The four divisions are set as follows:
During the regular season, each team will play:
– Two teams in their division twice
– Three matches against the opposing division in their conference, and then
– Three more matches against one of the divisions from the opposite conference
Altogether, each team will play ten matches, competing for the best overall record of their divisions. The team with the top record in their respective division will automatically qualify for the playoffs. The following two teams within that conference with the best overall record will also qualify for the playoffs regardless of division. Four teams from each conference will be represented in the playoffs, similar to 2021.
On top of the extended regular season, the NVA is also planning its first-ever All-Star Game! During Event 5, the NVA will bring together the top performers of the regular season to compete for an exhibition featuring some of the top talents in the world in one match!
Make sure to get all the NVA’s scheduled events down in your calendars so you don’t miss any action this season! With new team rivalries established from last year’s competition, fans can expect big show-outs for match-ups such as Freedom vs. Stingers, Stunners vs. Tyrants, Blaze vs. Matadors, Sasquatch vs. Kraken, and Untouchables vs. Exposure. Come back to the news page and follow the NVA (@nvausa) on Instagram to find more info on the teams this coming season in the following weeks. Fans
should also check out the next two episodes of the Quest for the Cup series and get a first look at our two new teams, the Colorado Kraken and the Seattle Sasquatch.
– NVA Staff Writer
]]>2022 NVA Regular Season Schedule
Event 1: April 8th – 10th
Event 2: May 6th – 8th
Event 3: May 28th – 30th
Event 4: June 17th – 19th
Event 5: July 8th – 10th
NVA Championship: August 5th-7th
Each event will feature twelve matches over three days with four games a day. Each team competes in two matches per event weekend, totaling ten matches throughout the season. The teams will be fighting each game to bolster their overall record and rack up NVA Points to win their respective division. Winning your division will automatically advance you to the playoffs.
Some of the highlight matches include…
– Saturday 04/09 @ 12:00 PM PST: Dallas Tornadoes vs. Colorado Kraken, the Tornadoes grudge match against their previous head coach and his new team, the Colorado Kraken.
– Friday 05/06 @ 9:00 AM PST: Las Vegas Ramblers vs. Utah Stingers, both of last year’s top regular-season teams who have both made the final podium two years running, will face off in this newly-formed rivalry.
– Friday 05/06 @ 12:00 PM PST: OC Stunners vs. Texas Tyrants, a rematch of their five-set quarterfinals thriller, which is regarded as the best match of the 2021 playoffs.
– Sunday 05/30 @ 9 AM PST: Chicago Untouchables vs. Southern Exposure, a rematch of a highly gritty quarterfinal matchup from last season that ended in a five-set Exposure win.
– Sunday 06/19 @ 6 PM PST: LA Blaze vs. Inland Empire Matadors, as they battle for dominance in this cross-town rivalry.
– Sunday 06/30 @ 9 AM PST: New Jersey Freedom vs. Seattle Sasquatch, the first matchup between the Northwest and Northeast Coast teams.
Next week, be sure to check back in to delve into the ranking system that includes divisional and cross-conference play. Also, stay tuned for more information on the league’s two new teams, the Colorado Kraken and the Seattle Sasquatch! Follow the NVA on Instagram and Facebook to get weekly media updates on league developments and player stories if you haven’t already. Fans can also jump back in and watch all of last year’s matches on YouTube and get a taste of what is to come!
Follow the link below to get a breakdown of the 2022 season and conference divisions!
https://www.nvausa.com/news/detail?id=158
-NVA Staff Writer
]]>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
]]>From December 15th-18th, the convention halls will be jam-packed with seminars regarding coaching skills, skill development, career advancement, club management, and even sports psychology. Each educational session will be led by the country’s top NCAA Div 1, Olympic, and Club coaches, including some of the current greats with; Karch Kiraly (USA Women’s National Team), John Speraw (USA Men’s National Team), and Alan Knipe (Long Beach State), all leading their own sessions. On top of that, the event offers break-out sessions for coaches to network and reconnect with other coaches from around the nation.
The NVA is sending 16 athletes and coaches from around the league to take part in ten educational seminars as part of the on-court practice demonstrations. Utah Stingers Owner & NVA VP Russell Holmes will also present awards to the top NCAA athletes at this year’s All-American/Players of the Year Banquet. Southern Exposure will also be sending Co-Owners OJ Catalan and Tony Glessner, as well as Setter Derek Sullivan, to help out with making this the best event yet! This will be the second year that the league has participated in this phenomenal event and has eagerly awaited its return since the last AVCA convention back in 2018.
There’s still time if you haven’t yet registered for the convention. You can also purchase passes on-site starting at 4 pm on Tuesday the 14th at 4 pm. However, if you cannot make it in person, you can still watch every seminar online with their Virtual Convention, including live Learning Labs created exclusively for virtual attendees, a virtual exhibit show, and Career Center. Below you’ll find links to find out more information about registering, as well as our seminar schedule for the week. If you see us there, give us a shout, we would love to talk and learn together as we all push to help foster the next generation of volleyball in the USA and grow the game!
Schedule and AVCA Links:
Thursday 12/16
– 11am – 12pm: Technical and Tactical Components that Lead to a Better Transition Game. (Dave Preston)
– 3pm – 4pm: Rethinking Feedback in a Practice Setting. (John Speraw)
– 4:15pm – 5:15pm: Controlled Variations of Live Play: How to Challenge your Starting Side to Prepare for Game Day. (Wright State Staff)
Friday 12/17
– 1:15pm – 2:15pm: Planning and Facilitating a Week of Practice Drills. (James Madison Staff)
– 2:30pm – 3:30pm: Bolstering your Attackers’ Toolkit. (Karch Kiraly)
– 3:45pm – 4:45pm: Training your Team to be Efficient Out of System. (Shannon Winzer)
Saturday 12/18
– 9am – 10am: Serve Receive with USAV Women’s National Team. (Tama Miyashiro)
– 9am – 10am: Adaptive Creativity – The importance of customizing drills to enhance & excite your players. (Eric Snyder)
– 10:15am – 11:15am: Coaching Using Story Telling – External Feedback in Action. (Jamie Morrison)
– 10:15am – 11:15am: Practice Pyramids: Growth Through the Climb. (Chad Willis)
https://avcaconvention.org/virtual-convention/
-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
]]>Attending the University of Minnesota, which has no NCAA Men’s Volleyball program, Lourich continued to chase his dreams as he played for the school’s club volleyball team. Amazingly enough, even without any NCAA experience, Tim was able to land a pro contract with Rantaperkiön Isku (
@iskuvolley) in Finland during their 18/19 season. The club was also an integral part of Kawika Shoji’s (@kshoji7) professional career leading up to the U.S. national team. It was his first professional contract overseas after he played at Stanford from 2006-2010. Now back home in the states, Lourich has made significant strides in the NVA leading Southern Exposure to a 4th place finish in 2021, a massive improvement from their 2020 campaign.
Tim was a blocking machine throughout the season, being ranked number one as the best blocker in both total blocks at 30 and in blocks per set 0.7 (30/43). Additionally, Tim was a dynamic middle coming in to play as an opposite for the team in place for Jakub Ciesla and Chad Mercado. Keep an eye out for Lourich, and his continued success as the team is already prepping for the 2022 NVA season.
If you haven’t yet watched Southern Exposure’s Championship matches, follow the links below to find their 3rd place medal match and their five-set thriller against the Chicago Untouchables. Also, be sure to give Tim Lourich (@bigtim08), Southern Exposure (@southernexposurenva), and the NVA (@nvausa) to stay up to date with your favorite team and player leading into the next season.
SOUTHERN EXPOSURE VS STINGERS | 2021 NVA CUP: BRONZE MATCH
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10_5OTRviM4&t=1137s
SOUTHERN EXPOSURE VS UNTOUCHABLES | 2021 NVA CUP QUARTERFINALS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRzsIiPPURQ&t=329s
“Volley On With the NVA”
– NVA Staff Writer
]]>Set #2 was a mirror image of set #1. At 5-4, SE Coach Tony Glessner substituted #13, Chad Mercado, with #14 Jakob Ciesla. However, despite the substitution, Southern Exposure continued to struggle on offense. Like the first set, the Untouchables defense, primarily covering balls off the block touch, demoralized Southern Exposure’s hitters. The Untouchables took advantage of the transition opportunities that led to a 25-23 win for the set.
In set #3, Coach Glessner started Mercado at Opposite again. Getting focused once again, Southern Exposure cleaned up their play and took an early 7-4 lead. Mercado also finally caught fire, helping Southern Exposure keep their lead until Untouchables fought back to tie at the media timeout 16-16. Excelling at their side-out game, Southern Exposure managed to keep their 1-point lead and closed out the set, 25-23, with a crafty roll shot over the block by Mercado.
In set #4, Mercado again stepped up to the plate, helping Southern Exposure rally and win the set 25-18. But it wasn’t his hitting that saved the day. Mercado’s two digs, one off his foot and the other off his chest, right before the media timeout led to points for Southern Exposure that gave them a 16-12. With added offensive pressure from Tyler Hubbard-Neil and sharp angles from Tim Lourich, SE kept the Untouchables grounded and won the set 25-18.
Set #5 was a nip and tuck battle that went into extra points. Both teams started well, with Southern Exposure taking the early lead 8-6 at the switch. The Untouchables breakaway at 13-13 after Milnaziak took a swing off the block for the kill. Despite their effort, Southern Exposure closed out the set after 16-16 with an Untouchables hitting error and a final dagger roll shot by Hubbard-Neil to finish 18-16.
Head on over to YouTube on the NVA USA page to watch the full replay of the match!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRzsIiPPURQ
Match Statistics
Southern Exposure:
#1 Tyler Neil-Hubbard – 17 Points (16 Kills, 1 Ace)
#13 Chad Mercado – 15 Points (14 Kills, 1 Block)
#12 Uchenna Ofoha – 12 Points (12 Kills)
#8 Tim Lourich – 14 Points (9 Kills, 4 Blocks, 1 Ace)
#2 Eddie Moushikihian – 10 Points (8 Kills, 1 Block, 1 Ace)
Chicago Untouchables:
#9 Jake Milnaziak – 17 points (16 kills, 1 Block)
#11 Kyle Schwede – 15 points (14 kills, 1 Block)
#16 Paul Bilanzic – 10 Points (7 Kills, 3 Blocks)
#18 Thomas Burrell – 10 Points (7 Kills, 3 Blocks)
#13 Will Ragland – 9 Points (7 Kills, 2 Blocks)
- NVA Staff Writer