Learn latest information affecting men’s and boys volleyball.
THE BIC – September 11, 2025
NCAA Men’s National Championship Expanding to 12 Teams
The NCAA announced the National Collegiate Men’s Volleyball Championship field will expand to 12 teams, starting next spring.
The initiative for bracket expansion has been funded and goes into effect for the upcoming 2026 championship, with a 12-team field. The format will consist of four non-predetermined regional sites with three teams competing at each site. Two teams will compete in a regional-round with the third team receiving a bye and will compete against the winner in a regional final-round match. Winners from each of the regional final-round sites will advance to compete at the finals site.
Boys Volleyball Participation Grows Over 10,000 Athletes
The National Federation of High School Coaches recently published its annual High School Participation Survey and boys high school volleyball continues to grow faster than any other high school boys team sport. For the 2024-25 academic year, the NFHS reports 95,972 total boys volleyball players participated in high school volleyball. This amount is up 10,717 from last year for a 12.57% growth. In terms of participation percentage over the past six years, no other boys sport has grown as much as boys volleyball, which is up 51 percent in that span—making it one of only two sports to increase by more than 15 percent.
Jeff Nygaard, the head men’s volleyball coach at the University of Southern California, is joining the AVCA Board of Directors.
He becomes the NCAA Division I-II Men’s Representative after being appointed to replace Donan Cruz. Nygaard will serve on the Board through Dec. 31, 2027.
The 2025 AVCA Boys Showcase will take place at the Kansas City Convention Center in Kansas City, Missouri on Saturday, December 20. The cost $99 per athlete prior to Friday, November 21.
For an additional $25, athletes can take part in the AVCA Boys Showcase Clinic in the evening on Friday, December 19 at the convention center. Registered athletes will have a chance to learn and develop their skills with the guidance of elite men’s college coaches from across the country.
Empire 8 to Fully Sponsor Men’s Volleyball in 2027
The Empire 8 will fully sponsor men’s volleyball as an NCAA Championship Automatic Qualifier sport starting with the 2026-27 season. The league will have seven members in 2026-27 and expand to eight members in 2027-28.
In 2026-27, the league will consist of full-time E8 members Elmira College, Hartwick College, Houghton University, Nazareth University, SUNY Poly, Russell Sage College, and St. John Fisher University.
Conference of New England to Add Men’s Volleyball in 2027
The Conference of New England (CNE) announced it will add Men’s Volleyball as its 22nd championship sport, effective with the 2026-27 academic year.
The CNE will include Curry College, Endicott College, Nichols College, Wentworth Institute of Technology, Bard College, Vermont State University Johnson, and SUNY Potsdam.
The recap highlights the 2025 boys’ volleyball season across various states, emphasizing achievements such as Volcano Vista’s championship in New Mexico and significant growth in North Carolina. With expanding participation and efforts toward sanctioning the sport, teams demonstrated competitive excellence, culminating in thrilling tournaments and supportive communities rallying for boys’ volleyball.
Coaches and advocates in Idaho are wondering if their state could be the next to sanction varsity boys volleyball. By following the model that neighbor state Utah set, Idaho could get things going quickly.
New York hosts outdoor volleyball to kick off the fall
The Frontier Volleyball Stadium Game was held in Hamburg, New York on Saturday September 6th in front of 2,012 fans! This community back-to-school event smashed the record for the largest outdoorvolleyball event in New York State. The Frontier Stadium Game also was the first sanctioned boys high school volleyball held outdoors in the entire country!
Six Olympians on US Men’s Roster for 2025 World Championships
Fifteen athletes are in the Philippines this month as the U.S. Men’s National Team competes in the 2025 FIVB World Championship, Sept. 12-28 in Manila.
The U.S. Men, currently ranked No. 6 in the world, are in Pool D alongside Colombia, Portugal and Cuba, and their opening match is set for Sept. 12 at 7 p.m. PT against Colombia. Matches will be streamed live on VBTV, and check CBS Sports Network listings for coverage.
The U.S. Men’s U21 National Team defeated Czechia, 3-0 (25-20, 25-19, 25-18) in the bronze medal match of the 2025 FIVB Men’s U21 World Championship on Sunday in Jiangmen, China. The team became the first U.S. U21 team, men or women, to medal at the World Championship.
The U.S. Men’s National Team fell to Chile, 3-0 (25-23, 25-23, 25-18) in its final match at the 2025 NORCECA Pan American Cup on Sunday in León, Guanajuato. The U.S placed sixth in the event.
USAV 2026 Boys Junior National Championship returning to Phoenix
USA Volleyball announced that the 2026 Boys Junior National Championships (BJNC) will take place July 8-11, 2026, at the Phoenix Convention Center in Phoenix, Arizona.
Did we miss one? Contact bradley.wilson@avca.org and let us know. Programs are also visible on the AVCA’s map:
Recent Coaching Hires
Nichols College Interim Director of Athletics, Kristan Mallet, has announced that Jack Normandin ’25 has been named interim head coach of the men’s volleyball program.
Hiram College hired Kyle Martini to be the sixth head coach in Terriers men’s volleyball history earlier this week, an exciting move as the program looks to continue building momentum as a member of the Presidents’ Athletic Conference.
Neumann University Director of Athletics and Recreation, John Krimmel, is proud to announce that Kiriam Yordan has been named the new Head Coach for the Men’s Volleyball program. He is the second head coach in the program’s history.
The Manhattanville University Department of Athletics and Recreation and Associate Vice President of Athletics and Recreation Julene Caulfield has announced the hiring of Matt Jessen as head coach for the Manhattanville University men’s and women’s volleyball teams, effective August 15, 2025.
Clarke University Athletics and Director of Athletics Curt Long as excited to announce Marvin Fong as the 10th head coach for the Pride men’s volleyball team starting officially on August 19th, 2025.
Gustavo Heidrich has been named the new Head Coach of Lawrence Tech University Men’s Volleyball
Houghton University has announced the hiring of Mark Corbin as its next head coach of the Highlanders’ men’s volleyball program.
