ESPN shared that the 2026 NCAA National Championship between UC Irvine and Hawaii averaged 149,000 viewers and peaked at 174,000. This is up 86% from last year.
After defeating UC Irvine in Monday’s national championship match in Los Angeles, the Rainbow Warriors returned to the UH-Mānoa campus less than 24 hours later to a hero’s welcome. The Rainbow Warriors had a national championship celebration at the Stan Sheriff Center, where about 2,000 loyal fans showed up to cheer on the Rainbow Warriors. In addition to members of the team, Gov. Josh Green, Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi, UH president Wendy Hensel and UH athletics director Matt Elliott all spoke at the celebration.
Lesley University (DIII) Bringing Back Men’s Volleyball
Lesley University announced the addition of Women’s Golf and the relaunch of Men’s Volleyball as NCAA varsity intercollegiate programs beginning competition with the 2027-28 academic year.
Nominations for AVCA All-America, Best and Brightest, and National Coach of the Year are currently being accepted. The deadline to nominate for All-American and Best and Brightest is next Tuesday, June 2.
View the list of athletes receiving to the 2026 AVCA/MaxPreps Player of the Week Award. In order for players to be featured on the list, coaches must update their athletes’ stats each week on MaxPreps.com.
AVCA-USAV Regions Men’s Recruiting Panel Recording
Men’s College volleyball coaches from NCAA, NAIA, and Two-Year College divisions answer questions about recruiting for high school athletes, parents, club and high school coaches.
In order for a team to earn the 2026 AVCA Team Academic Award, the entire team must achieve a minimum TEAM cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.30 (on a 4.00 scale), a 4.10 (on a 5.00 scale) or an 82.0 (on a 100-point scale) during the entire 2025-2026 academic year.
The AVCA, in partnership with VolleyStation, has launched AVCA VolleyLine, a new digital hub that connects the volleyball community through accessible, reliable match results. AVCA VolleyLine, which is live now, gives you scores in one place.
Makana Wade coaches Le Jardin to Hawaii State Title
The son of Hawai‘i head coach Charlie Wade, Makana Wade was a UH men’s volleyball assistant coach for multiple seasons. He departed the program in January in order to take the position of Le Jardin head coach. With a 25-18, 25-9, 25-21 sweep over Pearl City, Le Jardin won its first HHSAA DII boys volleyball championship in school history.
The HHSAA Boys Volleyball Division I State Title featured 1st seed Punahou and 2nd seed Moanalua. With Moanalua’s win, it is the 1st time an OIA School has won the DI Boys Volleyball Title since 1979.
St. Xavier Wins 2nd Straight Kentucky State Championships
St. Xavier secured its second straight state title, sweeping West Jessamine 25-12, 25-13, 25-16 in the Kentucky High School Athletic Association boys volleyball state final at George Rogers Clark High School. The Tigers finished the season 30-0 and extended their winning streak to 61 matches dating to March 15, 2025.
Mira Costa Tops Loyola in CIF SoCal Regional Title
Mira Costa (36-2) won its second consecutive regional title and advances to face the Northern California Regional champion, Northgate of Walnut, in the CIF State championship game. The state final will be played Saturday, May 30, at Fresno City College.
Arbor View Defeats Centennial for NV 5A State Title
No. 3-seeded Arbor View claimed its first Nevada 5A boys volleyball title with a 25-20, 25-27, 25-19, 25-19 victory over top-seeded Centennial at Sunrise Mountain.
West Forsyth won its second consecutive N.C. Boys High School Volleyball Association state championship this past Saturday at Queens University in Charlotte.
USA Volleyball announces its preliminary roster for the 2026 Volleyball Nations League, headlined by eight Olympians, including the return of Matt Anderson and TJ DeFalco.
The U.S. Men’s Sitting National Team earned a silver medal at the USAV Sitting Cup in Orlando, Florida. The sixth-ranked team in the world dropped the gold medal match on Sunday to Brazil’s Club Athletico Paulistano
Trevor Crabb and Chase Budinger Announce Partnership
Trevor Crabb and Chase Budinger announced a new partnership.The pairing brings together elite international experience, world-class athleticism, and a shared vision of contending for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
Coaches’ Panel of Nickie Sanlin of McKendree, Jay Hosack of George Mason, Brad Rosstratter of UC San Diego, Theo Edwards of CSUN and Dan Friend of Lewis (for a brief moment) jump into this mega-closeout episode to talk about the NCAA Championship
Off the Block unveiled Tuesday the finalists for all 11 of the NCAA Division I-II men’s volleyball national awards that it annually presents. Check out all the awards and the players selected as finalists. The award winners will be announced throughout the next two weeks.
Did we miss one? Contact bradley.wilson@avca.org and let us know. Programs are also visible on the AVCA’s map:
Recent Hires and Job Openings
Recent Hires
Penn State Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Pat Kraft announced Wednesday the naming of Colin McMillan as the fourth head coach in the 50-year history of Penn State men’s volleyball. McMillan will succeed current head coach Mark Pavlik, who retired following 32 seasons as the leader of the Nittany Lions.
The Pacific men’s volleyball team has announced the hiring of assistant coach Gabe Wagner, as announced by head coach Devin Young on Wednesday morning.
Barton College has announced the hiring of Dustin Stueck as its new Head Men’s Volleyball Coach.
King University has named Coach Haley Price as its new Director of Volleyball, entrusting her with the leadership of both the women’s and men’s volleyball programs.
Wilkes University Athletic Director Scott Musa has announced that current assistant coach Zach Shay has been promoted to be the next head coach of both the men’s and women’s volleyball program.
The City College of New York Department of Athletics and Recreation is proud to announce the hiring of Carlo Edra as the new Head Coach of the CCNY Men’s Volleyball program.
Nick Woolley has been named the head men’s volleyball coach at Misericordia University, Chuck Edkins, executive director of athletics, has announced.
