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.
AVCA NCAA DIII Awards Announced
The AVCA is proud to announce the 21st edition of its All-America teams for NCAA Division III men’s volleyball. The 2024 lists include 28 players—14 each on the first and second teams—from 18 schools.
In addition, Sam Levinson from Springfield College was selected as the AVCA Division III National Newcomer of the Year following a standout first season with the Pride.
The NCAA announced the eight teams vying for the 2024 National Collegiate Men’s Volleyball Championship. All rounds of the championship will be hosted by Long Beach State University.
The NAIA has officially announced the 2024 NAIA Men’s Volleyball Championship qualifiers. The 12-team field will begin play on April 30 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, at the Alliant Energy PowerHouse.
This year’s field includes eight automatic bids, three at-large selections and one host berth. The automatic berths are determined by conference/group regular-season or tournament winners. The remaining at-large bids were determined by a selection committee made up of coaches and administrators from across the nation.
Action inside the Alliant Energy PowerHouse will open with three days of pool play, starting on April 30 and ending on May 2. The semifinals will take place on May 2, and the championship will take place on May 3.
Finger Lakes Community College Captures Back-to-Back NJCAA Invitational
The Finger Lakes Community College men’s volleyball team made history Sunday evening, claiming their second-consecutive NJCAA Men’s Volleyball National Invitational Championship in a 3-1 victory over Monroe College (New Rochelle, N.Y.) at the College of DuPage. Read the full tournament wrap-up.
Men’s Coaches Polls
NAIA Men’s Volleyball Coaches’ Top 15 Poll
The Master’s (Calif.) remains at No. 1 in the latest edition of the 2024 NAIA Men’s Volleyball Coaches’ Top 15 Rating. Cornerstone (Mich.) rejoined the Top 15 this week. Park (Mo.) made the largest move up four spots to No. 8. Updated on April 17.
2024 USA Today/AVCA Super 25 and Regional Polls
The latest USA Today/AVCA Boys High School Super 25 and Regional Rankings are updated weekly and determined by AVCA member coaches. Regions are determined by the AVCA.
Earlier today, April 25, we learned the University of Saint Katherine has ceased all operations, effective immediately. Our hearts break for our student-athletes at the conclusion of their Firebird careers, and we pray for their continued success as they move forward.
Kansas Wesleyan to Join Heart of America Conference
Kansas Wesleyan Men’s Volleyball will make the move to the Heart of America Conference starting with the 2025 season.
KWU spent its first three seasons playing in the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC).
Hawaii Men’s Volleyball Signs NIL Trading Card Deal
The University of Hawai’i and ONIT, a leader in the Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) trading card space announced the launch of an initiative where 4,500 packs of trading cards featuring members of the Hawai’i Men’s Volleyball team will be available for purchase. Read more here.
Volleyball MasterCoaches – Wednesday Weekly Buzz
This week Master Coaches interviewed Jesse Sultzer to provide exciting insight on the evolution of volleyball numbers and statistics and Kay Rogness to get little peek behind the scenes of USAV qualifying events and other major for profit volleyball tournaments.
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
2024 VolleyballMag Boys Fab 50 Released
Variety is the main talking point when it comes to the 2024 VolleyballMag Boys Fab 50 list that honors the top 50 senior-age players in the country.
This year, a record 18 states (including Rhode Island, which is likely making its first Fab 50 appearance) are represented in a sport that continues to grow in leaps and bounds in this country. California, as is custom, leads the way with 25 entries, comprising nearly half the list.
There are more than 50 players listed due to a tie for the final spot (ties are not broken). Illinois held its usual top-three position, finishing second this time around with eight entries, while Arizona was third with four.
PSAL Announces 17 New NYC HS Boys Teams with $50,000 Grant from First Point Volleyball Foundation
Danny Harris, Senior Executive Director of PSAL, New York City’s Public Schools Athletics League, announced on Thursday April 18, 2024 the formation of seventeen (17) new varsity high school boys’ volleyball teams that began play in early April. Harris also announced PSAL has received grant support led by First Point Volleyball Foundation totaling $50,000 to support PSAL’s increased sponsorship of high school girls’ and boys’ volleyball. Read the full post here.
USA Today Releases Boys Volleyball Player of the Year Watch List
This initial list includes 50 current student-athletes who meet the nomination criteria for this year’s national Boys Volleyball Player of the Year award. These athletes were either nominees in last year’s national show, or athletes who were seriously considered based on season-wide performance, state championships and any other state, regional and/or national recognition. See the full list of athletes here.
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.
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!
Thank you to the 98 teams, coaches, state athletic and coaches associations, and officials associations in 34 states who participated 2nd Annual American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Boys, Men’s & Beach Volleyball Officials Appreciation Week on March 23 – April 7, 2024.
We’re thrilled to announce exciting changes to our mentoring program that will enhance your coaching journey even further! Beginning with the upcoming cycle, we’re transitioning from a one-to-one mentoring model to a trio-based structure, designed to maximize collaborative learning and support among coaches. The AVCA Match Point Mentoring Program is 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. Applications are due by April 30. Questions should be directed to Becca Just.
Ten Olympians highlight the U.S. Men’s National Team’s 30-athlete roster for the 2024 Volleyball Nations League (VNL).
Volleyball Nations League is the world’s premier annual international indoor volleyball tournament. The top 16 teams in the world play four matches a week for three weeks of preliminary competition. The top eight teams at the end of the preliminaries will go to the Final Round on June 27-30 in Łódź, Poland.
