| Rita Crockett | |
| Fullname: | Rita Louise Crockett (-Buck) |
| Birth Name: | Rita Louise Crockett |
| Nickname: | The Rocket |
| Birth Place: | San Antonio, Texas, U.S. |
| Weight: | 141 lbs. |
| Teamnumber: | 3 |
| Position: | Outside hitter |
| Nationalyears: | 1978–1984 |
| Medaltemplates-Title: | Medal record |
Rita Louise Crockett (born November 2, 1957, in San Antonio, Texas) is an American former volleyball player who played for the United States women's national volleyball team. Crockett was a silver medalist at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.[1] She also won a bronze medal at the 1982 FIVB World Championship and a silver medal at the 1983 Pan American Games.
Though Crockett is only 5'9" (1.75 m), she was able to dunk a basketball on a 10' rim. This exceptional vertical jump gave her a competitive advantage against taller players on the volleyball court, and it was why she was given the nickname "The Rocket".[2]
In 2011, Crockett was inducted into the International Volleyball Hall of Fame.
Crockett played college volleyball with the Houston Cougars, and was an AIAW All-American in 1977.
Crockett was inducted into the University of Houston Athletics Hall of Honor in 2008.[3]
Internationally, Crockett played in Japan, Switzerland, and Italy over 16 years. She was a teammate of fellow Olympian Flo Hyman with Daiei in the Japanese V.League, and led her team to a championship title in 1986. In 1991, she was MVP of the Italian Women's Volleyball League with Matera, and helped Rome win the European Club Championship in 1993.
Between 1989 and 1994, Crockett played professional beach volleyball, winning $90,000 in prizes. In 1989, she won the World Beach Volleyball Championship of the Women's Professional Volleyball Association with Jackie Silva as her partner. She was selected as the AVP Sportswoman of the Year in 1993 and 1994.[4]
Crockett was the executive director, president, and head coach of the North Florida Volleyball Association, and is now the head coach of indoor and beach volleyball at Florida International University.[5]
Crockett is known professionally by her married name, Rita Buck-Crockett.[6]