Sports Imports to Sponsor Volleyball Magazine's Fab 50
We want you to be the first to know that Sports Imports has announced a new sponsorship of Volleyball magazine’s annual Fab 50 lists. These lists, regarded as the longest-running and most prestigious youth volleyball awards in the country, recognize the nation’s top 50 senior girls and boys volleyball athletes. Voted on by an expert panel of top collegiate coaches, members of the volleyball national media and key sport observers, the awards consider high school, club and international performance as well as potential impact at the collegiate level.
We are proud to be the name sponsor this program, which over the years has included countless future collegiate All-Americans, players of the year, national champions, FIVB and AVP beach champions and Olympic champions in both volleyball disciplines.
Look for the 2009 Sports Imports/Volleyball Girls Fab 50 list in the April 2009 issue of Volleyball magazine and the 2009 Sports Imports/Volleyball Boys Fab 50 in June.
Congratulations to the Nittany Lions
Penn State University finished a perfect 38-0 season in Omaha by winning its second-straight NCAA National Championship. The Nittany Lions fought off Nebraska 3-2 and a vocal home town crowd in the semifinal match, and then defeated Stanford 3-0 in the final game to capture the program's third national championship. Sports Imports and Senoh are proud to be the volleyball net system of choice for Penn State and the exclusive championship net system of the NCAA.
Coach Stephens wins $1,000 from Sports Imports
Jill Stephens, head volleyball coach at Florida Southern University, won the $1,000 Visa gift card in the Sports Imports' "Guess the Points" contest. Jill was randomly drawn from two 2009 AVCA convention entrants who guessed 143 as the total of all points to be scored in the final match at the 2008 NCAA Women's Division I finals. Jill, your gift card is on its way!
AVCA Wrap Up
It was cold in Omaha, but the volleyball competition and networking was hot. We were excited to see more than 1,200 coaches from around the country. Demonstrations and discussions covered a wide range of topics from drills and technical play to training and recruiting. And, with the NCAA championships selling out the Quest Center with nearly 18,000 fans, it is clear that our sport is gaining more attention. Sports Imports is proud to be the AVCA’s only corporate sponsor, and a leading supporter of collegiate volleyball for over 30 years. We look forward to seeing everyone in Tampa in 2009.
Win $1,000 from Sports Imports
If you think you know NCAA Women's Volleyball, consider entering Sports Imports' "Guess the Points" contest. Sports Imports will give one free $1,000 Visa gift card to the AVCA member who guesses the total of all points in the final match at the 2008 NCAA Women's Division I finals. Coaches must attend the AVCA convention and visit our exhibit booth to enter the contest. Good luck - we'll see you in Omaha!
Xavier University Sweeps Sports Imports Volleyball Classic
The Xavier University Musketeers demonstrated its power in a sweep over three opponents at the 2008 Sports Imports Classic, featuring women's volleyball teams from Xavier, The Ohio State University, Youngstown State University and the University of Toledo. With a 3-1 win over Toledo in its final match, the Xavier volleyball team finished the opening weekend of the 2008 season with a perfect 3-0 mark.
Otte Named 2008 Ken Dunlap MVP
Xavier's Hillary Otte was named the Most Valuable Player of the 2008 Sports Imports Classic, with a league-leading 51 kills and .469 hitting percentage. She also added 23 digs, seven assists and eight blocks. Otte averaged 4.25 kills per game, posted 15 or more kills in all three matches and had a .615 hitting percentage in a 3-1 win over Youngstown State. She posted a double-double of 19 kills and 10 digs along with five blocks in a 3-1 the win over Toledo. The Ken Dunlap MVP Award is named in memory of Ken Dunlap, former OSU Men's Volleyball coach and founder of Sports Imports.
NIRSA Chooses Senoh
The National Intramural Recreational Sports Association announced its endorsement of Sports Imports’ Senoh product line as the exclusive volleyball, badminton and tennis net systems for the national organization. NIRSA joins other organizations in making the Senoh Net System an exclusive choice. Senoh is ONLY net system ever used by the NCAA™ Championships, the Olympic Games via the Federation Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB) and the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA.)
Thirty Years of Safe Net Systems
Thirty years ago, volleyball players had to dodge dangerous guide wires that anchored volleyball net systems to the floor. In 1976, Ken Dunlap formed Sports Imports and brought the simple and safe Senoh floor sleeve system to America, revolutionizing the safety of volleyball net systems. Thirty years later, Ken’s vision is alive and well — and much is still the same: Sports Imports still offers direct support from their own volleyball experts and the Senoh design has remained relatively unchanged.
Olympics Signs Senoh Again
We are proud to announce that all indoor and outdoor volleyball teams at the 2008 and 2012 Olympic games will compete on Senoh Net Systems. This will mark a 48-year exclusive relationship between Senoh and the Olympics. Senoh has been the only net system ever selected by the Olympic Committee and FIVB for competition since volleyball premiered as an official sport at the 1964 games in Tokyo, Japan. Senoh was also selected when beach volleyball was added in 1996.
STEALTH Carbon Upright Available
We are proud to announce the STEALTH, Senoh’s new lightweight power upright. The Stealth is the first volleyball competition net system from a leading manufacturer to feature aerospace carbon fiber composite technology. These uprights weigh only 28 pounds, yet offer the strength and durability three times that of aluminum. The Stealth is available now volleyball coaches, teams and athletic facilities in North America, exclusively from Sports Imports.
Senoh continues as Net System of the NCAA Championships
We are proud that our Senoh Uprights, Pads and Nets will continue as the exclusive volleyball net system for all sanctioned NCAA competitions, including the Men’s Division I and Women’s Divisions I, II and III volleyball championships. This relationship has been established for many years and is a true sign that the NCAA sees the quality of Senoh equipment and that we are the established leader in our industry.
