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.
Collegiate Volleyball
The AVCA is proud to reveal the 30 players who are part of the 2025 Division I Watch List for its Player of the Year Award, presented by Nike Volleyball.Check out the list here – Group Three will be released July 24 at 1pm ET! The Player of the Year will be announced in Kansas City at the AVCA Awards Banquet on Friday Dec. 19. NOTE: Players who aren’t on the preseason Watch List can still be added as the season progresses.
The AVCA and other sports coaches associations commented on the SCORE Act, proposed legislation to protect college sports: “While broad-based sports programs continue to face unprecedented challenges, the SCORE Act represents an important step in ensuring a balanced and equitable path forward for all student-athletes.” Read the full statement.
NCAA Headlines:
Yahoo Sports: House attorneys, power conferences work out deal to relax NIL collective roadblocks
Front Office Sports: White House Reportedly Working on an NIL-Related Executive Order
Sportico: Update on Stephen F. Austin Title IX lawsuit (resulting from plans to eliminate women’s beach volleyball, golf and bowling)
USA Today (opinion): NCAA settlement for college sports already facing challenges. Was this the plan all along?
Watch here: Penn State’s Katie Schumacher-Cawley’s speech after winning the 2025 Jimmy V Award for Perseverance at the ESPYS.
AVCA Education
1 Day Left to Pre-Register for 2025 AVCA Coach of the Year Super Clinic! LAST CHANCE to Pre-Register for the AVCA Coach of the Year Super Clinic July 25-30. Access award-winning sessions created by current and past AVCA Coach of the Year award recipients and volleyball professionals. Registration includes on-demand access to the 2025 Super Clinic’s new sessions, plus access to Volleyball Coaches Insider +Plus, home of the 2024, 2023, 2022 and 2021 AVCA Super Clinic and other great full-length clinic sessions.
Matt Peck, former Women’s Volleyball Head Coach at Middle Tennessee State and North Alabama, passed away on July 21. Peck led UNA to the 2003 Division II national title, marking the first national championship for a women’s team at the school. He also served as the head coach for seven seasons at Wayne State University (MI) and coached high school and club in Indiana.
High School Volleyball
NFHS CEO Karissa Niehoff shared a key priority of the new NFHS Strategic Plan – a new campaign titled “Protect the Purpose,” which highlights why education-based athletics and activities are so important in the lives of young people. Watch here.
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).
Kerrville Independent School District bus drivers and coaches stepped up to evacuate campers during the July 4th Texas flooding. Two of the staff who participated in the evacuation efforts were Tivy High School Volleyball Assistant Coaches Amanda Nicholson and Aubrey Pruitt. Read more.
Beach Volleyball
Lurleen B. Wallace Community College (NJCAA) is launching a women’s beach volleyball program, set to debut in the 26-27 academic year. As a member of the ACCC, LBW will face regional competition across Alabama and the Southeast.
USA Volleyball News
The U.S. Men’s National Team completed 2025 Volleyball Nations League play with a 3-0 loss to host Japan, finishing with a 6-6 record. Next up for the U.S. will be the 2025 FIVB World Championship in September.
The competition schedule and format for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles have been announced. Beach volleyball will be held July 15-29 at Alamitos Beach in the City of Long Beach, and Volleyball will be held July 15-30 at the Anaheim Arena. Read more.
Take your club to the next level with the Club Management Guide Vol 2 With 8 hours of video content, the Club Management Guide Volume 2 builds on the success of the original guide, offering additional insights and advice to help you manage and grow your club effectively. Only $49.99 for JVA members (Save 75%!) Learn more.
Arm Swing & Digging Drill Progression with Michael Bynon – Lakeside Volleyball Club (NY)
Middle Blockers Hand-on-Ball Contact Drill with Laura Johnson – McGill-Toolen Catholic HS (AL)
Island Exile Drill with Jenny Glenn – Metropolitan State Univ. of Denver
Coaching Careers
NCAA Division I
Tyler Hagstrom has been named the head volleyball coach at Penn.
Chicago State University announces the hiring of Kamille Jones as the new head women’s volleyball coach.
Jeremy Young has been named interim head coach at Bucknell University for the 2025 season.
Alex Venardos has been elevated to head coach of Boise State Beach Volleyball.
Alabama A&M University volleyball head coach Dr. Brandon Reeves has named Nakeyta Clair to his staff as an assistant coach.
The University of Illinois Chicago has extended the contract of volleyball head coach Justin Ingram. In 2024, UIC posted a 23-10 record (its most wins since 1988), placing third in the MVC.
The University of Louisville Athletic Department announced that the head coaching position for its volleyball program will now be known as the Dan and Maria Durbin Head Volleyball Coach.
NCAA Division II
Newman University athletics announced Mike MacNeill as the next Head Volleyball Coach.
NCAA Division III
Jennifer Sim has been selected as the next head coach of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy volleyball program.
Vassar College has announced the hiring of Tyler Blank as the new Head Women’s Volleyball Coach.
The Howard Payne University athletic department announced Nick Noll as interim head volleyball coach.
