National Volleyball Association


The National Volleyball Association 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.
ConferenceTeamLocationDivisionJoined
National ConferenceChicago UntouchablesChicago, IllinoisCentral2021
National ConferenceLos Angeles BlazeLos Angeles, CaliforniaCentral2018
National ConferenceTexas TyrantsLewisville, TexasCentral2018
National ConferenceOrange County StunnersCosta Mesa, CaliforniaCoastal2018
National ConferenceTeam FreedomFairfield, New JerseyCoastal2018
National ConferencePuerto Rico PythonsSan Juan, Puerto RicoCoastal2023
American ConferenceSan Diego WildSan Diego, CaliforniaCentral2023
American ConferencePhiladelphia FoundersPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaCentral2023
American ConferenceUtah StingersSalt Lake City, UtahCentral2018
American ConferenceLas Vegas RamblersLas Vegas, NevadaCoastal2018
American ConferenceOntario MatadorsRancho Cucamonga, CaliforniaCoastal2018
American ConferenceSouthern ExposureGainesville, FloridaCoastal2018

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. Each team plays the three teams from the other division in their conference and then another three teams from one division in the opposing conference. 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. 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.