Kyle recently spoke over the phone to discuss his experiences this season after having played six matches for the team with a record of 6-4 since his arrival. Similar to his time this summer with the American National team during the pan am-cup, Kyle finds himself again as the seasoned veteran leading a squad of fresh talent.
He mentioned, “It’s a pretty young team! I’m the second oldest at 26, with most of the other players around 21 or 22. There are pros to it, such as our ability to play with a lot of energy, making it fun to be on the court. But at the same time cons such as lacking experience where we probably should have it. Still, it’s just like with any team; you try to sharpen your strengths to compensate for your weaknesses.”
Just as every sports team has experienced, during different stages of the pandemic, Kyle now has a jam-packed month of rescheduled matches from earlier in the season. Raision Loimu will be playing 10 games in 16 days in January, with multiple doubleheaders on weekends. This has become a genuine concern for all professional athletes, as the increased frequency of intense gameplay can considerably affect the body’s ability to recover. But as Kyle shared, it is a price he is willing to pay to keep pursuing his career, after not landing a contract until December. Five months after the conclusion of the NVA season.
“It has been really nice to be back on the court and competing again. The team has been great so far, and I’ve been shocked at how welcoming and inviting they’ve been, especially with how hit or miss it can be overseas. Thankfully I’ve got the right mix of personalities and culture with guys who are always down to eat together, hang out and always talk about volleyball together!” Dagostino stated.
So far, his most memorable experiences with the team have been their bowling outings and a team party at Kyle’s apartment. A “party” involving staying up and playing video games all night long. Kyle shared how he has fit in well with the community and how welcomed he feels, even being invited to spend Christmas Day at one of his teammate’s house for the holidays.
Sadly, despite all the fond memories, Kyle is already finding himself at the start of hunting for new contracts for the next season. It is around this time when job prospects begin to circulate for some highly-sought-after professional teams from around the world. Kyle added, saying, “I’m hoping to not stay here with Raision Loimu for a second season, although it’s been great to have a job and be back playing. It’s still my goal to continue to play at a higher level than what Finland has to offer, but we will see what shows up from some of the stronger European Leagues.”
The team is currently sitting in fifth place as they begin the second half of the season, with an overall record of 12-10. Only the top 8 out of 10 total teams qualify for playoffs and the Finnish Championship. As mentioned by Kyle, “I don’t think we will crack into the top three spots, but fourth place is just a few points ahead of us, which is doable before the regular season ends. As long as we stay healthy and stay mentally engaged, we won’t have any issues making that happen.”
Stay connected with Raision Loimu (@raisionloimu)and Kyle Dagostino (@dagoskyl)as they make their push to the Finnish Championships by giving him a follow on Instagram. Interested fans can also find out more about the clubs history by checking out their team website by clicking the link below. The NVA and Southern Exposure wish Kyle and his team the best of luck this season and can’t wait to have him back competing for the 2022 Championships this summer!
-NVA Staff Writer
]]>Those who attended the All-American Banquet and the coinciding NCAA Div. 1 championship match between the Nebraska Cornhuskers and the Wisconsin Badgers witnessed some of the most extraordinary players in the history of NCAA. The game had historical precedence, with one player becoming the first-ever five-time AVCA First-Team All-American. Of course, it would be none other than the Division 1 player of the year, Wisconsin middle blocker Dana Rettke!
The NVA had the privilege of handing out the awards to the AVCA Players of the Year, and we are excited to share their names with you again! Readers can find the complete list of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd team selections from each division on the AVCA website. https://www.avca.org/awards/
AVCA PLAYERS OF THE YEAR
NAIA AVCA Player of the Year– Nada Meawad, Park (Missouri)
Two-Year College AVCA Player of the Year– Marian Ovalle, New Mexico Military Institute
NCCAA AVCA Player of the Year– Sydney Schwitters, University of Northwestern-St. Paul
NCAA Division III AVCA Player of the Year– Heidi Westra, Calvin University
NCAA Division II AVCA Player of the Year– Alexis Cardoza, Cal State San Bernardino
NCAA Division I AVCA Player of the Year– Dana Rettke, University of Wisconsin – Madison
For many of the NVA players present for the convention, the best moment of the event came from the Athletes Unlimited Draft, which has invited nine graduating collegiate stars to join their league. Athletes Unlimited is the only pro indoor women’s volleyball league in the U.S., which premiered last year on the CBS Sports Network! Two of the draftees, Div. 1 Player of the Year, Dana Rettke, and Nebraska’s Laura Stivrins, went head-to-head, middle on middle, in the 5-Set NCAA Championship thriller. This historic draft is the first of its kind in the U.S. to provide an immediate pipeline for the nation’s most valuable volleyball players to go straight from university to the major leagues!
Inspired by AU Sports, the NVA is preparing to eventually establish their draft, looking to bring graduating student-athletes into the fold after the NCAA Men’s Final. With another successful year at the AVCA, the NVA has done well to show attending coaches just how disciplined, determined, and hungry our athletes are. We hope that the word will continue to spread from coaches to the next generation of college players that the dream of becoming a professional volleyball athlete is just on the other side of graduation! With this much talent already on display on the women’s side, the NVA and their teams are eager to see what homegrown products come from NCAA Men’s Volleyball this summer!
-NVA Staff Writer
]]>What makes his performance even more unique is that McDonough played this well on the professional stage after only recently moving to volleyball from swimming in 2018. When asked about what the transition has been like, McDonough had this to share, “In swimming, your main goal is to beat yourself, to race against the clock and better your previous times. In a lot of ways, it’s a solo battle.” In volleyball, he has had to adjust to the concept of a ‘team sport’ that requires an entirely new mindset. His biggest hurdle has been learning his role on the team and developing the timing needed as a middle.
“Swimming has helped a lot to prepare me mentally to tackle anything in front of me,” said McDonough, sharing how his previous knowledge and skills have carried over. Despite not having the same years of experience, McDonough still has natural jumping ability and body control for his massive stature. Having never been coached in volleyball before joining the NVA and Southern Exposure, McDonough has immense potential in the sport and the league.
Now that he is a part of the tight-knit group of the volleyball community in the United States, McDonough had this to share. “The people I have met are all unique and kind, and I will consider them friends for life. The coaches really care about us and love the game, which makes everyone involved better!”
There is still plenty more that McDonough and Southern Exposure want to accomplish. They are hungry for gold after their strong playoff run in 2021, losing to the Utah Stingers in the 3rd Place Match to finish 4th at the NVA Championships. As McDonough develops and looks to hopefully fill a starting role for the team, Exposure will look to make the ‘final day’ of the NVA Championships once again. “The goals I set in volleyball are the same I set myself every day, to improve each day and to make a positive impact on those around me. I feel the sky’s the limit, and I’m really looking to shock people this next season,” shared McDonough.
Be sure to give Evan McDonough (@evanmcd81) a follow on Instagram to see where his new journey will take him! Fans can also see videos of Evan in action by following the links below to see posts on Southern Exposure’s Instagram (@southernexposurenva).
https://www.instagram.com/p/CRHHoUYlxkC/
https://www.instagram.com/p/CQ37OAWl1qD/
https://www.instagram.com/p/CQo4SCfltNC/
-NVA Staff Writer
]]>With a primarily French roster, the team has a lethal international duo in the middle with Uchenna and Argentinian National Player Gastón Fernández. For Fernández, this will be his first professional season abroad after seven years in the Argentina Pro Leagues and after eight medals in international competition. The club will rely heavily on Uchenna’s experience against some of the world’s greatest players, including Ben Patch and this year’s Olympic Gold Medalist, Nicolas Le Goff of team France.
After a disappointing loss on the road against Fréjus Var Volley for their first match, the team is ready to turn the tides for their season quickly. Their next home game will be against Saint-Nazaire Volley-Ball Atlantique at Avignon’s home gym on October 23, 2021, at 2 pm ET. One familiar face on the Saint-Nazaire team is the Cape Verde middle, Helder Spencer, who Uchenna beat during the 2019 African Games while competing with the Nigerian National team.
Check out Avignon Volleyball (@avignon.volleyball) on Instagram and on Facebook (AvignonBall) to stay connected with the team and catch some fantastic photos of Uchenna in action. To watch their next match against Saint-Nazaire, follow the link below to their team website, which has more information about how to stream the game live!
https://avignonvolleyball.fr/?fbclid=IwAR0Ia7pYb6vfhFIQ_GJcgv1TZFrXNvqRNDnGGSkQ8CIkCrbY9HC8OD2-v9M
“Volley On With the NVA!”
-NVA Staff Writer
]]>The event also saw a momentous run from the Mexican national team taking home their third bronze medal, showing the program’s growth. The Canadian men took home second, losing to Puerto Rico, and the USA took 5th.
BYU Alumni Opposite hitter Gabriel García was the kill leader for the championship match with 11 points, 10 kills, and one ace. While Cal Baptist alumni, Arturo Iglesias, was selected as MVP for his performance as the team’s leading setter. The competing teams also had a great supporting cast of players from the NVA, with LA Blaze, Vegas Ramblers, OC Stunners, IE Matadors, and Southern Exposure being represented.
Southern Exposure saw their very own Kyle D’Agostino making his 6th appearance in an international tournament with Team USA. Since the 2021 NVA Championships in San Bernadino, Kyle has stayed in California, training with the national team in preparation for this event.
This NORCECA Championship team has been a dynamic mix of current alternatives to the USA. Olympic and VNL Teams, along with the top players from the USA. Collegiate Team. Led by captain Joshua Tuaniga, the event allowed veteran players such as Da’gostino, Tuaniga, and Jake Hanes to learn what it is like as the leaders of a national team. The shared experiences of this roster will be vital as the US looks to develop the future of USA Volleyball.
Moving forward, the USA still has Eric Shoji and Dustin Watten securing the starting libero position for the senior team. Still, Kyle Dagostino is right there as the next alternative. Along with Stunner’s Josh Ayzenberg and LBSU’s Mason Briggs in the wings, the future is bright for the United States defensive power for years to come.
NORCECA Championships: USA vs Guatamala
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wERYMflLoJc
NORCECA Main Website
“Volley On With the NVA!”
– NVA Staff Writer
]]>In his professional career thus far, Kyle has a proven track record being named the best libero in both the 2019/20 Slovenian Cup and 2020/21 Middle European Cup (MEVZA) after winning both with his team, ACH Volley Ljubljana (Kyle Dagostino » clubs :: Volleybox). However, now with the more familiar coaching staff in his home state, Kyle has been let off the chain to show just how versatile he really can be.
During Event 3, OJ Catalan and Tony Glessner put forward some experimental lineups against the Utah Stingers and LA Blaze. On top of having middle Tim Lourich play on the opposite, Kyle started as both the team’s setter and outside hitter. As a 5’9″ outside hitter, Kyle scored 10 points (eight kills and two aces) swinging against the Stinger’s blocking giants Jake Langlois and Jorge Mencia. Then playing as a setter against LA Blaze, Kyle put up _ ____ assists, leading to the team’s substantial 58% side-out percentage. Thanks to Kyle’s brilliant playmaking, Southern exposure won every match during the weekend, securing their spot in the final 8, taking first in National Conference for the regular season.
“To have Johnny Gomez and Kyle Dagostino passing in all six rotations against the Stingers’ heavy serves and swing gave us a lot of ball control and defense. Kyle has also had a lot of experience setting, and I think he is one of the best out-of-system setters in the league with a super impressive IQ. He knows how to win, and it’s fantastic to hear how he can communicate with our staff and the team. OJ and I knew we had options with some of our players in different positions to play. However, our team has endless possibilities with Kyle in the mix.” – Tony Glessner, Owner/Manager.
To check out the two thrilling five-setter matches where Kyle his libero jersey at home, follow the two links below to find the match replays on Youtube. There, fans can also watch Southern Exposure play in the quarter-finals during the first day of the championship weekend on July 9th at 10:00 am PST. Make sure also to follow Kyle (@dagoskyl), Southern Exposure (@southernexposurenva), and the NVA (@nvausa) on Instagram to stay connected with the team and catch highlight clips from Event 3.
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Q: When/where did you start playing volleyball?
Jack: I started playing when I was 11 because my sister was always playing. I was also competitive in freediving and spearfishing.
Q: What high school did you play at?
Jack: Seminole Ridge High School. I made countless friends and even met my wife through volleyball there.
Q: What was your college experience like?
Jack: I wouldn’t change my college experience for anything! It was a smaller school, so the sense of community between the men’s and women’s teams made us all close friends, making it so there was never a dull moment. I double-majored in advertising and Public relations.
Q: Have you played elsewhere overseas?
Jack: I played in the 1st league in Prague, Czech Republic. There weren’t a ton of English speakers on the team, so that was a huge adjustment. Even my coach didn’t speak any English, so I always had to use google translate. The culture was excellent, very different than in the US. The experiences I got changed my life forever, in the best ways possible!
Q: Any tournaments and leagues you play in at home?
Jack: I’ve played for the Florida Wave back in the day, and still play at adult nationals and grass tournaments when I can.
Q: What do you currently do for work, and what have you been up to during quarantine?
Jack: I’m a PE teacher, volleyball coach, and make spearfishing and freediving YouTube videos. Other than that, I’ve been working out, playing volleyball, and diving in the ocean.
]]>Q: When/where did you start playing volleyball?
Eddie: I started playing volleyball at the age of 8 and started playing club volleyball when I was 12. I played other sports as a kid, but volleyball was always my #1 priority. I used to foul out of club basketball games on the weekends to make it to my volleyball practices on time.
Q: What high school did you play at?
Eddie: I went to Milton High School in Alpharetta, Georgia, but we didn’t have a high school volleyball team then. I played for the one and only clubs around the southeast at Southern Storm Volleyball Club.
Q: What was your college experience like?
Eddie: Playing at the collegiate level was a great experience for me. I played at King University in Bristol, Tennessee, and graduated with a degree in marketing. In my years at King University, the team and I broke numerous school and NCAA records. We were able to get the conference championship my senior year. The team then won the conference title the following year, after I graduated.
Q: Have you played elsewhere overseas?
Eddie: I had the opportunity to play professionally in Cyprus. Unfortunately, things didn’t go as planned as I had ended my season early. Adjusting to the level overseas is problematic from a cultural and psychological level; however, I have to say American volleyball is much more structured and efficient. The majority of college volleyball programs in the United States would compete very well if not beat many of the leagues overseas.
Q: Any tournaments and leagues that you play in at home?
Eddie: I have been excited to play in the NVA events we have coming up. I am currently trying to play some AVP beach qualifiers and grow my game’s knowledge and skill.
Q: What do you currently do for work and what have you done during quarantine?
I am currently involved in Marketing and Sales for a few companies, and I coach for A5 Volleyball Club out of Atlanta. Since quarantine I’ve been staying in shape and immersing myself into the game of volleyball.
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