Officials Appreciation Week, College Coaches Recruiting Panels
At The Net – March 26, 2025
AVCA Events
AVCA Spring Volleyball Officials Appreciation Week runs through March 29! This period is set aside especially for boys, men’s, beach, club and pro volleyball teams to make sure our officials know they are appreciated members of our sport. As coaches, you are the leaders. Student-athletes, parents, and fans will follow your example of treating our officials with respect. By supporting a positive culture on your court and in the sand, we can attract and maintain quality officials. Tag @AVCAVolleyball and #OFFICIATIONWEEK when sharing photos on social media. Learn more!
Single session tickets will be offered on April 18 if any inventory remains.
The season-opening women’s volleyball showcase will take place at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Nebraska, on Aug. 22–24, and at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, on Aug. 25. Check out the event web site for more information and to see the eight matchups that will take place over the four days of 2025 First Serve.
Around the Court
The 2025 Class of the NFHS National High School Hall of Fame includes athlete Anna Maria Lopez, a multi-sport star at St. Mary’s Academy in Portland, Oregon, who later excelled in both volleyball and basketball at the University of Southern California and coach Linda Lampkin, who led Hermann (Missouri) High School to 13 state girls volleyball championships during her 39-year career.
USA Volleyball is proud to announce the full list of 30 distinguished individuals who will be honored at the 2025 USA Volleyball Hall of Fame annual banquet on May 21. The celebration will recognize both Hall of Fame inductees and annual award winners, highlighting their outstanding contributions to the sport. The ceremony takes place just two days before the start of the 2025 USA Volleyball Open National Championship.
Two USA Volleyball legends are finalists for the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Hall of Fame Class of 2025: 5x Olympian, 4x medalist Kerri Walsh Jennings, and Olympic silver medalist and trailblazer Flo Hyman. Vote here!
Coach Sidney Feldmanpassed away on March 18. Feldman was the first head volleyball coach at the University of Georgia from 1978-1988. While at UGA he won over 300 matches, two SEC Championships, and one SEC Tournament win. He was appointed a position on the Regional NCAA Committee, received SEC Coach of the Year, AVCA Regional Coach of the Year, and was the first Commissioner of Junior Volleyball in the USA Southern Region. He also had a 64%-win record and a conference win at Piedmont College where he led his team from 2009-2015.
Longtime Hawaiisportswriter and editorCindy Luis [right] died March 15. Luis was most known for her coverage of UH women’s sports, especially volleyball. Luis became the first female sportswriter at the Honolulu Star-Bulletin in 1981, and was the first woman to be sports editor of a daily newspaper in the state. She enjoyed a long career, retiring from the Honolulu Star-Advertiser in 2020 and then covering UH volleyball for her website.
Get ready for a thrilling season of sun, sand, and fierce competition! 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!
AVCA Polls
2025 USA TODAY Sports/AVCA Boys Volleyball Rankings
Prospective student athletes, parents, and club/high school coaches: don’t miss the AVCA-USAV Regions College Coaches Recruiting Panels, LIVE on Zoom! Head college volleyball coaches from all divisions will answer Q&A about recruiting and scholarship opportunities in their division. Can’t attend live? All registrants will receive a link to the recording. Questions? Contact alice.rogers@avca.org
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.
Applications due May 9 – 2025 AVCA Match Point Mentoring Program! Designed exclusively 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.
Upcoming Webinars – free for AVCA members who register in advance!
LOVB is coming to Louisville to crown its first-ever League Champions! Catch the LOVB Finals at the KFC Yum! Center from April 10-13. Six teams. Three rounds. One champion. Purchase your tickets today!
The latest episode of PVF Revealed celebrates Women’s History month by interviewing the legendary Dr. Cecile Reynaud, Vice President of Volleyball Operations for the Pro Volleyball Federation.Watch here!
AVCA Awards
Hit a career wins milestone this season? Submit for the AVCA Victory Club! Coaches will be recognized at the 2025 AVCA Annual Convention in Kansas City, MO.
View the list of athletes named to the 2025 AVCA Boys High School All-American Watch List. In order to be featured on the list, each athlete must be in the process of completing their SENIOR year of high school. Athletes not yet listed can be nominated here.
View the list of athletes named to the 2025 AVCA High Risers List. In order to be featured on the list, each athlete must be a junior, sophomore, or freshman in high school. Athletes not yet listed can be nominated here.
Spots are Limited! Register for Align Volleyball Summit Before it Sells Out!
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!
RSVP for Club Direction LIVE is April 2nd at 1:00PM ET
This 45 minute discussion for Club Directors and Administrators is THE PLACE to ask questions, voice concerns, request and give feedback, and discuss important issues your club is facing. Network with Directors across the country, listen, connect and learn from one another. Free for all JVA members. RSVP here.
This week’s show features special guest Jamie Morrison– Head Coach of Texas A&M: how he was able to achieve success with Texas A&M so quickly, his take on NIL and revenue sharing, and pro volleyball. Next week, MasterCoaches start a two part series with AVCA CEO Dr. Jaime Gordon, starting with an update on NCAA Collegiate athletics and the settlement hearing scheduled for April 7th. Watch live on Wednesdays at 2pm ET!
Coaching Careers
NCAA Division I
North Florida Head volleyball coach Kristen Wright received a two-year extension through the 2026 season.
NCAA Division II
Wingate University has announced the addition of three sports in 2025-26. The Bulldogs will start Women’s Flag Football, Men’s Club Beach Volleyball and Men’s Varsity Rugby. Anne Marie Taylor will be the men’s Beach coach.
Lashaunda Spurgeon was named the new Christian Brothers University volleyball coach.
West Virginia State University announced the return of Shannon Gerencir as head coach of its women’s volleyball program.
NCAA Division III
After 25 years at the helm of the Endicott College women’s volleyball program, Tim Byram has decided to step down as head coach. Byram compiled a record of 482-324 (.598) and a conference mark of 178-31 (.852) during his time on the women’s volleyball sidelines (2000-25). His teams won 10 conference championships, captured one ECAC title, and made 10 NCAA Tournament appearances. In addition to his work at Endicott, he has been a dedicated AVCA volunteer in many roles including several years serving as Chair of the AVCA Division III All-America selection committee.
Husson University is excited to welcome Kendall Jacobsen as its next head women’s volleyball coach.
Jonathan Paulk named Head Volleyball Coach at North Carolina Central University.
Monmouth College has a new head volleyball coach with the hiring of Hope Neargarder.
NJCAA
Blinn College welcomes Gregg Whitis for his first season as head coach of the Buccaneers.
CCCAA
College of the Redwoods announced that Macy Thomas will take over the volleyball team as Head Coach.
