A new report from the National Federation of High Schools (NFHS) covering the 2023-24 school year shows girls volleyball participation is at its highest number ever in NFHS reports at 479,125, a 1.8% increase (8,637) from last year. Girls volleyball participation has grown steadily since 2004, with an increase of 93,103 participants since 2004-2005.
The new report shows girls volleyball is the top high school girls team sport, a trend which has continued since 2015. The complete 2023-24 NFHS High School Athletics Participation Survey including participation data by state will be available soon on the NFHS website.
AVCA Signature Affiliate Partner News
Alabama (AHSVCA)
The Alabama High School Volleyball Coaches Association (AHSVCA) announced the 2024-25 AHSVCA Preseason Student-Athletes to Watch List honoring 227 players from high schools statewide.
Georgia (GVCA)
One of Savannah’s most decorated high school athletes is back home to coach and teach at St. Vincent’s Academy. Former St. Vincent three-sport standout Sarah Stewart named head volleyball coach. Stewart helped lead the Saints to a State Championship in volleyball in 2016, and went on to play at Mercer University before transferring to Georgia College & State.
Greater Houston (GHVCA)
After a seamless season of top-notch play, the Houston Skyline Juniors were honored as the No. 1 team in the nation by U.S. Club Rankings!! The good news comes as Houston Skyline celebrates its 15th year, and Houston Skyline Alum & Katy native Avery Skinner powered USA Volleyball to the Olympic gold.
Illinois (IVCA)
The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) will hold its 50th State Series tournaments in Girls Volleyball this fall! To help commemorate the past 50 years, the IHSA will release the Top 50 Volleyball Programs from the State Series era (1974-2024) this fall.
Follow the Top 50 lists as they are revealed at IHSA.org/Top50Volleyball.
Kansas (KVA)
The Kansas Volleyball Association (KVA) released their preseason rankings looking ahead to the 2024 season.
Records are due by September 9, 8am, to be included in the Week 1 Rankings for September 11.
Kentucky (KVCA)
224 top athletes were named to the Kentucky Volleyball Coaches Association (KVCA) 2024 Preseason Watch List today. These athletes are expected to be considered for All-State at the end of the season. Congratulations to the athletes selected.
Nebraska (NCA)
The 2024 Nebraska Class-by-Class HS Preseason Volleyball Top 10 Rankings were released on August 26. Rankings will be available at no cost this year. No. 1 teams by class are below:
- Papillion-La Vista South (A)
- Omaha Skutt Catholic (B)
- Minden (C1)
- Lincoln Lutheran (C2)
- Bruning-Davenport Shickley (D1)
- Shelton (D2)
New York (NYVCA)
Volleyball Classes NYC is restarting their low cost teenager programs the second week of September at Long Island City.
In May, the State Education Department proposed a new gender-neutral rule for school sports. If approved in September, it would mandate schools allow boys on girls teams when there is not an equivalent boys team. About 600 schools in New York have girls volleyball teams, while under 300 have boys. READ MORE.
North Carolina
Nominations are open to the 2024-25 NCVBCA Players to Watch List now until August 30. Head coach NCVBCA/AVCA members are encouraged to nominate up to three student-athletes. Athletes must be included on the Watch List to be eligible for NCVBCA All-Region and All-State.
AVCA Affiliate & Member Organization Partner News
- California (CCA): No. 1 Torrey Pines & No. 2 Marymount top the CIF’s Preseason Top 25 Teams Statewide
- Indiana (IHSVCA):
- 2024 IHSVCA Players 2 Watch Announced
- NEW: IHSVCA to host Zoom calls to help new HS vb coaches plan practices, work with parents, & more!
- Massachusetts (MAVCA): 2024 MassHSVB Preseason Top-20’s
- Michigan (MIVCA):
- Mercy, GR Christian, St Mary’s CC & Clarkston Everest lead 2024 MIVCA Preseason Rankings
- MIVCA Mentorship Initiative hopes to reduce turnover in coaching ranks
- Minnesota (MNVBCA): Champlin Park, Northfield, Albany & Mabel-Canton topped the Preseason MNVBCA Top 10 Poll with the next poll September 1
- Missouri (MHSVCA): 5 St. Louis area top HS girls vb players to watch
- New Mexico (NMHSCA): Three undefeated teams lead the August 26 MaxPreps NM HS Vb Rankings – No. 1 Mesilla Valley Christian, No. 2 Tucumcari, & No. 3 Maxwell
- Ohio (OHSVCA):
- USA Today’s 2024 preseason All-Ohio girls volleyball team
- The OHSAA hosted the “Showdown at Sundown,” a six-team outdoor scrimmage
- South Dakota (SDVBCA): Sioux Falls own Taryn Kloth wins her Olympic Beach Volleyball debut
- Wisconsin (WVCA): HS girls volleyball expands to 5 divisions underscoring popularity in WI
- NEPSAC:
- 2024 NEPSGVA Classification released
- Vb Team Captain Grace Connaughton (Portsmouth Abbey) earned all-EIL honors & the Abbey Athletic Association prize
- Texas (THSCA):
- Vb teams participate in an “Our Day to Shine” to benefit coaches & athletes in need!
- Volleyball AVCA/THSCA #OfficialsAppreciation Game Kit released, teams honor officials at first home game
Watch this clip from the 2024 AVCA Coach of the Year Super Clinic session – “Working on Team Chemistry” with Kent State University Coach Haley Eckerman. Content from the 2024 AVCA Super Clinic presented by Coaches Insider is now available on-demand! Purchase access to see top coaches and stream at your leisure.
2024 IVCA Coaches Clinic
121 coaches attended the 2024 Illinois Volleyball Coaches Association (IVCA) Coaches Clinic on August 10, at Bolingbrook High School breaking all previous records for an IVCA clinic. The event featured 20 HS and college coach presenters and volleyball professionals. Watch the clinic highlights video.
2024 MAVCA Coaches Clinic
Massachusetts volleyball coaches attended the 2024 MAVCA – Massachusetts Volleyball Coaches Association Coaches Clinic at The Track at New Balance in Boston on August 4. Serve/Pass/Attack drills with on-court demos were shared by Coach Jim Stone, Coach Craig Kolek provided 2-Minute Drills, and Sam Curley and Kiely Murray discussed mental wellness and resiliency for athletes and coaches.
2024 WVCA Coaches Clinic
The two-day Wisconsin Volleyball Coaches Association clinic in Madison wrapped up on August 3. Attendees have heard from a range of presenters so far including Gary White, Dipen Patel, Lyndsey Klapper, Jay Messer, and Melissa Gehring.
2024 GHVCA Coaches Clinic
More than 85 coaches attended the Greater Houston Volleyball Coaches Association (GHVCA) 2024 Coaches Clinic on August 3, at the Fertitta Center. Presenters included coaches from the University of Houston, THSCEF, Fulshear HS, The Woodlands HS, the Side-Out Foundation, and Project Joy and Hope.
AVCA Awards
- AVCA Girls HS All-America & Phenom Watch Lists – The American Volleyball Coaches Association is pleased to announce 2203 athletes named to the 2024 AVCA Phenom Watch List and 1095 seniors named to the 2024 AVCA Girls High School All-America Watch List.
- AVCA Coaches 4 Coaches – Scholarship covers convention registration and hotel for the 2024 AVCA Convention. Applications open.
AVCA/USA TODAY Super 25:
- Preseason: Coming Soon
AVCA/USA TODAY Regional Top 10
- Preseason: Coming Soon
AVCA Webinars
- Coach Teach Thyself – Evaluating My Own Performance
- August 29 @ 2 pm ET
- What You Need to Know About a European Volleyball Player
- Sept. 17 @ 2 pm ET
*Free for AVCA members who register in advance
The AVCA Advanced Career Resources at avca.org provides coaches with big picture tools to help them excel at their craft; including:
- Advanced Career Education (ACE) Program
- Fundraising Course
AVCA Events
- AVCA Coach of the Year Super Clinic
- Access on-demand now!
- AVCA First Serve Showcase Recap
The first match of AVCA First Serve Showcase went to Nebraska. The No. 2 Huskers took down No. 9 Kentucky 3-1. Then, No. 6 Louisville held serve, beating No. 3 Wisconsin, 3-1 in front of a crowd of 9,280 at the KFC Yum! Center.
- AVCA Girls and Women’s Volleyball Officials Appreciation Week #OFFICIATIONWEEK
- September 27 – October 5
- AVCA Beach National Championships
- November 15-17, Huntsville
- AVCA Convention
- December 18-22, Louisville
- Register now!
The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday denied the Biden administration’s request to allow enforcement of uncontested parts of the Title IX final rule in some states where injunctions are in place. Federal courts have temporarily blocked the Education Department from enforcing the rule in at least 26 states, due to its controversial LGBTQI+ protections.
Volleyball Coaches Insider
Latest educational content includes:
- Defensive Drill vs. Live Attacker & BOSU Ball with Coach Kaylee Prigge (Univ. of Wyoming)
- Pressure Serving Drills with Coach Becky Edwards (Lancaster Central HS – NY)
- The Team! The Team! The Team! with Jamy Bechler (The Leadership Book)
The 105th NFHS Summer Meeting was held this year in Boston, MA. The NFHS Summer Meeting is a four-day conference comprised of general sessions, discussion forums, and networking opportunities. The Women in Leadership team held two events this year, the Women’s Leadership Summit and the Women’s Networking Social.
American Volleyball Coaches Association
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