2006 BYU Hall of Fame

Ethan Watts started playing volleyball as a high school junior. Just two years later, he was on his way to a successful career as a collegiate, professional and Olympic volleyball player.

From Tulsa, Oklahoma, Watts didn't start playing volleyball until he joined a club team in Tulsa because his school didn't play the sport. He developed quickly into a dominating Division I college athlete.

The accolades came early and often for Watts who was named to the WIVA All-Freshman team in 1991. Watts had 177 kills and a .337 hitting percentage as a freshman and led the team in block assists. From his freshman season on, his hard work and training paid off and showed in his performance on the court. Watts improved statistically in each of his four years.

Not only did Watts improve each year in the stat books, he also earned more accolades as his career progressed. As a sophomore, Watts was honored as an honorable mention All-American while ranking second nationally in blocks per game. He earned second-team All-America honors as a junior while leading the nation in hitting percentage (.493) and was a first-team All-American as a senior. Watts set personal season highs in hitting percentage (.519), kills (416), blocks (146) and digs (124).

Watts' performance on the court was reflected in his team's overall performance. Between 1991 (Watts' freshman year) and 1994 (his senior year) BYU improved its record from 2-25 to 21-6.

Watts was the first of a string of BYU All-Americans that eventually led to three National Championships.

After his BYU playing years, Watts went on to play professionally in Italy. In 1996, he represented his country in Atlanta at the 1996 Summer Olympics.

While playing with the U.S. National team in the Canary Islands, Watts met Manuela Mezzardi. Watts continued playing in Italy where he dated and later married Manuela.

Watts returned to BYU in 1996 to finish his schooling. In 1997, he earned a B.S. in psychology. After finishing his degree at BYU, Watts earned an MBA at the University of San Diego. He also earned a JD from USD, graduating in the top 25 percent of his class.

Watts worked as an attorney at Mazzarella Caldarelli, LLP. He was a member of various attorney organizations, including the American Inns of Court, the San Diego County Bar Association, the California Bar, the Association of Business Trial Lawyers and the American Bar Association.

Watts volunteered for an organization his wife established called Operation Calendar. The organization raised money for wounded veterans.

• WIVA All-Freshman team
• Had 177 kills and hit .337
• Had 146 total blocks and 99 digs
• Added 11 aces and three assists
• Led the team with 140 block assists.

• Third-Team All-MPSF
• Honorable Mention All-American
• Second in the country in blocking with 1.71 per game and sixth in hitting with a .434 hitting percentage
• Had 81 digs and nine aces

• Second-Team All-American
• Second-Team All-MPSF
• Led the nation in hitting at .493 and was sixth in blocks with a 1.66 per game average
• Averaged 4.45 kills per game
• Added 120 digs

• First-Team All-American
• First-Team All-MPSF
• Led the team hitting .519
• Third on the team in total kills with 416 and a 4.7 kills per game average
• Led the team with 146 total blocks
• Added 124 digs, 17 aces, and 12 assists