COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (June 6, 2025) – The USA Volleyball Foundation, the philanthropic arm of USA Volleyball, announced today its combination with the First Point Volleyball Foundation. As part of this strategic alignment, many First Point Foundation board members will join the USA Volleyball Foundation board. Additionally, the USA Volleyball Foundation will assume all of First Point’s assets and honor its existing grant commitments.

In conjunction with this announcement, USA Volleyball and the USA Volleyball Foundation jointly announced the establishment of the First Point Volleyball Specialty Fund, a restricted fund within the USAV Foundation dedicated to the growth and development of boys and men’s volleyball. Concurrently, the boards of USA Volleyball and the USA Volleyball Foundation approved new bylaws expanding the USAV Foundation’s board to accommodate up to 45 members. The expanded board will oversee a growing platform of specialty funds to advance the sport, support USA Volleyball’s mission, and drive broader engagement across the volleyball community.

USA Volleyball Chief Advancement Officer Wade Garard has been elected president of the USA Volleyball Foundation. Mark Peterson will continue to serve as chair of the Foundation’s Board of Directors, and Marin Gjaja, who served on the First Point board since its inception in 2017, most recently as chairman, has been appointed vice chairman of the USAV Foundation.

“We are pleased to welcome Wade (Garard) as president of the Foundation and Marin (Gjaja) as a vice chairman,” said Mark Peterson, chairman of the USAV Foundation. “Their leadership provides an opportunity for the Foundation to ramp up our fundraising in advance of LA 2028 and USAV’s Centennial in 2028.”

“As the USAV Foundation prepares for a comprehensive capital campaign in the run-up to LA28, it is exciting to be joined by a talented and committed group of generous volunteers and philanthropists dedicated to supporting USA Volleyball and the greater volleyball community through their service and giving to the USAV Foundation,” Garard said. “On behalf of USAV, I welcome the First Point leadership and donors to continue making an impact as we all grow the sport within the structure and support of the USAV Foundation.”

“We are excited to augment the philanthropic and advocacy work of the USAV Foundation to provide more support to USAV and more philanthropic dollars to advance all aspects of the sport,” Gjaja said. “For eight years, we worked closely with Wade (Garard) and John (Speraw) to grow the sport with boys and men. Now we look forward to helping USAV grow and advance the entire sport.”

“USAV has been a partner of First Point since the beginning, and so it is only fitting that the organizations combine to make an impact,” said USA Volleyball President and CEO John Speraw. “Growing boys volleyball remains a priority for USAV and our Foundation, and so I am thrilled that Marin (Gjaja), Josh (Silverman), Sarah (Conklin), Kenny (Rogers) and others are continuing their incredible efforts to grow the boys game. I believe we can enlist passionate groups of volunteers and donors to grow other aspects of the sport, such as women’s, girls, para, beach, and look to what the First Point board has accomplished as an example of how to galvanize communities and create more opportunities through philanthropy and advocacy.”

Garard announced that a First Point Boys Volleyball Advocacy Council will advise the USAV Foundation’s Board of Directors on how to raise and deploy funds from the Foundation’s First Point Specialty Fund. Kenny Rogers and Sarah Conklin will co-chair USAVF’s First Point Advocacy Council. Conklin and Rogers will also continue their efforts leading the First Point National Committee to grow high school boys volleyball. For further information on how to grow high school boys volleyball in your state, please contact [email protected] or [email protected].

“Kenny and Sarah and First Point committees in all 50 states have done a tremendous job growing high school boys volleyball with 11 more states sanctioning the sport in the last five years,” said U.S. Men’s National Team head coach Karch Kiraly. “Luka Slabe and I were pleased to be included in the inaugural First Point High School Boys Invitational last month and even more pleased that First Point’s leadership group is now joining the USA Volleyball Foundation Board and Advocacy Council. It is an honor to serve alongside these volunteers to grow boys volleyball. How fitting that First Point is now officially powered by USAV.”

The USAV Foundation board also authorized the formation of a College Volleyball Advocacy Council which shall focus on creating more opportunities and exposure, monitoring the changing landscape of college athletics, maintaining relationships with NCAA, NAIA, NJCAA, NCVF and other collegiate governing organizations, conferences, etc., and advocating for athlete rights/conditions for women’s college indoor volleyball, men’s college indoor volleyball, and women’s and men’s college beach volleyball.

The combination, which closed on May 31, 2025, includes USAV Foundation acquiring the marks and assets of First Point. Through ongoing and new philanthropic support of USAVF’s First Point Specialty Fund, USAV looks to augment and grow the First Point Collegiate Challenge and First Point National High School Boys Invitational, and will maintain the First Point brand as an effort specifically to grow boys and men’s volleyball.

To get involved with the USA Volleyball Foundation or one of its committees or advocacy councils, please contact Wade Garard at [email protected].

USA Volleyball Foundation (USAVF) is the 501(c)(3) nonprofit fundraising arm of USA Volleyball (USAV), dedicated to transforming lives through the power of philanthropy and the sport of volleyball. The Foundation galvanizes communities, inspires youth, provides opportunities, empowers athletes, and creates harmony through volleyball. The Foundation does this through philanthropy, advocacy, and service. USAVF (EIN #84-1412045) is a nonprofit organization established in the state of Colorado and is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the IRS code. Thus, contributions are fully deductible for federal income tax purposes. No goods or services are provided in exchange for contributions.

First Point Volleyball is now an arm of the USA Volleyball Foundation dedicated to providing more opportunities for boys and men through the sport of volleyball. The First Point Advocacy Council advises the USAVF Board of Directors on raising and deploying funds to the USAVF’s First Point Fund to Grow Boys and Men’s Volleyball. For more information about growing boys volleyball in America, contact Kenny Rogers or Sarah Conklin.

CONWAY, Ark. _ The University of Central Arkansas athletics department will no longer offer women’s tennis as one of its varsity sports programs, it was announced Friday.
 
Moving forward, UCA will feature 10 NCAA Division I varsity women’s programs and eight varsity men’s teams.
 
“Decisions like this are incredibly difficult to make, and are not done without considerable thought and review,” said Matt Whiting, UCA director of athletics. “In this ever-changing landscape of college athletics, it is imperative that we constantly review and evaluate our sports portfolio to ensure that we are making the investments needed to position Central Arkansas Athletics for success now and in the future. 
 
“Ultimately, this decision is in the best interest of the University and our athletics department at this time.”
 
UCA women’s tennis coach Casey Wharton recently stepped down for personal reasons after a long career at the University.
 
“We have been incredibly fortunate to have had Casey Wharton leading our women’s tennis program since 2014,” said Whiting. “I am deeply grateful for all that he has done for our program and the University of Central Arkansas. I also want to express my appreciation to all who have competed for our program and represented our University and athletics department in such a positive manner. 
 
“We are committed to supporting our current women’s tennis student-athletes and assisting them in every way possible through this transition.”
 
The 2024-25 tennis roster consisted of eight student-athletes, with no seniors. Whiting has been in contact with all of the current tennis student-athletes, all of which will receive full releases to transfer to another athletic program, and will be eligible to compete immediately according to NCAA regulations. If they choose to remain at Central Arkansas, their scholarships will be honored throughout the remainder of their academic careers. 
 

Since 2017, Central Arkansas athletics has added beach volleyball and STUNT, two fast-rising NCAA women’s sports, as varsity programs. The 18 programs for the Bears and Sugar Bears in 2025-26 will be: indoor volleyball (W); beach volleyball (W); softball (W), golf (M&W); cross country (M&W); football (M); baseball (M); indoor track and field (M&W); outdoor track and field (M&W); basketball (M&W); soccer (M&W) and STUNT (W).
 

ARLINGTON, Texas – As UT Arlington student-athletes achieved championship success in competition, the foundation was laid in the classroom.
 
As a collective, UT Arlington student-athletes combined for a 3.130 grade point average in the Spring 2025 semester. Of the 11 athletics units, eight teams earned at least a 2.9 GPA during Spring 2025, led by women’s tennis with a 3.530 GPA, just ahead of men’s tennis with a 3.454 GPA.
 

Those teams were followed by women’s golf (3.450), volleyball (3.188), women’s track & field (3.159), women’s basketball (2.969), men’s golf (2.941), men’s track & field (2.930).

For the 2024-25 academic year, UT Arlington student-athletes combined for a 3.135 grade point average, with 39 students earning degrees. This is the 23rd semester in a row that the athletic department held a cumulative department GPA above a 3.0. Combining the fall and spring classroom performances, all 11 teams attained at least a 2.8 GPA.

2024-25 Cumulative Grade Point Averages

 

 
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For up-to-date news, photos and videos, follow the UTA Division of Intercollegiate Athletics online at UTAMavs.com or via several social media accounts on X @UTAMavs, Instagram @UTAMavs and Facebook /UTAMavs.
 
 
 

White enjoyed a successful four-year collegiate volleyball career, competing at NCAA Division II Central State (Ohio) University, Glendale Community College, and Benedictine University (Mesa). She was an integral part of the Redhawks’ offense and defense as a middle blocker in Benedictine’s 2023 California Pacific Conference tournament championship. Her athletic excellence was recognized with Second Team All-Conference honors during both her freshman and senior seasons. In her final year at Benedictine she earned AVCA Southwest Region Honorable Mention recognition, highlighting her impact at the highest levels of collegiate competition.

Beyond her on-court achievements, White demonstrated exceptional character and leadership, serving as a team captain, and earning the prestigious Champion of Character Award during both her junior and senior years. This recognition reflects her commitment to exemplifying the values of sportsmanship, integrity, and leadership both on and off the court.

White maintained academic excellence throughout her collegiate career and was recognized with the Dean’s List honor during her junior year. She recently completed her Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology with a minor in criminology from Benedictine in Mesa, Arizona.

White brings valuable coaching experience from her two-year tenure with East Valley Juniors, where she served in both assistant and head coaching roles from 2022 to 2024.

Her coaching philosophy centers on cultivating competitive teams through individual skill development, fostering team cohesion, and instilling core values of sportsmanship, discipline, and teamwork.

    

The Long Beach Century Club will host its 68th Annual Sports Banquet on June 16 at The Grand in Long Beach, recognizing the city’s top high school athletes along with a host of special award winners including a new class of Hall of Fame inductees.

This year, the Century Club is inducting four new members into its Hall of Fame: Long Beach State volleyball legend Tara Cross-Battle; Wimbledon and US Open doubles champion and Long Beach Poly alumna Vania King; Olympic gold medalist and former Wilson track star Lashinda Demus; and Oklahoma softball coach and Long Beach State alumna Patty Gasso.

Cross-Battle led Long Beach State to an NCAA title in 1989 and was named AVCA Player of the Year in both 1988 and 1989. She won the 1990 Honda Sports Award as the nation’s top collegiate volleyball player and was a four-time All-American. Cross-Battle earned an Olympic bronze medal in 1992 and was later inducted into the Long Beach State Hall of Fame (1995) and the International Volleyball Hall of Fame (2014).

King was a top-10 doubles player during her professional tennis career, winning both the Wimbledon and US Open women’s doubles titles in 2010 with partner Yaroslava Shvedova. The pair also reached the final of the 2011 US Open, and King went on to win 15 doubles titles on the WTA Tour. King also won a singles WTA Tour title at the 2006 Bangkok Open.

Demus set multiple state and national records during her time at Wilson High School, where she was also named Track & Field News’ National Girls’ High School Athlete of the Year in both 1999 and 2001. She went on to compete for the University of South Carolina before winning multiple world titles and an Olympic gold in the 400-meter hurdles in 2012—becoming the first American woman to win the event.

Gasso played softball at Long Beach State from 1983 to 1984 and began her coaching career at Long Beach City College in 1990. She was hired as the head coach of Oklahoma softball in 1995, where she just wrapped up her 31st year with the program. She has led the Sooners to eight national championships and holds the record for most wins by a coach in program history.

“This is really, honestly, my real home,” Gasso said of Long Beach. “So to be remembered and honored by those here means a lot to me. It grabs my heart strings really hard because I miss it here. I’ve lived 31 years in Oklahoma, but I still know where I came from, and that’s the Beach.”

The Century Club will also recognize its Athletes of the Year at the banquet, including four Long Beach natives who helped the USA men’s water polo team win a bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games: Max Irving, Chase Dodd, Ryder Dodd, and Hannes Daube.

Irving, a Wilson alum and two-time Olympian, was one of the team’s top leaders. The Dodd brothers grew up in Long Beach but attended high school in Orange County, with Ryder becoming the youngest member of the USA team since Long Beach legend Tony Azevedo. Daube also grew up in Long Beach and lists it as his hometown, though he attended high school in Orange County.

The Long Beach Century Club’s 68th Annual Sports Banquet will be held on June 16 at The Grand, located at 4101 E Willow St. in Long Beach. Reception will be at 5 p.m. and dinner and program at 6:30.