May 22, 2024

Save the date: Registration for the 2024 AVCA Convention opens August 14! Register early for first access to hotel blocks and NCAA match tickets.

2024 Pro Volleyball Federation Champions! Congratulations to the Omaha Supernovas for closing out a super first season of PVF action in style with a sweep against Grand Rapids in front of 10,678 fans at the CHI Health Center.

Season Honors include position awards and two All-League Teams. Sydney Hilley was named 2024 PVF Postseason MVP. Atlanta Vibe standout Leah Edmond is the first Most Valuable Player in league history, while San Diego Mojo’s Tayibba Haneef-Park has been tabbed as the Franklin Sports Coach of the Year.

Nearly 400,000 fans attended PVF matches during the inaugural 2024 season. Click here for a league update & season recap.

U.S. Sweeps Dominican Republic to End VNL Week 1 The U.S. Women’s National Team ended the first round of Volleyball Nations League preliminary play on a high note with a sweep of the Dominican Republic on Sunday in Rio de Janeiro. The U.S. Women (2-2) will return to Anaheim, California, before heading to the next round on in Arlington, Texas.

The U.S Men begin their VNL preliminary round this week in Türkiye.

The men’s VNL competition started Tuesday at sites in Türkiye and Brazil, with the US Men opening today vs. Poland. After three weeks of pool play, eight teams advance to the championship June 27-30 in Łódź, Poland. Schedule here!

Watch the U.S. Women’s National Team at VNLs in Arlington, TX May 28 – June 2. With the 2024 Olympics in their sights, these elite athletes will be battling it out at the last major volleyball event to secure their spot and ranking for the Paris Games! SAVE 15% on Adult tickets plus kids’ tickets are up to 30% off! Use promo code AVCA when purchasing tickets. Don’t miss these extraordinary athletes defy gravity as they spike and smash their way to win the VNL trophy! Last year many games DID SELL OUT, so get your tickets today!

2024 AVCA Phenom and AVCA Girls High School All-America Watch Lists

Nominate your top high school athletes for a chance to be recognized when the Watch Lists are released on August 26, 2024. Please visit this site for more information, nomination requirements, and the nomination link.

Uncommitted athletes on the 2024 AVCA Phenom or AVCA All-America Watch List will also be invited to attend the 2024 AVCA Phenom College Prep Program December 19-21, 2024, in Louisville, Kentucky. This event includes educational sessions on recruiting and mental training, Q&A with AVCA All-Americans, tickets to the NCAA Division I Semi-Finals and Finals, avcaVPI testing, and the Phenom Showcase.

We’re Hiring! The AVCA is seeking a Content Creation and Awards Specialist to join our team in Lexington, KY. Learn more & apply here! Interested in relocating? Learn about Lexington here.

Save the date: Nominations for 2024 AVCA Team Academic Award will open NEXT WEEK on May 30 and close July 2. Guidelines and FAQ’s here.

Southwest Baptist University will be adding three new NCAA Division II sports, including men’s volleyball, to its athletics department, beginning competition in the 2025-2026 academic year. SBU joins six other men’s programs in the GLVC. SBU athletics recently added beach volleyball in 2023.

AVCA/MaxPreps High School Boys Volleyball Players of the Week

• Week 10
• Week 9

USA Today/AVCA Boys Volleyball Rankings

• Super 25 – Week 10
• Regional – Week 10

U.S. Boys Volleyball U19 National Team Wins 2024 NORCECA Continental Championship Springfield College head men’s volleyball coach Charlie Sullivan led the United States Boys U19 National Team the gold medal at the 2024 NORCECA Continental Championship on Sunday night.
The four-set win over Cuba victory gives the U.S. squad a berth in the 2025 FIVB World Championship.

2024 AVCA Coach of the Year Super Clinic: July 26-31 The 2024 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. It will feature current and past coaches of the year and volleyball practitioners from our community. Learn more.

2024 AVCA Coach of the Year Super Clinic: July 26-31 The 2024 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. It will feature current and past coaches of the year and volleyball practitioners from our community. Learn more.

Volleyball Coaches Insider – latest educational content includes:

• Setter’s Tempo Drill with Lyndsey Oates – Univ. of Northern Colorado

• Hourglass Ball Control Drill with Jenny Glenn – Metropolitan State Univ. of Denver

• Coaching Yourself: Managing Your Emotions By: Rainer Martens & Robin S. Vealey

• Click here for more Volleyball articles and videos!

Learn from the best and attend a high school volleyball coaches clinic near you hosted by AVCA Signature and Affiliate Partners. Coming up:

• OHSVCA (Ohio) – June 7
• AHSAA (Alabama) – July 15-20
• THSCA (Texas) – July 21-23
• NCA (Nebraska) – July 23-24
• MNVBCA (Minnesota) July 24-25

• NMHSCA (New Mexico) – July 25-27
• IHSVCA (Indiana) – July 28
• GHVCA (Houston) – August 2
• WVCA (Wisconsin) – August 2-3
• MAVCA (Massachusetts) – August 4
• IVCA (Illinois) – August 10

JVA Grant Program Applications Open until Friday!

The JVA is committed to increasing opportunities for the growth of junior girls and boys volleyball, especially related to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Mental Health, Urban Initiatives, and Disabled and Special Needs programs. Learn more and apply for a grant today!

3 Tips for End of Season Training
As the season winds down and the National Championship approaches, it’s important for coaches to run deliberate practices, designed to help their team improve performance. PVF Orlando Valkries Head Coach, Amy Pauly shares what their practices look like in the last stretch of the season, compared to the early part of season, along with two of her favorite drills to improve her team’s performance.

The International Volleyball Hall of Fame has announced the Class of 2024 IVHF Inductees and special award honorees. Induction into the IVHF Hall of Fame recognizes outstanding achievements, accomplishments, and contributions to the sport. Honorees and Hall of Fame Inductees will be recognized during the Induction Ceremony on October 19, 2024 in Holyoke, MA.

FIVB leadership were treated to a preview of the 2024 Paris Olympics beach volleyball courts, currently under construction. The temporary venue is nestled under the iconic Eiffel Tower. Opening ceremonies on July 26 are set to be held in the heart of the city along the Seine. Beach and indoor volleyball competition will begin July 27.

The Art & Science of Arm Swing Coaching: Physical, Technical, and Mental strategies for reducing injuries and increasing velocity  May 28, 2pm EST Presenter: Nick Del Bianco and Mischa Harris, Athlete Wellness Academy

In the Media: House vs. NCAA

• ESPN: Big 12 first to agree to settle House v. NCAA case, sources say
• ESPN: Sources: ACC joins Big 12, votes to settle House v. NCAA case
• Yahoo Sports: NCAA’s settlement proposal facing ‘strong objection’ from Big East
• Sports Business Journal: The latest on the House v. NCAA settlement
• Yahoo Sports: With settlement looming, NCAA’s smaller conferences feeling squeezed

Volleyball MasterCoaches – Wednesday Weekly Buzz

This week, the MasterCoaches will discuss volleyball “Skills, Techniques and Trends.” Next week, tune in for an interview with Tom Hogan: “League One – Who’s signed, TV deal, locations and more.” Watch Wednesdays at 2pm ET on Facebook or at volleyballmastercoaches.com. Coaches can also listen to our podcast series on iTunes.

The online AVCA Career Center allows job posters to advertise a job opening, search resumes, manage candidates, and market open positions. Job seekers have the opportunity to post a resume, search for open positions, create job alert notifications, and access free career management resources. Recent posts include:

• Graduate Assistant for Men’s and Women’s Volleyball –  Augustana College
• Head Women’s Volleyball Coach – The Catholic University of America
• Volleyball Coach – Middle School – Hubbard Radcliffe CSD (Hubbard, IA)
• Assistant Coach for Indoor & Beach – St. Johns River State College
• Head Volleyball Coach – Mott Community College

Coaching Hires and Contracts

Contact Alice Rogers to report a coaching transaction for At the Net.

Coach Dave Herron retires from coaching volleyball after 40 years, most recently at Truett McConnell. Coach Herron and his wife Barbara Herron both played major roles in the growth of the TMU men’s volleyball program, along with assisting in the continued success of the TMU women’s indoor volleyball program and TMU women’s beach volleyball program.

Olivia Afusia named new Women’s Volleyball Coach at Ottawa University Arizona.

League One Volleyball (LOVB) Madison named champion coach and former sand volleyball player Matt Fuerbringer to lead the team.

Ilani Myers Named Head Volleyball Coach at Oklahoma Panhandle State University.

Héctor Colón named Caldwell University Volleyball Head Coach.

Eastern Nazarene College has announced the promotion of volleyball and interim tennis head coach Derek Schmitt to Director of Athletics.

Volleyball coach credited with saving student: Miles Sanchez, a freshman at Amos Alonzo Stagg High School in Palos Hills, Illinois, went into cardiac arrest after running drills following a volleyball game. His coach, Jordan Sintich, was aware of his underlying heart condition and used an AED to shock his heart back into rhythm. Want to get CPR certified? Find a Red Cross course.