February 19, 2008 The AVCA would like to invite you to share your knowledge and expertise as a speaker through on-court, sand and classroom sessions at the 2008 AVCA Annual Convention. The convention will be held December 17- 20, 2008 in Omaha, Nebraska. Session content must be exclusive to the 2008 AVCA Annual Convention and topics should relate to your area of expertise. You may also suggest a speaker and topic you feel would be a valuable addition to the convention program.

Attached is information on being a presenter at the convention including speaker requirements and a proposal form that should be submitted with presentation suggestions. Please submit the speaker application form and other requested materials to AVCA headquarters by April 7, 2008. The AVCA Education and Publications Committee will review all applications and convention speakers will be selected and notified no later than July 1, 2008.

Being a convention speaker is an excellent opportunity to network while sharing ideas and learning from others. The AVCA has an outstanding convention planned for Omaha and we invite you to be part of it. If you have questions about being a convention speaker please contact Jason Jones at jason.jones@avca.org or 866-544-2822.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (February 12, 2008) - The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) is proud to announce the 2nd Annual AVCA High School Senior All-America Teams for girls’ volleyball. For the second consecutive year, Texas was represented by five players, the most in the country. Four athletes from Ohio were selected, while North Carolina produced three AVCA High School All-Americans. For more information on the AVCA High School Senior All-America Team, including breakdown of states by region, go to www.avca.org and click on the High School All-America link. Only players in their high school senior season whose high school head coaches are AVCA members were eligible for nomination.

The AVCA High School Senior All-America Committee consists of: 
	Region 1 – Rob Slavin, Sacred Heart High School (Mass.); 
	Region 2 – Tony Crisafulli, North Star High School (Pa.); 
	Region 3 – Joy Becker, Leon High School (Fla.); 
	Region 4 – Al Bennett, Westlake High School (Texas); 
	Region 5 – Carol Russo, Ohio High School Volleyball Coaches Association; 
	Region 6 – Ken Corum, Oak Park High School (Mo.); 
	Region 7 – Gwen Egbert, Papillion-LaVista South High School (Neb.); 
	Region 8 – Brian Doyon, Battle Mountain High School (Colo.); 
	Region 9 – Amy Fisher, Faith Lutheran High School (Nev.); 
	Region 10 – Jeff Carroll, Billings Sr. High School (Mont.).
        
   

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Dec. 19, 2007) - The 2007 AVCA Annual Convention in Sacramento was a record-breaking event, with nearly 1,700 attendees enjoying five days of education, networking, partying and recruiting.

“This was a transformational event for our association,” said Kathy DeBoer, AVCA Executive Director. “For the first time we had everyone under the same canopy—college, high school, juniors, beach, and international coaches. I’m quite certain that years hence, when we recount the ‘tipping point’ for the AVCA, we will mention the 2007 Sacramento convention.”

Volleyball coaches came out in record numbers, exhibitors in Volleyball Marketplace topped the 100-mark for the first time in the history of the event, and the association launched several new convention features, such as the AVCA Talent Showcase and AVP Sand Court, which are sure to become staples of the annual gathering. "By far one of the most successful conventions ever!” said Bonnie Kenny, University of Delaware head coach and AVCA President. “The participation was the best it’s ever been and the NCAA Championship was excellent!

Thanks to the AVCA, NCAA, and Sacramento for an outstanding convention!” Mary Wise, University of Florida head coach and AVCA President-Elect, who will take over control of the AVCA Board of Directors in January, echoed her predecessor’s thoughts. "Like the matches themselves, our convention was at its best,” said Wise. “From the record-setting attendance to Karch Kiraly's presentation, the bar has been raised. Our association, and all the coaches who took advantage of the opportunities, is better from the learning that took place in Sacramento." With some of the top coaches and athletes in the sport making educational presentations, sessions led by such stars as Wise, Dave Shoji, Al Scates and Kiraly were left with standing room only. “The educational sessions were second to none with some of the most high profile coaches in the country,” said Kenny. “Every session a coach could walk away with something to use for their program.”

The new look of Volleyball Marketplace, formerly the AVCA Exhibit Show, drew the admiration of attendees and vendors alike. Over 100 exhibitors, who raved about the show’s new set up, displayed and marketed innovative products for the volleyball community. The AVCA Coaches Zone gave coaches a place to both rest and network with peers, and the Career Center offered those seeking a new job and those posting a position opening an opportunity to connect.

The 2007 Convention was punctuated by the inaugural AVCA Talent Showcase, a new recruiting event designed for collegiate coaches attending the convention to observe high school junior and senior volleyball players, as well as junior college players, who are uncommitted and unsigned. Over 270 athletes from Florida to Hawai’i to Saskatchewan, Canada, converged on Sacramento to showcase their talents in front of 176 collegiate coaches. Some of the sport’s elite mentors attended the event, including Russ Rose, head coach of Penn State University, who was less than 12 hours removed from winning the second national championship of his career.

Although the success of 2007 is still fresh on everyone’s minds, it is never too early to look ahead. With a 450-percent increase this year in investment by sponsors, both new and familiar, the enthusiasm surrounding the AVCA Convention and the sport is at unparalleled highs. “We performed well,” said DeBoer. “And the most exhilarating part is, we can do better and we will in 2008.”

The 2008 AVCA Convention returns to Omaha, Neb., where in 2006, a record 34,000 fans attended the NCAA Championship, and where volleyball excitement is at its zenith. Building on the momentum of Sacramento in 2007, watch for Omaha in ’08 to be the best yet.

- www.AVCA.org -

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 29, 2007) – The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) is proud to announce that Betty Wroubel, head girls' volleyball coach at Notre Dame Preparatory School in Pontiac, Mich., and Don Conser, head girls' volleyball coach at Salem High School in Salem, Ohio, have been selected as the 2007 AVCA National High School Coaches of the Year.

In the 27-year history of the AVCA awards program, this is the first time the association has awarded a National High School Coach of the Year. The AVCA launched its affiliate partner program last spring, initiating an effort to reach out to more high school volleyball coaches.

“We are thrilled to add high school coaches to our AVCA Coach of the Year honors,” said Kathy DeBoer, AVCA Executive Director. “Having Betty and Don as inaugural recipients is most fitting. Both are wonderful examples of the success that is possible when you love the kids as much as you love the game.” Wroubel has been a high school girls’ volleyball coach for over 30 years. In 14 years as head coach at Notre Dame Preparatory, Wroubel’s teams have won the conference championship 10 times, the district title nine of the last 10 seasons, and the Michigan Interscholastic Volleyball Coaches Association (MIVCA) Team Academic All-State award each of the last 14 years. The 2007 season was her most successful to date, as the Irish set a school record for wins with 54, en route to winning their first Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) volleyball state championship.

“I want to thank the MIVCA for nominating me, and the AVCA for honoring me with this award,” said Wroubel. “I am very touched and humbled by this recognition. I share this award with many of the great coaches in Michigan who have shared their ideas and took time to mentor me throughout my career, and am thankful for the many players who worked so hard in our programs and who exhibited such patience with me as their coach. Each one of them shares in this honor too.”

Conser has also been coaching high school volleyball for 30 years. He has over 500 career wins, ranking him among the top 15 all-time in the state of Ohio. His many achievements include being named the Ohio Division II Coach of the Year twice, and earning the Ohio Coaching Achievement Award four times. His 2007 squad went undefeated in the regular season, and advanced to the semifinals of the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) Division II State Tournament. “I am honored and humbled to have this recognition bestowed on me,” said Conser, upon learning he had received the honor. “In my 30 years of coaching, this is indeed the highlight of my career. When I began coaching, I just wanted to help my high school team win a few matches. Now, some 500-plus wins later, I look at what volleyball has meant to me and my family and simply say, THANK YOU.”

The AVCA will formally present the National High School Coach of the Year awards to Wroubel and Conser at the 2007 Jostens Coaches Honors Luncheon in Sacramento, Calif., on Thursday, December 13. The luncheon is held in conjunction with the 2007 AVCA Annual Convention