August 30, 2023

Volleyball Day in Nebraska – It’s Match Day!

After months of preparation, a Taraflex court has been installed in Memorial Stadium, and even Mother Nature seems to be getting on board for the one-day outdoor event. The night will feature four in-state teams in a celebration of the state’s affinity for volleyball. The Huskers play Omaha at 7 p.m. CT on Wednesday on the Big Ten Network, and Nebraska-Kearney will face Wayne State at 4:30 p.m. in an exhibition. Country singer Scotty McCreery will perform afterward.

More than 91,000 people are expected to fill the stadium, potentially breaking several attendance records, including the largest crowd to watch ANY women’s sporting event in the US (90,185 for the 1999 World Cup Final) and the largest crowd to watch a women’s sporting event in the WORLD, (91,648 for a Barcelona-Wolfsburg soccer match). The largest NCAA volleyball regular-season attendance record is 16,833 (Wisconsin hosted Florida on Sept. 16, 2022), and the largest-ever crowd for any NCAA volleyball match is 18,755 when Nebraska played Wisconsin on Dec. 18, 2021 in the NCAA Final.

In the media:

Volleyball experiencing historic season

Dr. Jaime Gordon, CEO of the AVCA, writes for Volleyballmag.com: At a time when the direction of collegiate sports is uncertain and unpredictable, volleyball is entering a season expected to be filled with noteworthy achievements. While every season concludes with the crowning of a new national champion, this December will likely mark 2023 as a historic year for our sport…. The season’s first week has always provided volleyball fans with great matchups, and this year is no exception… However, the most anticipated match is a midweek, in-state contest between Nebraska and Omaha on August 30. The intrigue is not around Omaha’s efforts to upset the #4 team in the country but rather the fact that a volleyball match will likely become the most attended women’s sporting event in the history of the United States…

The strength of volleyball is… also evident in the attention and investment television programmers are making in the sport. In June, ABC announced it would become the first network to broadcast the NCAA Volleyball Championship this December. ESPN will air more than 2,500 volleyball matches on its platforms, including more than 100 linear broadcasts… This coverage ensures that more people will view college volleyball on TV this year than ever before. This momentum is not surprising considering the continued growth of the sport. Volleyball has been the number one team participation sport for girls in high school since 2015, when it surpassed girls’ basketball (according to NFHS survey results). Much more from Dr. Gordon here.

High School Sports Participation – NFHS Survey

Participation in high school sports eclipsed 7.8 million in the 2022-23 school year, reflecting a sharp increase from the previous year. The complete 2022-23 NFHS High School Athletics Participation Survey will be available soon on the NFHS website. Highlights:

Girls Volleyball Participation – 470,488 (+16,335 from 21-22)
Boys Volleyball Participation – 77,287 (+10,800 from 21-22)
Beach Volleyballl Participation – 9,016 (+2,527 from 21-22)

AVCA All-America & Phenom Watch Lists Published

The AVCA is proud to announce its 2023 Phenom Watch List, which includes over 2,800 athletes from all 50 states. The student-athlete must have a 2025, 2026, or 2027 grad year and must have been recognized in some form for her outstanding volleyball abilities. All uncommitted athletes on the Phenom Watch List will be invited to participate in the AVCA Phenom College Preparatory Program this December 14-17, 2023 in Tampa. Registration for eligible athletes will open September 27.

1154 top seniors were named to the AVCA High School All-America Watch List. This November, the AVCA will announce the 2023 AVCA High School All-Americans, AVCA High School All-Region Team and the third annual AVCA Best and Brightest Awards. *Please note, being on the AVCA All-America Watch List does NOT serve as a nomination for the AVCA All-America Teams or AVCA Best and Brightest Awards – HS Head Coaches must submit this second nomination between October 6-16, 2023.

Questions regarding Phenom or All-America Watch Lists? Contact Alex Fitzmorris-Sorn.

REGISTER TODAY – 2023 AVCA Convention in Tampa, Florida!

AVCA Convention registration for our event in TAMPA, December 13-17, is now open! Sign up by 9/15 to save $100, plus get early access to discounted hotel rooms and NCAA match tickets.

AVCA/GameChanger Two-Year College National Players of the Week

Division I Women
Division II Women – coming soon
Division III Women – coming soon
Two-Year College Women

MaxPreps/AVCA High School Player of the Week

Week 2 (August 28)
Week 1 (August 21)

Want your athletes considered for Player of the Week? Update their stats in your free MaxPreps account! Questions? Contact Alex Fitzmorris-Sorn.

Follow AVCA on your favorite social media platforms, including our new TikTok account, for the latest volleyball updates, polls, and fun videos!

NAIA Women’s Volleyball Coaches Top 25

Week 1 – August 30
Preseason Rating, August 16

NJCAA Volleyball Rankings

2023 TicketSmarter-NWAC Volleyball Coaches’ Poll

Preseason – August 18

*Collegiate Partner polls are conducted by their respective organizations, not managed by AVCA.

Register for the 2023 USA Volleyball Men’s Beach Collegiate Challenge

September 15-17, Owings Mills, MD at Stevenson University
Cost: $200 + fees per team & 1 coach
The Beach Collegiate Challenge will provide student-athletes the opportunity to be scouted for future Beach National Team Development Programs. In addition, participating athletes will earn both USAV and AVP points.
The competition will consist of a 32-team main draw. (8 pools of 4 pairs.) Top three pairs from each pool will reach knock-out round. Each pair is guaranteed at least three matches.
Click here for eligibility requirements and to register.

Lawyers for University of Oregon women’s beach volleyball, rowing teams request meeting over Title IX concerns

Lawyers representing UO’s women’s beach volleyball and rowing teams have reportedly requested a meeting with Oregon president John Karl Scholz to address potential Title IX violations. The Oregonian reported in July 2023 on complaints from the beach volleyball team regarding unfair facilities. Due to the complaints addressing gender inequality, there’s potential for a Title IX lawsuit, something the team’s lawyers have not ruled out. July’s news focused on the difference in facilities between the beach volleyball team and others, saying that, despite holding status as an official school team, they aren’t allocated a court or locker room on school grounds, instead practicing at a local public park. They’ve listed other issues, including an inability to find adequate travel and lodging for away games. More here.

THSCA Renews Partnership with the American Volleyball Coaches Association

The Texas High School Coaches Association has announced a renewed partnership with the AVCA. The collaboration between the THSCA and AVCA is great for volleyball coaches and players in Texas, and the three-year contract between the two associations means that coaches will continue to benefit from the relationship. The AVCA will provide educational content at future THSCA Coaching Schools and Conventions as part of the partnership. Additionally, the THSCA will be represented on the AVCA High School Leadership Council and have a presence at AVCA Conventions. Read the full press release.

Coaching the Mental Side of the High School Athlete: This webinar will delve into the strategies, techniques, and approaches that coaches, parents, and athletes themselves can use to enhance mental resilience, self confidence, and concentration on and off the court. Register here! Presenter: Kelly Naugle, Associate Professor IUPUI
Long Term Athlete Development (LTAD) is a sports development model that focuses on the physical, cognitive, and emotional development of athletes over a prolonged period of time. The goal of LTAD is to promote lifelong physical activity and athletic performance while reducing the risk of injury and burnout. Register here! Presenter: Mario Raden, Coastal VA Volleyball/Tidewater Volleyball Association Strength & Conditioning Coach

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Earn up to $5,000 from the JVA this Season!

We’re ready for another season to celebrate! Apply to be a part of the JVA Sponsor Program that gives money back to Girls, Boys and Beach Clubs. Submit your application for the JVA Sponsor Program by August 31st (indoor clubs) and by October 15th (beach clubs). Learn more and apply here.

USA Volleyball Announces New Format for 2024 Boys Junior Nationals

USA Volleyball is excited to announce a new format for the 2024 Boys Junior National Championship (BJNC) in Dallas, at the Kay Bailey Hutchinson Convention Center. The 2024 BJNC schedule has been modified to allow all ages and divisions (Open, USA, American and Club) to be contested over the same four-day period, June 26-29. As an added event enhancement, USA Volleyball is including a National Team Development Program (NTDP) Experience on June 25, 2024, the day before BJNC competition begins. Read more.

2023 NORCECA Men’s Continental Championship – Coming to West Virginia!

2023 NORCECA Men’s Continental Championship presented by USA Volleyball is coming to Charleston, West Virginia on Sept. 5-10, 2023. Teams competing at the Continental Championship will receive points toward their world rankings, which will help determine who qualifies for the 2024 Olympic Games. Learn more about the event and purchase tickets here.

U.S. Women Cruise Past Costa Rica in NORCECA Opener

The U.S. Women’s National Team began play at the 2023 NORCECA Championship in Quebec with a 3-0 victory over a young Costa Rica squad on Tuesday. The U.S., ranked third in the world, faces Cuba on Wednesday. The U.S. Women have won the NORCECA Championship eight times, but not since 2015. The Dominican Republic won the last two editions in 2019 and ’21. More here.

Six Rotations: An Opening Weekend Filled with Upsets! Four Top-10 Teams Go Down

Daniel Gillman and Mick Haley break down all the wild action from the first weekend of NCAA Women’s Volleyball in 2023. Watch here!

This week we wanted to dive into the opening weekend first by hearing first hand observations by the MasterCoaches that viewed some of the teams personally as well as looking at how conferences performed across the country. We will also highlight some of the upcoming matches that promise to be barn burners this week. Finally we will move into the international game and talk about how our national teams are doing, the tournaments coming up and their importance.

Last week on the MasterCoaches Wednesday Weekly Buzz, our topic was NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball. The panel’s discussion covered the opening weekend and related items surrounding the women’s collegiate game. Watch live and past broadcasts on Facebook or volleyballmastercoaches.com!

Volleyball Coaches Insider – latest educational content includes:

Multi-Purpose Drill with Jen DeJarld – Mother McAuley Liberal Arts High School (IL)
Setters Key: Hands Up on Time with Luka Slabe – North Carolina State Univ.
Acknowledgement Rule By: Mike Hebert
Click here for more Volleyball articles and videos!

Need information for your contract negotiation or job hunt? Click here for the latest AVCA Salary Survey and AVCA Career Center resources. (2023 salary surveys will be conducted this summer.)

AVCA Career Center: Find Your Next Job or Hire a Coach

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. Click here to get started!

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

University of Lynchburg is excited to introduce Ryan Turner as the head coach of Lynchburg’s new men’s volleyball program.

Huston-Tillotson University has hired LaTonya Washington as the school’s head volleyball coach.

Western New England University Athletics is excited to announce the hiring of Matt Lein as the new head coach of WNE Women’s Volleyball.

Katie LaClaire hired as Head Women’s Volleyball Coach at SUNY Poly.

Vermont State University Lyndon has named Bill Reilly as its Head Volleyball Coach.

Corban University has announced the hiring of Dan Stephens and Avari Ridgway to lead the Warrior Beach Volleyball program as the Head Coach and Associate Head Coach, respectively.

Dalliana Toussaint, former standout student-athlete and City College of New York Athletics Hall of Famer, named the next head coach of the women’s volleyball program.