Lyle Berlin, of Potomac, was named the Most Valuable Player on the Keystone MAC 60's, winners of a gold medal in the mens 60-and-over Gold division at the Volleyball National Championships in Dallas, Texas from May 25 through June 1.
Berlin stands at 6-foot-7, and by day works as a salesman for Cummin-Allison. He played basketball before picking up volleyball approximately 30 years ago.
“I’d always played basketball and one day I happened to see people playing volleyball in the gym,” said Berlin. “It felt like a natural transition.”
"He's kind of a gentle giant and a great guy," said Ron Welke of Gaithersburg, supervisor of transportation planning in the Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission, and a frequent teammate of Berlin's.
EACH MEMORIAL DAY weekend means it's time for Berlin to travel to a national volleyball tournament. Berlin has been a regular competitor in the National Championships every other year. Berlin and Welke have customarily played on a team called the MAC 60’s. The team has dominated play among Maryland seniors, having won five straight Maryland State Senior Championships.
“They’re basically my home-grown team,” said Berlin. “It’s made up of fellows from the Baltimore and Washington area.”
"We've gotten as close as third place in Nationals and second place in the Senior Olympics," said Welke on the MAC 60’s.
Berlin keeps active in the sport whether or not he is playing in a national or state-wide tournament. One routine for him is a league at The Volleyball House in the Columbia, Md. Area.
“It’s not an age-group league,” said Berlin. “We keep our team, and that’s the way we keep in shape for a senior tournament.” Against the younger players, Berlin says, “We’re very competitive… We came in fifth overall in the last tournament, but we’ve won it in other years.”
BERLIN DECLINED THE FIRST offer he received to join the Keyston MAC 60's.
“A fellow who was heading it up… had invited me to play last year,
and they had won it,” said Berlin. “I told him I wanted to stay with
my current team.”
A foot injury caused Berlin to reconsider, after several near-misses, and he ultimately chose to join the team with members scattered over the United States.
“He’s been our best player for years, and he’s very competitive,” said Welke on Berlin’s decision to join the Keystone MAC 60’s for this year’s tournament. Welke was watching in Dallas when Berlin won the tournament.
"I think we understood that he wanted to try something a little different," said Leo Buscher of Silver Spring, a teammate who has known Berlin for over 30 years. "This was a powerhouse team, and it was a chance for him to win a gold medal."
As for the MVP award, Berlin said, “I really didn’t see it coming by any stretch. I was more concerned about the gold medal."