AVCA First Serve starts Friday! Register now for 2025 Convention
At The Net – August 20, 2025
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!
The world’s largest gathering of volleyball vendors offering exclusive discounts
Coaches 4 Coachesscholarships are intended for coaches attending their first AVCA Convention and will cover convention registration and hotel. Recipients will interact with successful coaches from all levels, explore networking and educational opportunities, and create life-long relationships with other honorees. Applications are due October 2.
The AVCA is committed to amplifying Togetherness, Empowerment, Accessibility, and Mentoring (T.E.A.M.) within the volleyball coaching community. The awards program seeks to identify targeted volleyball coach recipients who will receive a complimentary registration and lodging to attend the AVCA Convention. Apply here by Monday, October 6.
AVCA Scholarship programs are generously supported with proceeds from the AVCA Convention Silent Auction and private donations.
Two-Year College Volleyball
Check out the 2025 AVCA Two-Year College Players to Watch! A dozen women’s volleyball players are named to this year’s list, which was compiled by the Two-Year College Head Coaches Ad-hoc Committee.
The NJCAA Opening Weekend Tournament will be held August 22-25 in Rockford, Illinois, featuring 81 teams in the largest two-year college women’s event in the country. Matches will stream on Baller TV. The tournament will feature the new Molten IV5F-3 volleyball, providing an opportunity for athletes to experience and evaluate the textured microfiber cover in a competitive setting.
The NEWMAC will add men’s volleyball to its roster of championship sports in 2026-27 with core members being joined by three associates from the United Volleyball Conference (UVC).
96 years young, and still courtside.MeetSandy Vong — Michigan’s first women’s volleyball coach [and AVCA Hall of Famer], a pioneer who built the program from the ground up in the 1970s with nothing but passion, grit, and a car full of players. Born in Shanghai, Sandy’s life has been a journey of resilience, service, and love for the game. Today, he remains the team’s biggest supporter, mentor, and inspiration — living proof that finding your passion and doing the right thing can shape a lifetime. Watch here!
Mick and Daniel break down the eight upcoming matches this weekend in the AVCA First Serve, all televised on either FOX, FS1, ESPN, or BTN as the 2025 regular season is finally upon us! Then they welcome on the defending national champion setter Izzy Starck to talk about Penn State’s opening slate and what the 8 months following a championship is like. Watch here!
Vandy begins its historic first season in 2025 and Anders Nelson has been putting this team together for quite a while. 900 Square Feet’s Lee Feinswog interviewed Coach Nelson in advance of the Commodore’s match at AVCA First Serve. Watch here!
Coach Sam Erger and SMU got everyone’s attention last season. They’re re-loaded and ready for 2025.Watch here!
High School Volleyball
High school sports participation hit a record high in 2023–24 according to the 2024-25 NFHS High School Participation Survey, surpassing 8 million students for the first time. Volleyball stood out among the fastest-growing sports, with girls volleyball climbing to 492,799 participants—a 2.9% increase—and boys volleyball surging 12.6% to 95,972 athletes. This growth highlights the sport’s rising popularity and expanding presence in schools nationwide. The complete 2024-25 NFHS High School Athletics Participation Survey will be available soon on the NFHS website at www.nfhs.org.
Partner Highlights
The AVCA and League One Volleyball (LOVB) are partnering to expand coaching fellowship opportunities. Their program is designed to give the next generation of collegiate volleyball coaches a chance to learn from peer coaches at other levels of the sport. Read more.
Deliver a Modern Benefits Program to your Club Staff & Coaches! Give your employees access to health insurance options, and a broad range of other discounted health + wellness products and services to support them in all areas of their physical, emotional, and financial health. Available for all JVA member clubs and organizations. Learn more.
