Joining us in person for the AVCA First Serve matches? Make sure to check out the AVCA First Serve Block Party, a free three-day celebration in Lincoln’s Railyard outside Pinnacle Bank Arena, Aug. 22–24. Fans can look forward to live entertainment, interactive activities, special guest appearances, and much more!
AVCA Leadership
Jeff Nygaard, the head men’s volleyball coach at the University of Southern California, is joining the AVCA Board of Directors as the NCAA Division I-II Men’s Representative. Continue reading.
Collegiate Volleyball
This fall, ESPN serves up its most expansive NCAA Volleyball programming lineup on record:
St. John’s Volleyball Head Coach Joanne “Jojo” Persico will be enshrined into the Order of Sons & Daughters of Italy in America (OSDIA) Sports Hall of Fame, joining a decorated list of past winners including Rick Pitino, Lou Carnesecca, and Yogi Berra. She becomes the first-ever volleyball coach and fourth-ever woman to be presented with the accolade. Read more.
Volleyball Media
Check out this interview with AVCA Board Member Grace McNamara of the Big Ten Conference. She visited with Huskers Illustrated’s Lincoln Arneal about the growth of volleyball within the league and the health of the sport overall.
900 Square Feet’s recent interviews include:
Utah coach Beth Launiere, USC Coach Brad Keller, and John Cook, Omaha Supernovas. Watch here!
AVCA Awards
Nominate for the 2025 AVCA Phenom Watch List and AVCA All-America Watch List! The Phenom Watch List is open to (girls) underclassmen in the Fall of 2025, (players with a 2027, 2028, or 2029 high school grad year). The AVCA All-America Watch List is open to Seniors in the Fall of 2025 (players with a 2026 high school grad year).
2025 USMC/AVCA Battles Won Award The AVCA and US Marine Corps are looking to recognize a volleyball coach and athlete who overcame a significant obstacle during the past year. The selected winners will be provided round trip travel to the AVCA Convention this December in Kansas City, MO to be recognized at the event. Nominations are due Friday, August 15.
JVA Announces 2025 Grant Recipients, Plus A Game-Changing Collaboration with USA Volleyball FoundationJVA is proud to announce the finalization of recipients of the 2025 JVA Grant Program. Thanks to a game-changing matching contribution from USA Volleyball Foundation (USAVF), this year’s funding has doubled, significantly expanding the program’s reach and impact. What began as an investment from JVA to support creative, community-driven volleyball initiatives has grown into a collaborative effort to grow the game. Launched in 2022, the JVA Grant Program reflects JVA’s commitment to removing barriers to play and empowering clubs to lead with purpose. The grants support bold, inclusive, and replicable programs that advance the sport and serve as models for clubs nationwide. Read more.
Calling all collegiate men’s volleyball athletes — beach, indoor, club, or intramural. The Beach Collegiate Challenge is here. Lock in your spot today!
