Professional Ladies
December 24, 2023
The Professional Volleyball Federation took a major first step towards spreading the phrase to potential new followers by signing a multiyear cope with CBS Sports activities.
Slightly extra a month earlier than the PVF’s inaugural season launches on January 24, the league introduced final week {that a} minimal of 10 regular-season matches, in addition to the playoff semifinals and championship, can be telecast on nationwide TV. The cable channel CBS Sports activities Community would be the main residence.
“That is one other groundbreaking day within the historical past of Professional Volleyball Federation,” league co-founder Dave Whinham stated in a launch. “In CBS Sports activities we’ve an ideal accomplice that believes within the development of girls’s skilled volleyball in North America.”
CBS Sports activities Community is a third-tier possibility on most cable methods and doesn’t subscribe to the Nielsen rankings survey, so nailing down what number of potential eyeballs it would “attain” is problematic. The most effective data out there may be that in 2015, CBSSN had about 61 million subscribers and was obtainable in 61.1% of TV households with cable.
Nonetheless, the TV panorama has undergone a sea change of “cord-cutting” since then. Even cable sports activities megapower ESPN, a top-tier channel on nearly all methods, is all the way down to 70.2 million subscribers as of December 2023, so 61% of that determine would put CBSSN’s attain at 42.8 million, roughly 38% of the US’ 125 million TV houses. That calculation is solely hypothetical, however it might put CBSSN within the ballpark with different all-sports channels comparable to Fox Sports activities 2 (51 million), ESPNU (49.9 million) and Large Ten Community (47.5 million) which can be monitored within the Nielsen rankings.
The PVF joins a lineup on CBS Sports activities Community that features a entire lot of worldwide soccer (together with the Champions League, Italian Serie A and the Scottish Premier League), faculty soccer and basketball, the Skilled Bull Riders tour (a staple for greater than a decade), Athletes Limitless softball, strongman competitions (together with World’s Strongest Man), auto racing such because the World of Outlaws, PWBA bowling, Main League Fishing, Karate Fight, the Elite Trades Championship Sequence and poker (World Sequence of Poker and Poker Masters). As that checklist reveals, CBSSN just about is a dumping floor for second-tier content material, what within the nascent days of ESPN throughout a much less well mannered time lovingly was known as “trash sport.”
I’ve seen a smattering of pushback from followers on social media in regards to the PFV’s being unable to land on a extra high-profile nationwide platform. However the actuality is {that a} startup league must stroll earlier than it runs. The parents working the PVF are skilled fingers within the sports activities enterprise and this doubtless was the partnership that made probably the most monetary sense.
No rights charges had been talked about within the launch issued by the PVF, so a powerful probability exists that the deal is a “time purchase,” thought-about a essential expense to provide the league publicity to informal viewers on a conventional linear TV platform. The discharge referred to “alternatives for matches to even be aired on CBS all through the time period of the partnership,” however the potential for seeing the PVF on the over-the-air community on this debut yr appears distant.
Nonetheless in limbo (with the clocking ticking on the season’s begin) are what the PVF will do for league-wide streaming, and what TV/streaming choices the person franchises would possibly nail down. The PVF indicated within the launch that bulletins on these key issues can be forthcoming. Closely invested volleyball followers little doubt eagerly await the information about streaming, their platform of alternative.
Orlando Valkyries coach/vp of volleyball operations Amy Pauly informed VolleyballMag.com on Friday that the PVF’s nationwide TV deal was “a step in the precise course.”
“I’m blissful to see one among our broadcast companions (was) formally introduced,” Pauly stated. “Having 10 matches on (a CBS Sports activities channel) is a step in the precise course for our sport and it means quite a bit that they’re offering the platform for our league. Extra broadcast partnerships can be introduced quickly which can make clear how individuals will be capable to tune in, each regionally and nationally.”
Vibe decide up ex-Stanford star
The Atlanta Vibe added to their depth at outdoors hitter by signing Meghan McClure-Jemison, who has been away from aggressive volleyball by alternative because the spring of 2021.
McClure-Jemison was a three-time VolleyballMag.com honorable-mention All-American throughout her profession at Stanford and helped the Cardinal win NCAA titles in 2018 and ‘19. We featured her in 2021.
She’s going to go into the Vibe’s coaching camp aiming to earn a spot in a stacked OH group that features Leah Edmond, Alli Linnehan and Leketor Member-Meneh (former Pitt All-American). Ex-Kentucky teammates Edmond and Linnehan not too long ago completed first and second on the leaderboard within the professional Athletes Limitless season.
“Once I graduated, enjoying professional volleyball in America was not an possibility – and I needed to remain within the nation – so having the chance to be part of the primary season of professional volleyball right here is such a full-circle second for me,” the 6-foot McClure-Jemison informed VolleyballMag.com.
“That is so thrilling and attending to play with Morgan Hentz once more was simply too good to cross up. I like volleyball. I’m so keen about it, and I can’t wait to get again into the thick of all of it.”
Ex-Stanford teammate Hentz, the libero extraordinaire who’s forged as a foundational participant within the nascent PVF, was instrumental in connecting Meghan with the Vibe.
“Morgan was the signed-sealed-and-delivered a part of this entire factor,” McClure-Jemison stated. “It’s unimaginable to say something however sure if Morgan Hentz asks you to come back play along with her. She known as me and stated they had been searching for an out of doors. All of it got here collectively actually quick.”
Considerably disheartened by a fourth season at Stanford that included well being points through the COVID pandemic, McClure-Jemison selected to finish her collegiate profession regardless of having an extra yr of eligibility.
“I took a reasonably wholesome break from volleyball after that COVID season, which had been actually difficult,” she stated. “I wanted to step away from volleyball for some time.”
Between then and now, Meghan launched her profession as a special-ed instructor, working with kindergarten via eighth-grade college students at a college in Memphis, the place she additionally coached volleyball.
“The varsity had no women sports activities as of final yr, so I began its volleyball program,” she stated. “I taught at an under-resourced faculty, and was teaching principally fifth-, sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders. I had one lady who had performed any form of sport earlier than, which was eye-opening as a result of I had performed sports activities since principally I may stroll. Working with these youngsters was an extremely rewarding and enlightening expertise.”
McClure-Jemison is keen to assist the Vibe nonetheless she will. That is her first shot on the pay-for-play ranks, however she might want to land one of many 14 jobs on the common roster as a result of she just isn’t eligible for the 2 “observe participant” spots reserved for drafted faculty rookies.
“I do know I’m coming in with possibly a little bit rust, however I informed (Coach Todd Dagenais) that I imagine is being the most effective teammate doable,” Meghan stated. “I imagine in my abilities and my coaching, and I do know that I will play at a excessive stage. If my position on this group is to be the most effective observe doable and put together my teammates to play towards our opponents, I’ll settle for that and be the very best I might be in it. I’m there for the group in no matter capability they need me to fill.
“I’m assured that as I hold enjoying and working towards, getting again within the swing of issues, my passing and protection normally discover their option to be impactful to the group.”
— The Atlanta membership additionally introduced aboard Kacie Evans, an undrafted rookie with native enchantment, to vie for an outside-hitter spot when coaching camp opens on January 1. The 5-foot-11 Evans was an AVCA third-team All-American in 2022, three-time All-SEC and the 2019 Southeastern Convention Freshman of the 12 months for Georgia. Ringing up 2,057 factors and 1,127 digs throughout her five-year profession, Kacie helped the Bulldogs earn NCAA Event bids in 2019, ‘22 and ‘23.
PVF liberos received’t serve
In an accord reached by the coaches of the league’s seven groups, liberos won’t be eligible to serve in PVF matches. That conforms with worldwide guidelines, however differs from what followers see throughout NCAA competitors, when the designated back-row particular can serve in a single rotation for a participant changed.
The league has modified the worldwide rule concerning substitutions per set. The PVF will permit every group eight substitutions per set (with a one-time in-and-out restrict per participant). That’s two extra subs per set than in worldwide competitions and 7 fewer than in NCAA matches.
“Our coaches felt that shifting to eight subs would permit just a few extra again row and serving substitutions, which in flip offers us extra alternatives to showcase all of the gamers on our roster and make the matches extra aggressive,” the Valkyries’ Pauly informed VBM.
In different PVF happenings
The Valkyries have been gung-ho on “grassroots advertising” through the vacation season and even when the group gathers for its three-week coaching block after the New 12 months, Pauly stated. “We’ve been, and can proceed, to cease by native golf equipment,” she famous “We’ll be attending the Beneath Armour NEXT occasion that our enviornment, Addition Monetary (on the UCF campus), is the host of.”
The kicker will come when the Orlando group holds a Fan Day on January 20, six days earlier than it opens the season at residence towards the Vibe. “Individuals can see our new court docket, work together with our group, and take part in lots of giveaways for tickets through the season,” Pauly stated.
— The PVF has made VolleyStation its official information administration accomplice. VolleyStation’s centralized system will help the league in making a database of groups, gamers and matches. A launch stated that statistical materials “can be pushed in actual time to each groups, web sites and the media, and might seamlessly combine with tv broadcast retailers to permit for in-depth evaluation throughout a match.” Followers can entry “stay scoring” via the league’s web site at ProVolleyball.com.
— Guidelines concerning the PVF faculty draft have been clarified. Drafting groups will retain league rights to gamers they decide for 2 years if these gamers select to not signal with them. Gamers who signal contracts are sure to the group for the size of the deal. If a drafted participant with remaining faculty eligibility opts to return to high school, the drafting group loses its rights and the participant could possibly be chosen within the subsequent draft.