International Volleyball Association
The International Volleyball Association was a short lived co-ed professional volleyball league in the United States from 1975 to 1980. Like other major sports leagues in the United States, it had two geographic divisions. However, its teams were entirely in the west. It is one of the few examples of a professional sports league where men and women competed on the same teams.
In keeping with the "International" name, the league included one team, El Paso-Juarez Sol, which acknowledged both sides of the international twin town in its name.
Divisions
The league started with 5 teams in 1975, but split into two divisions with the addition of the Tucson Turquoise in 1976. The two divisions were Western, which consisted of teams on the Pacific Coast, and a second, called Eastern in 1975 and Continental after 1977, for teams from the Rocky Mountain states.
The only team from the Eastern or Continental Division to win a championship was the Tucson Sky in 1979.
Teams
The teams and the years of existence were:
| Team | Years |
|---|---|
| Santa Barbara Spikers | 1975–1979 |
| El Paso-Juarez Sol | 1975–1977 |
| Los Angeles Stars | 1975–1977 |
| Orange County Stars
(Moved from Los Angeles) |
1977–1978 |
| San Diego Breakers | 1975–1978 |
| Southern California Bangers | 1975 |
| Tucson Turquoise
(Moved from Southern California) |
1976 |
| Tucson Sky
(Changed name from Turquoise) |
1977–1979 |
| Phoenix Heat | 1976–1977 |
| Denver Comets | 1976–1977 |
| Seattle Smashers | 1978–1979 |
| Albuquerque Lazers | 1979 |
| Salt Lake City Stingers | 1979 |
| San Jose Diablos | 1979 |
Venues:
- The Diablos played their home games at the San Jose Civic Auditorium.
Season by year
1975
Regular Season
Single division, top three teams made playoffs, top team given bye in first playoff round.
| Team | Win | Loss | Pct |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles Stars | 18 | 6 | .750 |
| San Diego Breakers | 17 | 7 | .708 |
| Santa Barbara Spikers | 13 | 11 | .542 |
| Southern California Bangers | 6 | 18 | .250 |
| El Paso-Juarez Sol | 6 | 18 | .250 |
Playoffs
Round 1
| San Diego | 1 |
| Santa Barbara | 0 |
Championship (Best 3 of 5)
| Los Angeles | 3 |
| San Diego | 1 |
1976
Regular Season
Top five teams made playoffs, top team from each division received bye in first round of playoffs
Eastern Division
| Team | Win | Loss | Pct |
|---|---|---|---|
| El Paso - Juarez Sol | 17 | 23 | .425 |
| Phoenix Heat | 14 | 26 | .350 |
| Tucson Turquoise | 11 | 29 | .275 |
Western Division
| Team | Win | Loss | Pct |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego Breakers | 29 | 11 | .725 |
| Los Angeles Stars | 25 | 15 | .625 |
| Santa Barbara Spikers | 24 | 16 | .600 |
Playoffs and Championship
Best 3 of 5
Round 1
| Santa Barbara | 3 |
| Phoenix | 0 |
Round 2
| San Diego | 3 |
| Santa Barbara | 0 |
| Los Angeles | 3 |
| El Paso-Juarez | 0 |
Championship
| San Diego | 3 |
| Los Angeles | 1 |
1977
Regular Season
Two divisions, two top teams from each division played a playoff game
Continental Division
| Team | Win | Loss | Pct |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denver Comets | 22 | 14 | .612 |
| El Paso - Juarez Sol | 21 | 15 | .584 |
| Phoenix Heat | 15 | 21 | .417 |
| Tucson Sky | 11 | 25 | .306 |
Western Division
| Team | Win | Loss | Pct |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orange County Stars | 20 | 16 | .556 |
| Santa Barbara Spikers | 19 | 17 | .528 |
| San Diego Breakers | 18 | 18 | .500 |
Playoffs and Championships
Best 3 out of 5
Continental Division
| El Paso - Juarez | 3 |
| Denver | 2 |
Western Division
| Orange County | 3 |
| Santa Barbara | 2 |
Championship
| Orange County | 3 |
| El Paso - Juarez | 2 |
1978
Regular Season and Championship
Records for the 1978 are incomplete. The teams finished as follows, with Santa Barbara being the champion. Players for Santa Barbara were Reede Reynolds (USA), Luis Eymard (Brazil), Jose Luis Garcia (Mexico), Bebeto de Freitas (Brazil), Larry Milliken, Sue Herrington, Rosie Wegrith
Albuquerque Lazers Salt Lake City Stingers
| Santa Barbara Spikers |
| Tucson Sky |
| Orange County Stars |
| Seattle Smashers |
| Denver Comets |
| San Jose Diablos |
1979
Regular Season
Two divisions, two top teams from each division played a playoff game
Continental Division
| Team | Win | Loss | Pct |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denver Comets | 29 | 11 | .725 |
| Tucson Sky | 23 | 17 | .575 |
| Salt Lake City Stingers | 17 | 23 | .425 |
| Albuquerque Lazers | 9 | 31 | .225 |
Western Division
| Team | Win | Loss | Pct |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Barbara Spikers | 27 | 13 | .675 |
| Seattle Smashers | 23 | 17 | .575 |
| San Jose Diablos | 12 | 28 | .300 |
Playoffs and Championship
Best 3 out of 5
Continental Division
| Tucson | 3 |
| Denver | 1 |
Western Division
| Santa Barabara | 3 |
| Seattle | 2 |
Championship
| Tucson | 3 |
| Santa Barbara | 2 |
Notable players
NBA great Wilt Chamberlain played with the Seattle Smashers in 1978.[1]
Notes
- ↑ Tucson Time Capsule, Arizona Daily Star, July 2, 2007