The AVCA is pleased to name the recipients of its 2024 Girls High School Coach of the Year awards. This year’s recipients are James Ward of Mount St. Mary’s High School (Oklahoma City, OK) and Marty Woods of Dalton McMichael High School (Mayodan, NC).
Coach Ward led Mount St. Mary’s to the 2024 Oklahoma Class 5A state title, and finished the season 39-1. Coach Woods is already the winningest volleyball coach in North Carolina history, and led Dalton McMichael to the 2024 Class 2A state championship finishing the season 30-2.
The AVCA announced Macaria Spears of Prestonwood Christian Academy (TX) as the first-ever winner of AVCA Girls High School Player of the Year Award, presented by Nike.
Spears finished the 2024 season with 649 kills (6.2 per set), and her team went 37-2 and won its third-straight TAPPS Class 6A title. The daughter of former NFL lineman Marcus Spears, she played on four state championship-winning teams during her prep career—the last three came in Texas following one title in Virginia in her freshman season.
Four finalists for the award were announced Nov. 20: Spears, Henley Anderson of Dripping Springs High School (TX), Reese Messer of St. James Academy (KS), and Abby Vander Wal of Timothy Christian High School.
Campbell Flynn of Mercy High School (Farmington, MI) is the Gatorade National Volleyball Player of the Year. Flynn is a 6’3″ senior Setter/Outside Hitter with 730 assists, 188 digs, 131 kills, and 52 blocks this past season while maintaining a 3.94 GPA. She plans to play volleyball at the University of Nebraska this fall.
February 5, 2025, marks the 39th annual National Girls & Women in Sports Day (NGWSD). We invite you to celebrate NGWSD in your community and to join the Women’s Sports Foundation as we Lead Her Forward in 2025.
Volleyball Stories
#InspireSportsmanship: Charlotte Vinson (IN)
This month’s AVCA #InspireSportsmanship features Yorktown HS (IN) volleyball senior Charlotte Vinson who was nominated by her coach Stephanie Bloom. 3.5 months ago, Charlotte was on life support when her body went septic. The support and prayers of the entire volleyball community was nothing short of amazing. After 3.5 weeks in the hospital, she miraculously went home. She immediately started doing PT. After being told no for two straight months in regards to getting back to playing, Charlotte finally got cleared for limited action in matches last season – her senior year! Charlotte was recognized as the 2024 IHSVCA Player of the Year Class 4A. WATCH VIDEO.
Volleyball coaching legend Julie Gordon was among 24 high school coaches from across the country selected as 2023-24 National Coaches of the Year by the NFHS Coaches Association. Coach Gordon has served as the Montgomery Academy Head Volleyball Coach for 46 years and has compiled an amazing 1645-438 (79%) win-loss record, which ranks second nationally among active coaches. She has been the Vice President of the AHSVCA nine years, and served on the AVCA HS Leadership Council 14 years.
The GACA is compiling a list of winningest coaches in Georgia High School sports. Additions to the list should be submitted by the coach or a school administrator. Each list shows those coaches with 200 or more wins in their respective sport. All wins must be at the high school varsity level. LEARN MORE.
Congratulations to the 2024 GHVCA Post-Season Team; Specialty Awards including Player of the Year, Team of the Year and Coach of the Year; and Post-Season Academic Team award recipients!
Earlier this month, the Greater Houston Volleyball Coaches Association (GHVCA) also announced its new GHVCA Board of Directors. READ MORE about the GHVCA leadership in their bios.
GHVCA had a unique opportunity to watch the inaugural LOVB pro season Houston vs. Omaha match from the floor at the Fort Bend County Epicenter on January 10!!
Assumption High School’s (Louisville) Kristen Simon was recognized as the Gatorade Kentucky Volleyball Player of the Yearthis month! Simon is a 5’8″ senior Libero coached by Ron Kordes. She is planning to attend University of Wisconsin next year.
Plans for the 41st Nebraska Coaches Association (NCA) All-Star Volleyball Match are already underway. The match is Tuesday, July 22, 2025, at 6pm, at Lincoln North Star High School.
CLICK HERE to see 2025 players and coaches that have accepted invitations.
The New York Volleyball Coaches Association (NYVCA) is pleased to announce its Class of 2025 Hall of Fame inductees: Sandy Mancuso-Lopez and Angela Robbins. These highly regarded volleyball coaches have made significant contributions to advancement of high school volleyball in New York.
The Class of 2025 induction ceremony will be held during the 2025 NYVCA Coaches Clinic on May 17, in Lake George, New York.
The first-ever NCVBCA Girls’ All-Star Volleyball Game was held on December 14, 2024, at Chapel Hill High School. Special thanks to the All-Star Coaches:
It is with a heavy heart that we acknowledge the passing of Dr. Thomas “Buster” Mabrey. The AVCA appreciates Dr. Mabrey for the opportunity to forge a friendship with the NMHSCA and the New Mexico high school volleyball community. Continued prayers for his wife, Lori, his family, and friends. Read more.
A celebration of life will be held February 15, at 11am, at the Crowne Plaza Albuquerque (NM).
AVCA Member Organization Partner News
New England (NEPSAC)
The New England Preparatory School Athletic Council (NEPSAC) 2024 Girls Volleyball All-NEPSAC Awards were recognized by school classification. The following athletes received Volleyball Player of the Year:
Caroline Ellis, King (Class A)
Cara Lehmitz, Greenwich Country Day School (Class B)
Check out coaches clinics around the country hosted by AVCA Signature Affiliate & Affiliate Partners. These local clinics offer high school coaches the opportunity to receive quality volleyball coaching education close to home.
Approximately 250 coaches attended the 2025 Michigan Volleyball Coaches Association (MIVCA) Coaches Clinic on January 24-25. Former AVCA Executive Director Kathy DeBoer was the sole inductee into the MIVCA Hall of Fame Class of 2025 held during the clinic at Grand Rapids South Christian HS (Byron Center, MI) where she attended.
Senior athletes will be added to AVCA Boys High School All-America Watch List. Non-senior high school athletes will be featured on the AVCA High Risers List. Nominate your deserving athletes.
The 2024 AVCA Girls High School Region Coaches of the year were recognized during the AVCA High School & Club Celebration at the AVCA Convention in Louisville on Dec. 19. This year’s recipients are a diverse group, as they represent teams from 24 states and a wide range of schools—large and small, urban and rural, public and private.
2025 Spring #OFFICIATIONWEEK is a nine day period set aside to make sure our officials know how grateful the volleyball community is for the integral role they play. While all volleyball teams are encouraged to participate, Spring #OFFICIATIONWEEK is especially for boys, men’s, beach, club and pro teams, and 2025 Fall #OFFICIATIONWEEK is for girls and women’s teams.
Reminder that as of July 2024, the AVCA has revised membership categories and dues rates for individual and organizational/institutional members.
Reminder that if your membership is not renewed before the expiration date, your account will enter EXPIRED status. This includes limited access to the AVCA website and services for up to one year. Note – Expired members may NOT nominate for AVCA awards! If you still haven’t renewed after a year in expired status, you will not receive any AVCA member benefits until you rejoin.
IHSAA HS Volleyball Official David Chandler (McCordsville, IN) was selected by the NFHS Officials Association as the Section 4 Active Official of the Year. Chandler began officiating the sports of volleyball, wrestling and softball in 2000 and continues to be an active volleyball and softball official. With the IHSAA, Chandler has officiated numerous sectionals and one regional in volleyball and was named the officials coordinator at the state finals 9x.