Induction Class of 2023 and Award Winners Announced

CLICK THE VIDEO ABOVE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CLASS OF 2023

​HOLYOKE, Mass., May 22, 2023 - The International Volleyball Hall of Fame (IVHF) is proud to present its induction class of 2023, to be honored on October 21 in Holyoke. The class includes six members across four disciplines who were at the top of the game in their respective category, setting the standard and making history en route to being honored with this prestigious recognition.   

The 37th IVHF Induction class includes the following members: Olympic gold medalist and four-time Olympian Phil Dalhausser (United States, beach male player); two-time Olympic medalist and five-time FIVB World Tour Champion Larissa França Maestrini (Brazil, beach female player); three-time Olympic medalist and iconic setter with a twenty year career Katsutoshi Nekoda (Japan, indoor male player); four-time Olympian and three time Olympic medalist Yumilka Ruiz (Cuba, indoor female player); Olympic medalist and longtime professional and National Team coach Silvano Prandi (Italy, coach); and longtime administrator within various national and international federations and the first member to represent Thailand in the IVHF, Shanrit Wongprasert (Thailand, leader).

Also announced are four special award winners, recognized for their contributions to the IVHF or the sport of volleyball itself. They include the AVP (Court of Honor), the Homewood Suites Holyoke / Susan Concepcion (William G. Morgan Award) and outgoing American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Executive Director Kathy DeBoer (Mintonette Award). Also honored earlier in 2023 was Hector “Picky” Soto (Puerto Rico) with the Mayoral Award of Excellence. 

“Since 1985, the IVHF has had the distinct honor of inducting the legends of our sport while recognizing them for their storied careers and numerous accomplishments,” said IVHF President Steve Bishop, also the President of the Florida Region of USA Volleyball. “This year we look forward to welcoming another amazing class of inductees, along with several very deserving special award winners. We cannot wait to create new memories with this 2023 class of award winners. So many of the world’s greatest volleyball athletes, coaches, administrators, officials and leaders have made the trip to Holyoke, MA, USA, the birthplace of volleyball, to have their names and plaques added to the Wall of Honor, and to experience the pinnacle moment as their name is called and their story is captured forever. We invite everyone to join us for this incredible celebration.”       

All told, the IVHF has inducted 161 individuals from 25 countries into its historic Hall of Fame – those totals will rise to 167 inductees from 26 countries after the 2023 event. More detailed information on each inductee can be found below. 

"The achievements of the class of 2023 are undeniably extraordinary," stated IVHF Executive Director George Mulry. "From exhibiting unparalleled dominance in both indoor and beach volleyball across for more than sixty years to overseeing structure and competition for an entire continent, the IVHF is privileged to recognize these deserving individuals, along with our award recipients. Each honoree brings a unique story that will be shared with the world and we invite you to join us in Volleyball City – Holyoke, Massachusetts - to witness the celebration in person."

The 2023 International Volleyball Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will take place in Holyoke, Massachusetts, USA on Saturday, October 21, 2023. The event is open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis, and ticket packages are available online at www.ivhf.org. 

Volleyball enthusiasts are encouraged to sign up for an IVHF membership which will provide behind-the-scenes and exclusive content before, during and after Induction Weekend. More information on the IVHF membership program can be found on the organization’s website. 

About the IVHF
Located in Volleyball City - Holyoke, Massachusetts - the city where volleyball was created, the IVHF is an independent non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to honoring the legends, recognizing the greats, and preserving the history of volleyball worldwide. The IVHF museum is home to over 160 inductees from 25 different countries and over 5,000 square feet of volleyball history. Thousands of people visit the IVHF museum each year to learn about the game and experience the exhibits. Best known for its annual marquee Induction Celebration honoring the game’s elite, the Hall of Fame also operates youth, collegiate, and recreational programs annually in New England.  For more information on the induction events, please visit the Hall’s website at www.ivhf.org or email [email protected]. 

Included in the 2023 Induction class are:

Phil Dalhausser (United States, Beach)

• A four-time Olympian in men’s beach volleyball, won Gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympics with 2021 IVHF Inductee Todd Rogers.
• Won 62 AVP titles, 38 FIVB gold medals and an Olympic Gold Medal. 
• From 2006-2018 Dalhausser won at least one FIVB title each year, and the 13-year streak was the second longest in Tour history behind Brazil's Emanuel Rego (14 straight seasons).
• Won the FIVB World Championship in Gstaad, Switzerland – the first such victory in U.S. Men’s Beach Volleyball history. 

Larissa França Maestrini (Brazil, Beach)

• Winningest international beach player of all-time with 62 career titles on the FIVB Tour
• A three-time Olympian winning bronze at the 2012 London Olympics and a fourth-place finish 2016 Rio Games
• She is an FIVB World Tour Champion and a five-time FIVB World Championship winner or medalist
• Larissa formed a successful partnership with Juliana Felisberta da Silva in 2004, and the duo went on to dominate the FIVB Tour for several years. They won their first FIVB World Tour event in 2005 and went on to win a total of 45 titles together, including the FIVB World Championship in 2011
• Named FIVB Team of the Year nine times: 2005 (Juliana Felisberta), 2006 (Juliana Felisberta), 2007 (Juliana Felisberta), 2009 (Juliana Felisberta), 2010 (Juliana Felisberta), 2011 (Juliana Felisberta), 2012 (Juliana Felisberta), 2015 (Talita Antunes), 2017 (Talita Antunes)
• In addition to her success on the FIVB Tour, Larissa won several national and international championships, including the Pan American Games and the South American Games.​

Katsutoshi Nekoda (Japan, Indoor)

• Setter for the Japanese national volleyball team from the 1960’s to 1980.
• A four-time Olympian and winner of three medals - gold at the 1972 games in Munich, silver at the 1968 games, and bronze at the 1964 Tokyo games.
• Invented and popularized the ceiling serve, a serve where the ball is hit up towards the lights in the ceiling making it difficult to judge the landing.
• Named Best setter of the 1969 and 1977 FIVB World Cup and Best setter at the 1970 FIVB World Championships.
• Widely regarded as the most iconic player on the dominant Japanese Men’s National Team at the time.

Yumilka Ruiz (Cuba, Indoor)

• Represented Cuba in four consecutive Summer Olympics, starting in 1996.
• Won gold medals at the 1996 Atlanta and 2000 Sydney games; and bronze at the 2004 Athens games.
• Won 16 medals, from gold to bronze, over a 12-year span, including Olympics, World Championships, World Grand Prix, World Cup, and Pan American Cup, to name a few.
• Named Most Valuable Player at the 2002 Pan-American Cup and 2003 NORCECA Championships.
• Named Best Spiker at the 2004 FIVB World Grand Prix and 2005 Pan-American Cup.

Silvano Prandi (Italy, Coach)

• Prandi was the first Italian coach to take the jump into professionalism.  He has coached ten different professional teams in Italy and France from 1976 to present winning national and European championships along the way.
• He led the Italian Men’s National team from 1982-1986 to a bronze medal at the 1984 Olympic Games.
• Was twice the head coach of the Bulgarian Men’s National team (2008-2010 & 2019-2021) leading them to a bronze medal at the 2009 European Championships in Turkey.
• Prandi is known for his tactical expertise and ability to motivate his players. He has been praised for his innovative approach to the game which has helped him achieve success both domestically and internationally.

Shanrit Wongprasert (Thailand, Leader)

• Served as Zonal Vice President and Secretary General of the Asian Volleyball Confederation
• Member of the FIVB Board of Administration since 1992.  
•  In 2019, he was awarded the Olympic Council of Asia's Merit Award for his outstanding service to the development of sports in Asia.
• Held various positions within the Thailand Volleyball Association (TVA) over the course of his career including serving as its CEO for several years
• Helped organize and oversee AVC competitions in indoor and beach volleyball.

Included in the 2023 Special Awards categories are:

AVP (Court of Honor)

• Celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2023, the AVP (Association of Volleyball Professionals) produces, markets and distributes volleyball events worldwide, including the popular AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tour.  
• 27 IVHF Inductees have participated in professional AVP events.
• Established in 1988 and updated in 2023, the Court of Honor award is given to a group, corporation, organization, or team/program in recognition of significant contribution and commitment to the sport of volleyball for at least ten years (does not have to be consecutive).

Kathy DeBoer (Mintonette Medallion of Merit)

• American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Executive Director since 2006.
• With her mantra of “Make volleyball matter,” DeBoer has been a tireless advocate for the sport working to create more opportunities for players and coaches.
• Her name has been synonymous with growth and change for over 17 years, leading the way for NCAA beach volleyball to become an NCAA Championship sport, helping to provide seed money and resources to grow men’s and boys’ volleyball, and so much more.
• Created in 1996 and updated in 2023 to honor the original name that volleyball’s inventor, William G. Morgan assigned to the sport which he invented in 1895, the Mintonette Medallion of Merit is awarded in recognition of significant individual achievement and dedication to the sport of volleyball or the International Volleyball Hall of Fame for at least ten years (does not have to be consecutive).

Homewood Suites / Susan Concepcion (William G. Morgan Award)

• The Official Induction Headquarters Hotel since 2011
• The Homewood Suites and Susan Concepcion consistently deliver a world-class experience for IVHF guests.
• Created in 1994 and updated in 2023 to honor the founder of volleyball, the William G. Morgan Award is given to a group, corporation, or organization in recognition of significant support and promotion of the International Volleyball Hall of Fame for at least ten years (does not have to be consecutive). 

Hector “Picky” Soto (Mayoral Award of Excellence)

• All-time great Puerto Rican men’s indoor player and a 2019 inductee to the Puerto Rican Sports Hall of Fame.
• Picky captured three Central America & Caribbean Games gold medals with the Puerto Rican Men’s National Team and was named Top Scorer of the 2006 FIVB World Championship (271 points) and 2007 FIVB World Cup.  Picky’s 271 points still stand as the record for most points in an FIVB World Championship. ​
• Established in 2023 to recognize a person, group or organization that has directly contributed to the sport of volleyball or the International Volleyball Hall of Fame and represents the ideals and spirit of the City of Holyoke.  The award is given at the discretion of the sitting Mayor of Holyoke with approval by the IVHF Board of Directors. 

For more Information, contact;
George Mulry, IVHF Executive Director (E-Mail: [email protected], Phone: 413-536-0926) 
444 Dwight Street / Holyoke, Massachusetts  USA 01040 / Website: www.ivhf.org