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NEW YORK, NY - Danny Harris, Senior Executive Director of PSAL, New York City’s Public Schools Athletics League, announced on Thursday April 18, 2024 the formation of seventeen (17) new varsity high school boys’ volleyball teams that began play in early April. Harris also announced PSAL has received grant support led by First Point Volleyball Foundation totaling $50,000 to support PSAL’s increased sponsorship of high school girls' and boys' volleyball.
Wade Garard, Co-Founder & CEO of First Point Volleyball Foundation presented the check to Harris at a ceremony at center court in between two double header matches featuring four of the new boys’ teams held at Careers in TV/Film High School in Queens on April 18th. East Coast Volleyball and Garden Empire Region Volleyball Association (GEVA) are also supporting the effort. Their grant will also support PSAL’s efforts to launch at least 15 new girls volleyball teams scheduled to begin play for the first time this fall as well as coaches clinics and player clinics over the next year.
“First I want to congratulate Queens Tech and University Neighborhood for playing an exciting match today. We are excited to celebrate today an historic partnership and formation of new teams. We want to congratulate all four teams here tonight on their very first seasons,” Harris said. “Some of our expansion of PSAL volleyball is made possible by our partner First Point Volleyball and their supporters who are donating today so that you (athletes) can play this growing sport.”
The 17 new schools joined 108 other PSAL high schools now sponsoring varsity boys’ volleyball teams. The schools with newly sponsored teams playing their inaugural seasons this spring include: Archimedes/Maleska Campus, Bronx High School for the Visual Arts, South Bronx Preparatory, Columbia Secondary School, George Washington, Achievement First HIgh School, Boerum Hill School & Digital Tech, John Dewey High School, Prospect Heights Campus, Spring Creek Campus, Far Rockaway Educational Campus, The Scholars Academy, The Clinton School, University Neighborhood, Academy For Careers In Television And Film, Energy Tech High School, and Queens Technical HS. The new schools playing girls volleyball this fall will be announced this summer.
Garard said First Point’s support to PSAL was made possible by generous volleyball-friendly donors especially from First Point’s partners East Coast Volleyball and Garden Empire Region Volleyball Association (GEVA). “I want to thank the board of East Coast Volleyball as well as Kevin DesLauriers and the GEVA board for supporting First Point’s New York City initiatives.”
Conversations began in earnest between First Point and PSAL when Erica Morrow, PSAL Director of Volleyball traveled to Tampa in December 2023 to present to the First Point Board of Directors during the AVCA Volleyball Coaches convention.
“First Point has been a strong advocate to help more young people learn and develop through the sport of volleyball. I have been impressed with some of First Point’s board members including the great Edwin Moses who represented First Point in two of PSAL’s first meetings with First Point” Morrow said. “Volleyball is on the rise all over the country and PSAL is determined to provide more opportunities for boys and girls wanting to compete in this popular sport.”
Elvis Hanif is the head coach of Energy Tech High School, one of the new high school boys’ teams playing in their first season. Hanif also serves as an officer of the New York City Volleyball Coaches Association. “For those of us that have been involved before it is exciting to see this grow and that I the best thing. I am ecstatic that we have 17 new teams ,” Hanif said. “To see these boys some of which have never played volleyball before come out and I am sure they will now play after today, after this season… that is just amazing.”
Hanif was joined by other high school volleyball coaches at a coaches’ clinic in March at Long Island University (LIU) in Brooklyn. College coaches Karl France, Head Coach of Fairleigh Dickinson University Men’s Volleyball and Kai Dugquem, Head Coach of LIU Men’s Volleyball served as clinicians as high school coaches including some of the new first time boys’ coaches were provided with techniques and inspiration unique to coaching high school boys.
“It was terrific for Karl and Kai to share their wisdom with the PSAL coaches,” Garard said. “We look forward to convening more opportunities for professional development and collaboration with New York’s Volleyball Coaches Association, AVCA, GEVA, East Coast Volleyball and First Point.”
Boys’ volleyball is by far the fastest growing high school team sport for boys in America having grown by 20% over the last five years with over 77,000 boys playing nationwide.
Men’s volleyball is also the fastest growing NCAA sport having grown 44% over the last five years and 79% over the last ten years. NAIA and Junior College men’s volleyball has also grown. GEVA and First Point teamed up in 2022 to support four new 2-year colleges to start men’s volleyball programs in New York City area. Girls’ volleyball is the number one team sport in America for youth girls having surpassed softball, soccer and basketball as the largest in youth female participation nationwide.
“First Point is proud to partner with PSAL to focus on growing volleyball in New York City,” said First Point Volleyball’s Co-Founder and Volunteer Chairman John Speraw who is also Head Coach of US Men’s National Team and Head Coach of UCLA Men’s Volleyball. “Our First Point board members Edwin [Moses] and Wade [Garard] have encouraged our board to prioritize making impact in cities and in under-resourced communities. I am convinced that we will one day have a boy from New York City’s public schools follow in Edwin’s [Moses] footsteps and become an Olympian and play on the USA Men’s National team.”
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PSAL announces 17 new NYC high school boys’ volleyball teams and $50,000 grant from First Point Volleyball Foundation
First Point’s support to PSAL was made possible by generous volleyball-friendly donors especially from First Point’s partners East Coast Volleyball and Garden Empire Region Volleyball Association (GEVA). “I want to thank the board of East Coast Volleyball as well as Kevin DesLauriers and the GEVA board for supporting First Point’s New York City initiatives.”