​The list of nominees for the International Volleyball Hall of Fame 2022 Induction has been announced and the Fan Vote presented by Mizuno is now officially open through April 17, 2022. 

Fans can vote daily for as many nominees as they feel are deserving of Induction.  The top 6 nominees selected by the public will comprise a "fans' ballot" that will be tallied along with the official selection committee ballots to pick the Class of 2022 inductees.

"​These nominees represent some of the biggest names in volleyball from the past two decades and beyond." said George Mulry, Executive Director of the International Volleyball Hall of Fame. "It's going to be really hard for people to narrow down their Fan Vote selections but it will also make this year's Induction that much more special for the selected class."  

The new class of Inductees will be announced in May and the 2022 Induction Celebration is scheduled for Saturday, October 22, 2022 and will be live streamed for anyone that cannot travel to Holyoke.  Induction Celebration tickets are on sale now at this link.

New members will enhance the board's focus on outreach and help strengthen connections within the volleyball and local community.

HOLYOKE, MASS. - The International Volleyball Hall of Fame (IVHF) today announced five new board members who will each help support the nonprofit’s work to bring volleyball and its history to the world.
“We’re excited to expand our board with five new members, who each bring diverse expertise from both the volleyball and corporate worlds,” said IVHF Executive Director George Mulry. “We have worked diligently to ensure we have a strategic-minded board to help us continue expanding our local, national, and international reach and the newest board members will surely help us continue that momentum.”  

​The new board members began their terms with the IVHF effective Jan. 1, 2022:

• Joshua Garcia - Mayor of the City of Holyoke
• Al Lau - CEO of the AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tour
• Lee Feinswog - Publisher & Editor of Volleyball Magazine (VolleyballMag.com)
• Lisa Wray - Marketing Director of the Holyoke Mall at Ingleside
• Aaron Jessee - Head Coach and Owner of the International Institute of Sport & Movement

President of the IVHF Board of Directors, Steve Bishop remarked, “It will be an honor to serve alongside this great group of noteworthy & distinguished professionals who have agreed to join the IVHF Board of Directors.  Their unique backgrounds and talent will surely help us continue our ongoing mission to honor, preserve, and promote this great sport. We are also very appreciative of the board members who are rotating off after many years of outstanding service to the organization: Heidi Johnstone, Marissa Casarella and Alex Morse. The commitment, dedication and sacrifice of this group (both past & present) is simply remarkable.”

Holyoke, Mass., Dec. 2, 2021 - The Board of Directors of the International Volleyball Hall of Fame recognized its executive director George Mulry for his 10 years of service to the organization and the sport at its board and annual meeting on Dec. 1.
 
The board presented Mulry with an official proclamation for faithfully serving as the chief caretaker of the many historical artifacts contained in the museum.  Additionally, he was honored for his commitment, dedication, leadership and honorable service to the corporation.  A copy of the official proclamation was also entered into the official meeting minutes to document this noteworthy accomplishment. 
 
The IVHF Board President, Steve Bishop commented on the occasion, “The accolades for George from the board of directors and honorary advisors are well deserved.  He has faithfully served the corporation with distinction during his 10 years in this role.  It is an honor to work alongside George as we all strive to honor the sport we love so much.”
 
Mulry puts forth considerable efforts to honor, preserve and promote the International Volleyball Hall of Fame as well as the sport of volleyball in its birthplace and around the world.
 
"I'm grateful to the board and advisors for their continued trust and support," said Mulry. "Together, we have accomplished so much over the past 10 years to help lay the foundation for the next 10.  It's an honor and a privilege to work here and continue to steward the history of volleyball."
 
While one aspect of the Hall is recognizing international individuals for their lifetime achievements, there are many local events that the IVHF also puts on and sponsors. The next will be Feb. 4-5, 2022 with the Morgan Classic NCAA Collegiate Men’s Volleyball tournament, held at Springfield College. In conjunction with that event, players and coaches of all ages are invited to participate in clinics run by the participating teams. For more information on all of the events surrounding the Morgan Classic, please visit https://www.volleyhall.org/morgan-classic.html

1918 - 2021: Bertha Lucas (2018 IVHF Mintonette Medallion of Merit Award Winner) passed away on June 11th.  Bertha's built-in historical knowledge base of USA Volleyball through her long-time service to the organization and sustained membership was matched by very few. She was involved in the sport for nearly 90 years.
 
Lucas, who turned 100 in November of 2018, attended her 65th consecutive USA Volleyball Open National Championships that same May, a record all to her own. And she played competitively in the Opens until 2003 at the age of 85. Lucas only stopped playing competitively at the Opens because she couldn’t serve overhand any longer.
 
Lucas continued to make the annual trek to the Open National Championships even after she stopped competing because the sport had become like a second family to her.
 
Berthas’ family had become a major part of the sport as well with about 15 extended family members who became involved. Her family includes daughter Nancy Evans a AA player, and daughter Patti Lucas Bright. Patti (a 1996 IVHF Inductee) and her husband, Mike Bright (1993 IVHF Inductee), both played in the 1964 and 1968 Olympic Games.
 
Berthas’ volleyball relationships ran the gamut of player, teacher, coach, manager, international chaperone, national player representative, National Governing Body member, USA Volleyball Board of Directors member, tournament director, clinician, innovator, promoter, surrogate mother to volleyball hopefuls, real mother to two USA Volleyball All-Americans and Nationals most valuable players and the list could go on and on. Lucas also coached several women who went on to play in the Olympics or international competition, beyond just her daughter Patti.
 
In 1962 Bertha was elected national player representative to the USA Volleyball Board of Governing Members. Her contributions to volleyball were recognized in 1966 with selection as a Leader in Volleyball recipient. Also in 1966, Lucas was elected to the USAV Board of Directors’ executive committee and served two consecutive terms until 1979.
 
Bertha won almost every major award in USVBA/USA Volleyball. She was on the board of directors for both the U.S. Olympic Committee and USA Volleyball. She traveled as team manager with the U.S. Women in Tokyo in 1964. Lucas was one of the visionaries who helped form the Great Lakes Region and was on its board of directors for years.
 
Bertha was the inaugural recipient of the Harry E. Wilson Award for Community Service in 1980. One year later in 1981, she was recognized with the Dr. Harold T. Friermood “Frier” Award, the highest honor that USA Volleyball bestows on an annual basis. Later, she was presented with the inaugural All-Time Great Coach Award in 1995 and the award for the pioneer division is now named in her honor.

Bertha is survived by her daughter Nancy Lucas Evans, nine grandchildren, 19 great grandchildren, and 7 great great grands, with one on the way. She is preceded in death by her husband Johnny and her daughter Patti.

Bertha Lucas was a mother, an inspiration, a mentor, a friend, and a legend.  She will be remembered fondly.

HOLYOKE, MA – In December of 1895, a Physical Director named William Morgan introduced a new game to his class of local businessmen in the third-floor gymnasium at the YMCA in Holyoke, Massachusetts.  Morgan needed something these older gentlemen could play after work or at lunch time that provided exercise but no physical contact. He termed this new game Mintonette.

The objective of this game seemed simple; volley a ball in the air sending it over a 6'6" high net to your opponents floor.    And though admittedly incomplete, it proved successful enough to win an audience at the YMCA Physical Director's Conference held in Springfield, Massachusetts several months later.  It was at this conference Dr. Alfred Halstead, a professor at the YMCA Training School (now Springfield College), suggested a two-word version of its present name - "Volley Ball" - and it stuck.  

“The International Volleyball Hall of Fame is proud to promote and preserve the game we love,” said George Mulry, IVHF Executive Director. “COVID caused us to pause our 125th anniversary celebration but we're back and ready to celebrate 126 years of volleyball's greatest moments and people.  The game has reached far more people than Morgan could have ever imagined and we look forward to commemorating his legacy and the great game of volleyball during this momentous anniversary.”

Throughout 2021 the International Volleyball Hall of Fame and the volleyball community will celebrate 126 years of volleyball – a game that has grown tremendously on the global stage and positively impacted an immeasurable number of players, coaches and fans. 

Beginning in the summer of 2021, the official IVHF social media (@vbhalloffame) will host a number of volleyball-themed countdowns including the Top Moments in the History of Volleyball. Fans are encouraged to use the hashtag #Volleyball126th to share their special volleyball moments and memories.

The IVHF will hold a one-of-a-kind Auction on www.volleyhall.org. where volleyball fans will have the opportunity to bid on collectibles of the game including the actual inductee plaques previously displayed at the Museum and autographed IVHF Induction memorabilia from the IVHF's private collection.

The festivities will culminate with the Induction of the newest class of inductees on October 16, 2021. Additional special events may be unveiled throughout the year.