The American Volleyball Coaches Association’s Diversity Development Team is pleased to announce the 33 recipients of this year’s Diversity Awards. The coach development program, which originated in 2015, will bring these volleyball leaders to the 2024 AVCA Convention in Louisville, Kentucky.
During this year’s event, recipients will participate in a series of educational seminars—many of which focus on professional and personal development for coaches—and take part in additional relationship-building experiences during the Convention.
“The Diversity Awards program demonstrates the Development Team’s commitment to advancing equity and inclusion in our sport as well as our community,” said Nickie Sanlin, McKendree University head men’s volleyball coach and chair of the AVCA Diversity Development Team through the end of 2024. “We are grateful for the contributions of many generous supporters—from universities and industry partners to individual coaches—who continue to assist with our efforts to advance the sport of volleyball.”
2024 AVCA Diversity Award Recipients:
Suzana Andrade De Oliveira
Palm Beach Atlantic University
Assistant Women’s Volleyball Coach
`
Dustin Banh
Fox Valley Performance
Head Coach of Boys 16U National Team
[Sponsored by Badger Region of USAV]
Tyrece Battle
Georgia Aces Athletics Club LLC
Co-Director/Coach
[Sponsored by Southern Region of USAV]
Dana Cooper
Volleyball Elite Academy
Director/Head Coach
`
Jazmine Craig
Bryant University
Assistant Women’s Volleyball Coach
`
Alleah Dallas
Texas Southern University
Graduate Assistant
`
Joshua Eckert-Rivera
Georgia State University
Assistant Women’s Volleyball Coach
`
Tyler Fenton
Lindenwood University
Assistant Women’s Volleyball Coach
[Sponsored by Gateway Region of USAV]
Gloria Garcia-Rodriguez
Metro Volleyball Academy
Owner and Director
[Sponsored by Columbia Empire Region of USAV]
Christopher Gil
Merrimack College
Volunteer Assistant Coach
`
Nikki Golston
3’s Up VBA
Co-Owner/Associate Club Director
[Sponsored by Junior Volleyball Association (JVA)]
Gabrielle Harris
Alcorn State University
Assistant Women’s Volleyball Coach
[Sponsored by Big Ten Conference]
Bill Le
Garden State Elite Volleyball Club
Technical Director
`
Sophia Lobo Paes
Mount Marty University
Head Women’s Volleyball Coach
`
Millai Madison
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Volleyball Student-Athlete
[Sponsored by American Athletic Conference]
Paola Maradei Mejia
West Virginia State University
Graduate Assistant
`
Vallery Mitchell
Fostering Dreams VBC/UME Preparatory Academy
Founder/CEO
[Sponsored by Junior Volleyball Association (JVA)]
Gregory Monteiro
Providence College
Graduate Assistant
[Sponsored by BIG EAST Conference ]
Andres Morales
University of Rio Grande and Rio Grande Community College
Assistant Men’s Volleyball Coach
`
Keyonna Morrow
Oklahoma Panhandle State University
Director of Volleyball Operations/Housing Director
`
Catherine Murray
Dream Chasers Volleyball Club & Athletics
Owner/Director/Coach
[Sponsored by Southern Region of USAV]
Noel Nieves
West Irondequoit CSD
Assistant Coach
`
Brendon Park
University of Texas at San Antonio
Technical Coordinator/Student Manager
`
Porsha Parks
BOLD Athletics
Director
[Sponsored by Delta Region of USAV]
Ayla Perez
Flow Volleyball Club
Club Director/Head Coach
`
Christian Prayer
Davidson College
Assistant Women’s Volleyball Coach
`
Alex Ramirez
Phoenix College
Head Women’s Volleyball Coach
[Sponsored by Arizona Region of USAV]
Miranda Rodriguez
McKendree University
Head Women’s Volleyball Coach/Asst. Men’s Volleyball Coach
`
Georgia Romine-Black
University of Redlands
Assistant Women’s Volleyball Coach
`
Amina Shackelford
Mississippi State University
Volleyball Student-Athlete
`
Paige Shaw
Grambling State University
Assistant Women’s Volleyball Coach
`
Teagan Symons
University of New Orleans
Graduate Assistant
`
Raveen Golston-Syphertt
3’s Up VBA/Dutch Fork High School (SC)
Club Director/Recruiting Coordinator/Assistant Coach
[Sun Belt Conference Designee]
The Diversity Award program is a key component of the AVCA Diversity Development Team’s efforts to advance the sport and continue to move forward with initiatives that lead to substantive change for society and the volleyball community. Including this year’s 33 members, the total number of coaches who have received this honor is 184.
This year’s AVCA Convention, to be held Dec. 18–22, will feature over 140 educational sessions, a Volleyball Marketplace, and activities such as a silent auction that raises funds for the AVCA Diversity Awards program.