Facts & Figures |
The Women's Professional Volleyball Association (WPVA) was created in 1986 when a group of professional women that included former Olympic and collegiate All-American volleyball players joined together. Led by Pepperdine volleyball coach Nina Matthies, the formation of the WPVA was the first step to organizing the women's pro beach volleyball events which had previously been played as amateur games or as the accompaniment to the men's professional game. The efforts of these women and the WPVA culminated in the first Women's Professional event held in Newport Beach, California on May 16 & 17, 1987. With a membership of more than 225 active female athletes, the WPVA is the third largest professional league for women and serves as the sanctioning body for the participation of the United States top female beach volleyball players in world-wide competition. |