AVCA Coach of the Year Super Clinic: July 25-30
Register today for the 2025 Coach of the Year Virtual Super Clinic, powered by Coaches Insider. This coaching education experience is designed to add value and help prepare you for the upcoming season. It will feature current and past coaches of the year and volleyball practitioners from our community.Learn more.
2025 AVCA First Serve: Limited Tickets Still Available!
Lincoln, NE, August 22-24
Sioux Falls, SD, August 25
Check out the event web site for ticket links. Don’t miss the eight matchups that will take place over the four days of 2025 First Serve to open the season.
Collegiate Volleyball News
NCAA Approves Rule Change to Allow Direct Payment to Athletes Pending House Settlement The move comes on the heels of a final settlement hearing earlier this month to determine the fate of three antitrust lawsuits against the NCAA and Power 5 conferences, with final approval coming potentially as soon as the end of this week. The proposal, contingent on the court’s final approval and taking effect on July 1, also establishes new rules surrounding roster limits for various Division I sports and puts into place a new system of NIL enforcement. Coverage from Sports Illustrated and Yahoo Sports.
The NCAA Board of Directors received an update from the Decision-Making Working Group, which provided concepts for a possible new committee structure in DI. The recommended format would reduce the number of committees, removing several layers to the governance structure and enabling the Association to be more responsive to the needs of college sports. The board is not expected to vote on a proposal until June.
NCAA Division III: During last week’s Championships Committee meeting, the group discussed the role of Regional Advisory Committees following the implementation of NPI, concluding they should “remain in place for the immediate future,” noting, they serve as valuable conduits of communication for each sport and sport committee, championship site representatives and professional development opportunities.
NAIA ratings taskforce adopted a new poll structure for Women’s Volleyball starting this upcoming year, with the conference ratings and national oversight process to be eliminated and the polls to not be a part of the selection criterion. The NAC also updated facility requirements to host opening rounds.
Championships
The 2025 National Collegiate Beach Volleyball Championship brings the heat with a high-stakes, single-elimination showdown featuring sixteen elite teams. Don’t miss your chance to witness the action May 2-4 in Gulf Shores, AL – get your tickets today!
Semifinals | Friday, April 25
Cal Lutheran vs. Springfield, 5 pm
Juniata vs. Southern Va., 7:30 pm
National championship | Sunday, April 27, 2pm
The NAIA has announced the 2025 NAIA Women’s Beach Volleyball Invitational qualifiers. The eight teams will Battle for the Red Banner in Greeneville, Tennessee April 24-26. The tournament will begin with play with pool play rounds on day one.
The 2025 NAIA Men’s Volleyball Championship qualifiers have been announced. The 12-team field will open with three days of pool play starting on April 29, semifinals will take place on May 2, and the championship on May 3. The Championship is broadcast FREE on the NAIA Network.
Professional Volleyball News
Attendance Records
UC San Diego had a record crowd of 3,850 Friday night at its Senior Night match with Long Beach State. When the teams played again Saturday in Long Beach, the attendance was 4,364, which is The Beach’s third-highest crowd ever.
Online nominations accepted through April 28 at 2pm ET.
STRONGLY ENCOURAGED to only nominate athletes from 1’s or 2’s pairs. The committee will only consider 2’s or lower if your 1’s players are selected as All-Americans.
A specific pair of athletes must play at least 15 matches at the same flight, and win at least 75% of their matches at the specific flight. Deadline: Monday, April 28
Submissions now accepted for the 2025 AVCA Victory Club! Celebrate your milestone career wins – High School and Collegiate (indoor and beach) AVCA member head coaches are eligible for recognition at the 2025 AVCA Convention.
Save the Date: AVCA Team Academic Award nominations open May 29, 2025!Get ready – FAQs here.
Nominations for the 2025 AVCA Hall of Fame are now being accepted. Please help in determining who will be the next group of volleyball coaches and administrators to be inducted at the 2025 AVCA Convention in Kansas City, Missouri. Nominations are due by Friday, May 30.
2025 AVCA Match Point Mentoring Program Designed for volleyball coaches at all levels of expertise, our program centers on creating mentoring trios where these coaches serve as both mentors and mentees to create a collaborative learning experience. Applications due May 9.
Submit a proposal to be considered as a speaker for on-court, beach court or classroom presentations at the AVCA Convention in Kansas City, Missouri, December 17-21, 2025. Applications due May 7.
Prospective student athletes, parents, and club/high school coaches: don’t miss the AVCA-USAV Regions Men’s College Coaches Recruiting Panel, LIVE on Zoom! Head college volleyball coaches from all divisions will answer Q&A about recruiting and scholarship opportunities in their division.
Upcoming Webinars – free for AVCA members who register in advance!
Align Volleyball Summit Almost Sold Out! Register today! Align ’25 is the premier educational summit designed specifically for junior volleyball club leaders! USA Volleyball, AAU Volleyball and JVA are coming together May 13-14 at the InterContinental Downtown Chicago! Align your vision, strategy, and leadership with the future of junior volleyball! Register today.
2025 JVA World Challenge Raises Over $10,000 in Dual Fundraising Effort
The 2025 JVA World Challenge and 18s National Championship united 1,100 teams from across the country under a mission to support two very important causes: the fight against childhood cancer and breast cancer. Read more.
This week’s episode features Annemarie Hickey, who will discuss statistics around the women’s pro volleyball scene. Last week, the MasterCoaches interviewed U.S. Women’s National Team Coach Erik Sullivan. Next week: Terry Liskevych on the women’s pro volleyball scene. Watch live on Wednesdays at 2pm ET!
Our interview with LSU Beach coach Russell Brock on this season and the changes ahead, especially with roster limits. Subscribe to 900 Square Feet, Lee Feinswog’s FREE daily volleyball newsletter!
Coaching Careers
NCAA Division I
Matt Stolz named next Queens University of Charlotte Head Women’s Volleyball Coach.
NCAA Division II
Four-time NCAA Division II national champion Head CoachChris Catanach has announced his retirement after 41 seasons in charge of the University of Tampa volleyball program. Catanach helped guide the Spartans to four national championships in eight appearances, including a victory on home soil in 2021. In addition, he led Tampa to 20 NCAA South Region Championships and 28 Sunshine State Conference regular season titles. Catanach was a five-time AVCA National Coach of the Year, 18-time AVCA South Region Coach of the Year, and named to the 2020 class of the AVCA Hall of Fame. His 1,227 career wins ranks second all-time amongst active coaches in all NCAA divisions.
Tymesia Miller announced as head coach of Fort Valley State Women’s Volleyball.
D’Youville University Athletics have announced Allison Post as the new women’s volleyball head coach.
NCAA Division III
Taylor Dafoe named Head Women’s Volleyball Coach at University of Valley Forge.
William Jewell College has announced the hiring of Joe Adams as the next head volleyball coach.
