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:
TeamYears
Santa Barbara Spikers1975–1979
El Paso-Juarez Sol1975–1977
Los Angeles Stars1975–1977
Orange County Stars
'		1977–1978
San Diego Breakers1975–1978
Southern California Bangers1975
Tucson Turquoise
'		1976
Tucson Sky
'		1977–1979
Phoenix Heat1976–1977
Denver Comets1976–1977
Seattle Smashers1978–1979
Albuquerque Lazers1979
Salt Lake City Stingers1979
San Jose Diablos1979

Venues''':

1975

Regular Season
Single division, top three teams made playoffs, top team given bye in first playoff round.
TeamWinLossPct
Los Angeles Stars186.750
San Diego Breakers177.708
Santa Barbara Spikers1311.542
Southern California Bangers618.250
El Paso-Juarez Sol618.250

Playoffs
Round 1
Championship

1976

Regular Season
Top five teams made playoffs, top team from each division received bye in first round of playoffs
Eastern Division
TeamWinLossPct
El Paso - Juarez Sol1723.425
Phoenix Heat1426.350
Tucson Turquoise1129.275

Western Division
TeamWinLossPct
San Diego Breakers2911.725
Los Angeles Stars2515.625
Santa Barbara Spikers2416.600

Playoffs and Championship
Best 3 of 5
Round 1
Round 2
Championship

1977

Regular Season
Two divisions, two top teams from each division played a playoff game
Continental Division
TeamWinLossPct
Denver Comets2214.612
El Paso - Juarez Sol2115.584
Phoenix Heat1521.417
Tucson Sky1125.306

Western Division
TeamWinLossPct
Orange County Stars2016.556
Santa Barbara Spikers1917.528
San Diego Breakers1818.500

Playoffs and Championships
Best 3 out of 5
Continental Division
Western Division
Championship

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, Luis Eymard, Jose Luis Garcia, Bebeto de Freitas, Larry Milliken, Sue Herrington, Rosie Wegrith
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
TeamWinLossPct
Denver Comets2911.725
Tucson Sky2317.575
Salt Lake City Stingers1723.425
Albuquerque Lazers931.225

Western Division
TeamWinLossPct
Santa Barbara Spikers2713.675
Seattle Smashers2317.575
San Jose Diablos1228.300

Playoffs and Championship
Best 3 out of 5
Continental Division
Western Division
Championship

Notable players

great Wilt Chamberlain played with the Seattle Smashers in 1978.