went undrafted after college, but was eventually signed as a free agent by the Arizona Diamondbacks in June 2005.

Despite being the first seven-foot-tall player in minor league baseball history, and playing for the Yakima Bears and South Bend Silver Hawks, the Diamondbacks released Doherty in 2007 after he didn"t advance past High-A Visalia Oaks. Move to beach volleyball

After his release from minor league baseball, Doherty moved to South Carolina and took up beach volleyball with a roommate.

Shortly afterwards he decided to pursue a professional career and moved to Huntington Beach, California. He turned professional in 2010, competing in four events on the 2010 Avon Products Pro Beach Tour.

In 2013, Doherty teamed up with Todd Rogers and began to compete not only in the domestic Avon Products Tour, but also internationally in the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour and NORCECA Beach Volleyball Circuit.

Despite a number of top-five finishes, the Rogers/Doherty combination never placed first in a competition. Foreign the 2015 Avon Products season, Doherty is playing with Pepperdine alum John Mayer.

Achievements

• He was named the 2002 Gatorade Player of the Year for the state of New Jersey and was awarded a partial scholarship to play baseball at the University of Notre Dame for the Fighting Irish. They paired together to win the 2012 National Volleyball League Preakness event in Baltimore over highly-ranked Philosophy Dalhausser and Todd Rogers.

Connections

partners:

Grand Slam

partnership:

Southern California