Check out the latest issue of THE BIC, the official mens volleyball newsletter of the AVCA.
August 17, 2023
The BIC
The BIC is the official AVCA newsletter for men and boys volleyball. If there is a specific topic or news you would like shared in a future issue, please contact Brad Wilson at bradley.wilson@avca.org.
Gold Medal Squared Tip
Location, Decision Making, and Tempo For Our Setters
In this weeks video presented by Gold Medal Squared, Rob Browning gives us his top 3 priorities for setters. We value repeatability over deception, but setters can become deceptive by mastering their fundamentals. Enjoy!
University of Lynchburg, a NCAA Division III college, announced the Hornets will add men’s volleyball in the 2024-25 academic year. The team begins practices November 2024 and will play its inaugural regular-season schedule in January 2025. Men’s volleyball represents Lynchburg’s 26th intercollegiate offering.
Wheaton College (NCAA DIII) will add Men’s Volleyball as the 26th varsity athletic program at the school, it was announced by Associate Vice President for Athletics & Strategic Programs, Gavin Viano.
The Lyons’ men’s volleyball team is slated to begin competition during the 2025-26 academic year with a season that begins in mid to late January and concludes with the NCAA Championship in the final week of April.
Menlo, Vanguard Headed for MPSF Volleyball in 2025
The Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) has announced the new memberships of Menlo College and Vanguard University in the conference for men’s volleyball beginning with the 2025 season.
The Oaks and Lions are immediately beginning a three-year reclassification period from NAIA competition. Both programs will play their final seasons in the NAIA’s Golden State Athletic Conference (GSAC) in 2023-24. Menlo and Vanguard’s final year of provisional NCAA membership will be 2025-26, after which they will be fully integrated into Division-II.
The NCAA Championship bid process has been adjusted from a four-year process to a two-year process, with hosts and sites being awarded for approximately 88 of the 90 NCAA championships for the 2026-27 and 2027-28 academic years. Additionally, the opening of the bid portal and publication of bid specifications have been rescheduled for Sept. 6. None of the other key dates have been adjusted. The timeline for the bid process is as follows:
Aug. 29, 2023: Host symposium at the NCAA national office.
Thomas More Will Host 2024 IVA Conference Tournament
The Independent Volleyball Association (IVA) announced Thomas More University as the host institution for the 2024 IVA Tournament, which will take place inside the Connor Convocation Center. This will be the Saints first season in the IVA and will be their first season playing a Division II schedule in their second season as a provisional member of NCAA Division II.
The tournament will be hosted on April 12th and 13th, 2024 and the matches will be streamed on the Great Midwest Digital Network.
Did we miss one? Contact bradley.wilson@avca.org and let us know. Programs are also visible on the AVCA’s map:
Boys Volleyball News
First Point Volleyball Foundation recently published an extremely helpful database that shows the most important leadership members in that state’s high school sports legislature and the person(s) most involved with growing boys volleyball. The list proudly features contacts from all 50 states.
The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) is proud to announce that Huntsville, Alabama, will be the site of the Second Annual AVCA Fall Collegiate Beach Championships. The championships will feature a women’s pairs national championship and a men’s team national championship. The men’s event will bring four schools to Huntsville to compete for the first men’s collegiate beach team national championship. Read more here.
AVCA Men’s Volleyball Alliance
To join the Men’s Collegiate Beach Volleyball Alliance an active member coach of the AVCA must complete the registration information. The nominating coach serves as the official representative for all men’s collegiate beach activities at the college.
If you are interested in starting men’s collegiate beach volleyball at your college and need support please email Becca Just. We are happy to help!
AVCA News
AVCA Convention Registration Now Available
AVCA Convention registration for our event in TAMPA, December 13-17, is now open. The AVCA Annual Convention is the most comprehensive learning & networking event of the year for volleyball coaches and this year we’re adding sunshine and waterfront views to the mix.
Sign up by 9/15 to save $100, plus get early access to discounted hotel rooms and NCAA match tickets.
AVCA Coaches 4 Coaches Scholarship Now Accepting Applications and Contributions
Coaches 4 Coaches provides scholarships, through contributions from AVCA members, to young coaches and recent college graduates who are interested in pursuing a career in volleyball coaching & attending their first AVCA Convention.
Scholarships will cover convention registration and hotel for the 2023 AVCA Annual Convention in TAMPA, December 13-17.
Applications are due by 5:00 pm ET on Monday, October 2
The AVCA is excited to officially launch our new website. Over the last year AVCA has completely revamped the look, feel and functionality of avca.org. We put a focus on showcasing the excitement of our sport and breadth of our community with most photos used on the site being submitted by members. Check out the NEW avca.org:
Groups pages with resources, news, events and awards curated for your needs.
Interactive poll dashboard where all poll information can be accessed from one place. Plus AVCA poll archives dating back to 1982!
Filterable awards directory where you can find awards accepting nominations that you or your athletes are eligible for. You can also explore past awards recipients.
An ever-expanding resource library featuring a collection of seminars, webinars, drills and more (created by coaches for coaches) that curates and filters content.
Access to the latest news across the sport of volleyball from all disciplines.
A sortable event calendar so you never miss an opportunity to watch volleyball, or participate in educational & networking opportunities
AND SO MUCH MORE!
USA Volleyball
Boys U19 Team Has Best Worlds Finish Ever at 4th
The U.S. Boys U19 National Team finished the FIVB World Championship with its best placement ever, taking fourth on Friday in San Juan, Argentina.
In Friday’s bronze medal match, the U.S. Boys (5-3) lost to Korea 3-1 (25-18, 25-19, 21-25, 25-23). The U.S. Boys came close to taking Korea to a fifth set, but a late fourth-set rally came up short.
The U.S. Men’s National Team defeated Chile, 3-1 (25-14, 21-25, 25-12, 25-21) on Wednesday at the Astros Arena in Guadalajara, Mexico. The U.S. finished NORCECA Pan American Cup pool play 2-0.
The U.S. Men (2-0) return to the court Friday against an opponent to be determined.
2023 NORCECA Men’s Continental Championship coming to West Virginia in September
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.
Professional Volleyball
New York Legion VC Wins 2023 VLA Title
Congratulations to manager Chris Hosley and the entire New York Legion program on their second straight VLA title. New York LVC took down Boston Bounce VBC in the final to claim the title.
Stunners Sweep Wild to Capture their Second NVA Title
The Orange County Stunners’ mixture of veteran and youthful talent proved too much for the San Diego Wild in the NVA Cup Finals, as the Stunners 25-22, 25-19, 25-19 at Long Beach City College.
Corey Chavers, who was named Tournament MVP and man of the match, led the Stunners while Matt Hilling added 10 kills and three service aces. The Wild, competing in their inaugural season in 2023, were led by Brandon Rattray who had 14 kills while Matt Knigge added six winners.
A graduate of the university and alumnus of the program, Yigit Erkek was announced as the head men’s volleyball coach at Mount Olive this month.
Jeff Phillips will serve as the Director of Volleyball at Goshen College, as announced by Director of Athletics Dr. Erica Albertin on Monday. In this role, Phillips will serve as the head coach of the men’s and women’s volleyball teams.
Olivet Nazarene University Acting Director of Athletics Justin Glenn announced Monday the hiring of Aleksander Malinic as the interim head men’s volleyball coach.
Ryan Thompson, who has spent the last two years as an assistant coach for Missouri S&T’s volleyball programs, has been elevated to the head coaching position for the Miner men’s volleyball program effective immediately.
Head coach Jonathan Winder hired Will Craft to the Pepperdine men’s volleyball team’s coaching staff, as announced on Wednesday.
Dominican University athletics has named Doug Burchett the new interim men’s volleyball head coach effective immediately.
