The National Volleyball Association (NVA) is a men's professional indoor volleyball league in the United States. The league comprises 12 teams. The NVA was founded in Costa Mesa, California, in 2017. The league's regular season runs from March to August, with each team playing nine games during the regular season.
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. 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 the San Diego Wild. These teams took the place of the Tornadoes, Kraken, and Sasquatch.
The OC Stunners are the reigning champions, beating the San Diego Wild 3–0 in the 2023 NVA Championship Cup Finals becoming the first team to obtain two National Titles with the NVA.
Teams
National Volleyball Association's 12 teams are divided between the National and American Conferences.
+National Volleyball Association teamsConferenceTeamLocationDivisionJoinedNational Conference Chicago Untouchables Chicago, Illinois Central2021 Los Angeles BlazeLos 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 Coastal2023American 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 championsYearChampionRunner–upThird place2018 Team Pineapple Arizona Sizzle Icemen2019 Team LVC Team Pineapple Orange County Stunners2020 Utah Stingers Orange County Stunners Las Vegas Ramblers2021 Orange County Stunners Las Vegas Ramblers Utah Stingers2022 Las Vegas Ramblers Orange County Stunners Texas Tyrants2023Orange County StunnersSan Diego WildTexas Tyrants
See also Athletes Unlimited Volleyball (AUV) International Volleyball Association Volleyball in the United States
References
External links
USA Volleyball