National Volleyball Association

Last updated

National Volleyball Association
Upcoming season or competition:
Volleyball current event.svg 2024 NVA season
National Volleyball Association Logo.svg
Sport Volleyball
Founded2017;7 years ago (2017)
First season2018
No. of teams12
Country United States
Headquarters3100 Airway Ave
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Continent North America
Most recent
champion(s)
Orange County Stunners
(2nd title)
Streaming partner(s) NVA TV
Official website nvausa.com

The National Volleyball Association (NVA) is a professional indoor volleyball league in the United States. The league comprises 12 teams and is one of the top-level sports leagues below the major leagues amongst lacrosse, rugby, and indoor soccer. It has become one of the premier men's professional leagues globally, holding the best talent that the United States has to offer.

Contents

The league was founded in Costa Mesa, California, in 2017. The NVA's regular season runs from March to August, with each team playing nine games during the regular season. As of 2021, NVA players became the first volleyball athletes to have paid salaries in a Men's American Volleyball league outside of Puerto Rico.

The NVA is an active partner with the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA), which collaborates with the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) and the Olympic team. The league office and some individual team offices operate out of NVA's headquarters in Costa Mesa.

NVA's 2020 season was postponed due to COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2021, two new teams joined the league, the Chicago Untouchables and the Dallas Tornadoes. [1]

Then in 2022, the Seattle Sasquatch and Colorado Kraken brought the league to a total of 12 teams.

Entering the 2023 season, three new teams joined the league including, the Puerto Rico Pythons, Philadelphia Founders, and San Diego Wild. These teams took the place of the Tornadoes, Kraken, and Sasquatch.

The OC Stunners are the reigning champions, beating San Diego Wild 3–0 in the 2023 NVA Championship Cup Finals becoming the first team to obtain two National Titles with the NVA. [2] [3] [4] [5]

Teams

National Volleyball Association's 12 teams are divided between the National and American Conferences.

Usa edcp location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Untouchables
Red pog.svg
Blaze
Red pog.svg
Tyrants
Red pog.svg
Stunners
Red pog.svg
Freedom
Red pog.svg
Wild
Red pog.svg
Founders
Red pog.svg
Stingers
Red pog.svg
Ramblers
Red pog.svg
Matadors
Red pog.svg
Exposure
Current NVA team locations (out of frame: Puerto Rico Pythons)
National Volleyball Association teams
ConferenceTeamLocationDivisionJoined
National ConferenceChicago Untouchables Chicago, Illinois Central2021
Los Angeles Blaze Los Angeles, California Central2018
Texas Tyrants Lewisville, Texas Central2018
Orange County Stunners Costa Mesa, California Coastal2018
Team Freedom Fairfield, New Jersey Coastal2018
Puerto Rico Pythons San Juan, Puerto Rico Coastal2023
American Conference San Diego Wild San Diego, California Central2023
Philadelphia Founders Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Central2023
Utah Stingers Salt Lake City, Utah Central2018
Las Vegas Ramblers Las Vegas, Nevada Coastal2018
Ontario Matadors Rancho Cucamonga, California Coastal2018
Southern Exposure Gainesville, Florida Coastal2018

Season structure

The regular season starts in March and goes through to August. Each team plays ten games at different exhibition locations. A team faces each of its opponents in its division two times a year (four games). Each team plays the three teams from the other division in their conference (American or National Conference) and then another three teams from one division in the opposing conference (six games). This asymmetrical structure means the strength of schedule will vary between teams. Over the seasons, each team will have played seven games against their conference and three from their opposing conference.

The NVA Cup Championship playoffs begin in August after the regular season with the top four teams in each conference, regardless of divisional alignment. Seeds are awarded in strict order of the regular-season record (with the FIVB point system to decide tiebreakers as needed). The playoffs follow a single-elimination tournament format. Losers from the semi-final matches are eliminated from the championship match but play in the bronze medal match. The winner of the NVA Finals receives the NVA Cup Trophy. In addition, the league awards the Most Valuable Player Award to the best-performing player of the championship event and seven awards for the best-performing player of each position during the regular season.

Champions

National Volleyball Association champions
YearChampionRunner–upThird place
2018Team PineappleArizona SizzleIcemen
2019Team LVCTeam PineappleOrange County Stunners
2020Utah StingersOrange County StunnersLas Vegas Ramblers
2021Orange County StunnersLas Vegas RamblersUtah Stingers
2022Las Vegas RamblersOrange County StunnersTexas Tyrants
2023Orange County StunnersSan Diego WildTexas Tyrants

See also

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References

  1. https://nvausa.com/news/detail?id=62
  2. "New NVA men's pro league gets going with Showcase in Las Vegas | Volleyballmag.com". December 4, 2017.
  3. "JVA Partners with the NVA to Bring Professional Men's Volleyball to 3 JVA Events | Junior Volleyball Association". February 22, 2019.
  4. "National Volleyball Association". nvausa.com.
  5. "WorldofVolley :: Professional men's volleyball league in USA will be launched soon!".

‹The template Top-level sport leagues in the United States is being considered for merging.›