The NVA is proud to announce more exciting news regarding the 2022 season, including a new league structure with divisions and an all-star match! The National and American Conferences have been split into four divisions with three teams each, totaling twelve teams. The regular-season matches will now feature both interdivisional, interconference, and cross-conference play spreading across five-season events (two more than the year before). The new layout opens the door for a more competitive rankings system that utilizes your overall record and accumulated ‘NVA Points’ to determine qualification and seeding for the playoffs.

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 talent 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

All-Star Cuban pin hitters Inovel Romero and Jorge “Menci” Mencia return to Puerto Rico to compete again with the Mets de Guaynabo in San Juan, Puerto Rico. This is not the first time the two have competed for the team as Menci competed for them back in 2014/15 and Romero, who played for them last year, winning the 2019/20 Puerto Rican League Championships.

The Mets de Guaynabo have been the most dominant team in the league in the past decade. They have found themselves on the podium every year since 2010. From that, they have even taken home the gold for the last four years straight, making them the team to beat this season. Another championship this year would put Guaynabo at third for total gold medals, tying with the Cafeteros de Yauco with seven gold medals.

The killer duo were monsters in the NVA this year, and they will surely do the same this season as the Mets look to solidify their dynasty. Paired with the NVA’s top setter from this year, Stunner’s Randy Ramirez, it has been near impossible for any other team to beat them so far. Already with a winning record of 6-1, the Mets are still the heavy favorites to win this year.

To stay connected with the team, be sure to go and follow the Guaynabo Mets (@metsvoleibol), Inovel Romero (@inovelromero_15), and Jorge Mencia (@menci_) on Instagram. On the team page, fans can find information about the players, upcoming games, and team sponsors. The Stingers wish the best of luck to these guys as they continue to represent Utah in such a great way.

“Volley On With the NVA!”

-NVA Staff Writer

Last year Coach Futi Tavana led the Stingers to the 2020 NVA Championship on their home court in Utah. This year the Stingers decided to hire a new head coach in Mike Daniel.

Daniel played on BYU’s Club Team in 1991. After college, he coached Pleasant Grove High School to two state championships and Professionally with the Women’s Pro team “The Utah Predators” where the team went undefeated in 1996.  He also served as an assistant coach at Penn State (1990), Utah Valley State College (1991) and BYU 2010 and 2011.

Owner Russell Holmes and Tavana reached out to Daniel and discussed the Stingers’ goals for the 2021 season. Daniel felt their goals were realistic; and philosophy were also in alignment with his coaching style. So he accepted the job. “I’m excited to be part of the Stingers’ organization and 100% dedicated to helping the players improve their skills and repeat as Champions.”

The Stingers have a solid group of local BYU and UVU collegiate talent, which gives them an advantage over the other nine teams. They are the odds on favorite to keep the championship trophy in Utah. But Daniel has another good reason for coaching the Stingers. He is passionate about volleyball and has always viewed himself as an ambassador of the sport. “I’m not just here to win a volleyball championship. I’m in it to grow it – meaning volleyball. And not just for Utah but for the NVA.”

As a recent addition to the Utah Stingers, Jake Langlois joins a list of US national team players, such as David Lee and Russell Holmes, to play for the NVA. In the short time since graduating from BYU, reaching the NCAA semi-finals twice as an all-American, Jake has gained a Bronze medal in the 2018 World Championships and a 3rd (2018) and 2nd (2019) place finish in the Volley Nations League. Having a stellar international player such as Jake in the league will truly make for an exciting development for the Championship Tournament in Utah, November 5-8.

“So far, it’s been an awesome time joining the Utah Stingers. It’s fun to play with a lot of the people I played with at BYU. I am hoping to see the NVA grow into something like the NBA, MLB, and NFL. Once people see men’s volleyball, I know they are going to be drawn to it instantly,” Langlois mentioned.

The November Championship Tournament will be the first time that Langlois has played in Utah since his time at BYU. The return of one of the Cougar’s star alumni to his old stomping grounds will likely bring a massive outpouring of fan support from Langlois’s friends, family, and fan base from Provo, Utah.

“The showcase is going to be fun for me playing volleyball again…Hopefully we can get some fans there despite current COVID restrictions,” Langlois added.

Be sure to follow along with Langlois, Utah Stingers, and the rest of the league on the NVA website: nvausa.com as well as the NVA app. You can also check out Stingers’ team website: Stingers.nvausa.com. Don’t miss the livestream that begins on November 5th at 8:00am PST.

Team USA Link

https://www.teamusa.org/usa-volleyball/athletes/jake-langlois

Pro Teams

http://mksbedzin.pl/

https://www.verovolley.com/

Instagram

@jakelanglois10

There is a huge update from the NVA and the Utah Stingers, the Stingers will be hosting a four-day round-robin style tourney with all eight NVA teams, November 5th – 8th in Salt Lake City, Utah. Every team is getting ready to make this event a remarkable one, making sure all players and staff can follow CDC guidelines and train safely. Star player and GM of the Utah Stingers Russell Holmes had this to say about the news:

“The guys have finally had the chance to get back in the gym as a squad over the last couple of weeks. Everyone is happy to be together as a group again and prepare for some real competition come November. 

Every team for the November event will have that hunger to compete, so we will need to make sure we are well prepared to bring our best effort. With the little time between now and the start of the competition, it is vital for us to take advantage of every practice, drill, and rep we can.

Spirits are high, and the energy has been positive as a team, and we hope to carry that through the rest of 2020.”

Make sure to follow the Utah Stingers (@utahstingers) and the NVA (@nvausa) on Instagram to follow up on all future updates and news. Then mark your calendars for the weekend of November 5th – 8th so you don’t miss out on seeing some amazing volleyball!