AVCA Joins Collegiate Coaching Associations in Urging Congressional Intervention to Safeguard Olympic and Non-Revenue Programs
The AVCA stands with its peer organizations in acknowledging the final approval of the House v. NCAA settlement while sounding the alarm on the existential threat it poses to Olympic and broad-based sports.
“This is a defining moment for the future of college sports,” said AVCA CEO Dr. Jaime Gordon. “The AVCA has consistently advocated for a sustainable path forward, one that upholds both fairness in athlete compensation and the foundational principle of broad-based participation. That balance is at risk, and action is needed now.” Read the full AVCA response here, and the joint statement with college coaches associations here.
On Friday, the NCAA’s House settlement of three antitrust cases was approved, ushering in new era where schools can directly pay athletes. Paychecks can begin to be distributed from schools to athletes on July 1, and the new enforcement entity, the College Sports Commission immediately takes effect. Additionally, the House settlement will pay thousands of former athletes [playing from 2016-2024] backpay from lost NIL compensation. Read coverage from: USA Today, Yahoo Sports, ESPN, CBS Sports, The Athletic,Sports Illustrated, Sportico.
AAU Ruling Regarding Double Contact on Second Ball:AAU Volleyball will adopt the current (2024) NCAA rule regarding multiple contacts on a team’s second hit. This ruling is approved by NFHS and USAV as the rule for the 2026 season. This rule will go into effect for immediate use at the 2025 AAU National Volleyball Championships.
The AVCA is proud to announce the 2025 AVCA Best and Brightest Awards for Boys High School Senior student-athletes. The awards honors individual high school Senior student-athletes who excel on and off the court, who must have earned at least a 3.5 unweighted/4.0 weighted GPA (or equivalent) during their junior year and play in 50% of their varsity team’s sets during their senior season.
AVCA Team Academic Award – nominations due June 30
The award program honors collegiate and high school varsity volleyball teams with a 3.3 GPA or higher (on a 4.0 scale.) Click here to nominate, and here for FAQs.
Nominate for the 2025 AVCA Phenom Watch List and AVCA All-America Watch List! The Phenom Watch List is open to 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).
Submissions now accepted for the 2025 AVCA Victory Club! Celebrate your milestone career wins – High School and Collegiate (women’s, men’s, girls, boys, indoor and beach) AVCA member head coaches are eligible for recognition at the 2025 AVCA Convention.
The 2025 AVCA Coach of the Year Virtual Super Clinic, powered by Coaches Insider, education experience is designed to add value and help prepare you for the upcoming season.SAVE WITH EARLY REGISTRATION now until June 22.
Check out coaches clinics happening around the country hosted by AVCA Signature Affiliate and Affiliate Partners! These local clinics offer high school coaches the opportunity to receive quality volleyball coaching education close to home.
USA Volleyball News
Fourteen members of the U.S. Men’s National Team are in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, this week for the 2025 Volleyball Nations League (VNL), which features the world’s top 18 men’s teams. The U.S. Men are currently ranked No. 3 in the world and have medaled four times in VNL history.
USA Volleyball Announces 2025 Beach Collegiate/U26 National Team This elite group, featuring 14 men and 17 women, will participate in a 10-day training block from June 9-19 in Hermosa Beach, California alongside USA Volleyball’s Beach A2 National Team, gaining valuable experience in a high-performance environment.
Volleyball Advocacy
The USA Volleyball Foundation, the philanthropic arm of USA Volleyball, announced its combination with the First Point Volleyball Foundation. The USA Volleyball Foundation will assume all of First Point’s assets and honor its existing grant commitments dedicated to the growth and development of boys and men’s volleyball. USA Volleyball Chief Advancement Officer Wade Garard has been elected president of the USA Volleyball Foundation. Read more.
Partner Highlights
The JVA Beach Watch List recognizes female beach athletes from JVA member clubs as the top junior beach athletes in their division in graduation classes 2025, 2026, 2027 and 2028. Athletes on the JVA Beach Watch List will be considered for the JVA Best in Beach Award, honoring the nation’s top female JVA beach athletes for outstanding achievement during the competitive beach season. NOMINATE HERE.
Register for Coach Connection LIVE on Tuesday, June 17th Two accomplished club directors, Garrett Minyard (Northeast Volleyball Club) and Mike Garcia (Austin Juniors Volleyball), will share their proven strategies for organizing and running effective tryouts. Plus, they’ll answer your questions live, giving you practical insights to streamline your selection process and set your teams up for success. Live and available On Demand for those who register.
Blocking Warm Up Drill with Jaylen Reyes – Univ. of Nebraska
I’m Stressed and I Have the Capability of Calming Down with Dr. Colleen Hacker – Team USA / Pacific Lutheran Univ.
Hazing/Bullying in Athletics By: David T. Morris Originally Published in: Student-Athletes: Control Your Own Destiny
Volleyball Media
Opinion: The Battle For Professional Volleyball Has Officially BegunDefector.com describes the many American pro volleyball leagues as an “embarrassment of riches for the American volleyball fan,” and examines the impact of the investment in women’s sports through various business models.
900 Square Feet’s Lee Feinswog interviewed outgoing AVCA President Kirsten Bernthal Booth and her successor, Ohio State coach Jen Flynn Oldenburg. They addressed many of the issues in this most tenuous time for Olympic sports on the college level.
This week’s MasterCoaches Wednesday Weekly Buzz will feature Brooke Nuneviller for “An Athlete’s Perspective on Pro Volleyball.” Brooke reveals what it is like on game day in Omaha, plus tips on how an athlete can improve their brand and how to pass and hit efficiently. She compares the different pro leagues and much more in a candid interview. Watch live on Wednesdays at 2pm ET!
Coaching Careers
NCAA Division I
Kristian Kuld named Oregon Beach Volleyball Head Coach.
NCAA Division II
Concordia University Irvine athletics is excited to announce the hiring of Jon Girten as the next men’s volleyball head coach of the Golden Eagles.
NCAA Division III
The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford has hired Kelly Unverdorben as head coach of the women’s volleyball program.
Kalamazoo College announced the hiring of Andi Phelps as its new head volleyball coach.
Jordan Robinson named Head Men’s Volleyball Coach for Arcadia University.
Jamie Peterson drops interim title, named Head Coach of Wittenberg Men’s Volleyball.
NAIA
Webber International names Nadia Reid as Women’s Beach Head Coach and Audrye Alejandro-Rivera as Women’s Indoor Volleyball Head Coach.
