Flo Hyman and Rita Buck-Crockett will be honored next month, as they’re set to be inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame. During her collegiate career, Hyman was a player at the University of Houston. In 1974, she became the first female athlete to ever receive a scholarship at Houston, but she refused to accepta full ride, as she hoped her teammates could benefit from some of that money. That same year, she earned a spot on the U.S. National team at 20 years old.
Hyman competed with the Houston Cougars for 3 seasons, earning All-American status each season and leading the team to top 5 finishes in each of those seasons. She decided to forego her final collegiate season in order to play for the U.S. National Team full time in the leadup to the 1980 Olympic Games. As it turned out, however, the country ended up boycotting the Olympics that year. At the 1984 Olympics, she helped the U.S. earn a silver medal.
Buck-Crockett was a teammate of Hyman’s while they played at Houston, and was named a 1979 AIAW All-American. She was also a member of the 1984 Olympic squad that won a silver medal. Outside of the U.S., Buck-Crockett played professional volleyball in Japan, Italy, and Switzerland.
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