Lisa joined the JVA Staff in December 2013. She has a solid volleyball background at all levels. After completing her volleyball career at Purdue University, she served as the Student Assistant Coach followed by three seasons as the Assistant Volleyball Coach at Samford University where her responsibilities included recruiting, aiding in day to day team training, managing community service functions, and coordination of camps. In 2011 she helped guide the program to its first NCAA appearance.
Message of the Week
Message of the Week
Happy post Fourth of July Week!
I hope everyone found some time to enjoy the holiday with family and friends, whether that means relaxing on vacation, gathering for a backyard barbecue, or spending another week alongside a volleyball court at Nationals.
Next summer will look a little different around this time for our staff and for the boys volleyball community. On July 3, we announced that JVA will host the JVA Boys National Championship, taking place June 26–July 3, 2027 in St. Louis.
The announcement has certainly generated a lot of conversation. While I understand and appreciate the commentary and differing perspectives, it also had me reflecting on JVA’s beginnings and the connection to Independence Day.
Twenty years ago, a group of Club Directors came together with a vision. At the time, the organization was known as JVDA, and those leaders wanted an association that would represent, communicate, and advocate for the development, growth, and promotion of youth and junior volleyball. They established a mission that still guides our work every day:
To promote the growth of youth and junior volleyball through program and resource development, education, and events.
Today, JVA remains the only national association that is 100% focused on junior volleyball and the needs of junior clubs. Our staff has no other focus except for you and your businesses. Our foundation has always been about giving back to the community that invests so much into this sport and ensuring that clubs have a voice in shaping their future.
Although I was not in that room twenty years ago, I will admit that before we released this announcement, I felt a sense of angst and nervousness. Were we stepping too far outside the norm? Were we being too bold? Were we moving too independently?
The answer is no.
This is exactly what JVA was created to do.
Yes, this will be our first National Championship. But for two decades, JVA has supported clubs, athletes, coaches, and other large organizations across the volleyball landscape whenever it helped better the ball and strengthen opportunities for the junior volleyball community. That philosophy has not changed.
Not everyone will agree with every decision we make, and that is okay. Healthy discussion is part of growth. But if an opportunity benefits athletes, creates value for clubs, and helps move our sport forward, JVA will continue to support it, regardless of whose logo appears on the banner.
Our hope is that the same spirit of collaboration and support can continue to exist throughout the volleyball community as a whole. Yes, there is competition, but let’s remember we are in the business of sport, volleyball, and most importantly, youth.
We have much more to share regarding the boys season and the JVA Boys National Championship. A boys informational meeting will be announced very soon. For now, we wanted to give everyone the opportunity to enjoy the holiday week and finish out the current season before we hit the ground running next week.
Thank you for your continued support of JVA, our mission, and the future of junior volleyball.
With a lot of gratitude,
Lisa
Happy post Fourth of July Week!
I hope everyone found some time to enjoy the holiday with family and friends, whether that means relaxing on vacation, gathering for a backyard barbecue, or spending another week alongside a volleyball court at Nationals.
Next summer will look a little different around this time for our staff and for the boys volleyball community. On July 3, we announced that JVA will host the JVA Boys National Championship, taking place June 26–July 3, 2027 in St. Louis.
The announcement has certainly generated a lot of conversation. While I understand and appreciate the commentary and differing perspectives, it also had me reflecting on JVA’s beginnings and the connection to Independence Day.
Twenty years ago, a group of Club Directors came together with a vision. At the time, the organization was known as JVDA, and those leaders wanted an association that would represent, communicate, and advocate for the development, growth, and promotion of youth and junior volleyball. They established a mission that still guides our work every day:
To promote the growth of youth and junior volleyball through program and resource development, education, and events.
Today, JVA remains the only national association that is 100% focused on junior volleyball and the needs of junior clubs. Our staff has no other focus except for you and your businesses. Our foundation has always been about giving back to the community that invests so much into this sport and ensuring that clubs have a voice in shaping their future.
Although I was not in that room twenty years ago, I will admit that before we released this announcement, I felt a sense of angst and nervousness. Were we stepping too far outside the norm? Were we being too bold? Were we moving too independently?
The answer is no.
This is exactly what JVA was created to do.
Yes, this will be our first National Championship. But for two decades, JVA has supported clubs, athletes, coaches, and other large organizations across the volleyball landscape whenever it helped better the ball and strengthen opportunities for the junior volleyball community. That philosophy has not changed.
Not everyone will agree with every decision we make, and that is okay. Healthy discussion is part of growth. But if an opportunity benefits athletes, creates value for clubs, and helps move our sport forward, JVA will continue to support it, regardless of whose logo appears on the banner.
Our hope is that the same spirit of collaboration and support can continue to exist throughout the volleyball community as a whole. Yes, there is competition, but let’s remember we are in the business of sport, volleyball, and most importantly, youth.
We have much more to share regarding the boys season and the JVA Boys National Championship. A boys informational meeting will be announced very soon. For now, we wanted to give everyone the opportunity to enjoy the holiday week and finish out the current season before we hit the ground running next week.
Thank you for your continued support of JVA, our mission, and the future of junior volleyball.
With a lot of gratitude,
Lisa
