Story courtesy AVCA: https://www.avca.org/awards/grant-burger-media.html
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) announced its annual national and regional finalists for the 2016-17 AVCA Grant Burger Media Award with numerous CoSIDA members taking home honors. Eacjh year, the AVCA names an individual or individuals as the national top contributor to collegiate volleyball coverage and promotion; additionally, each national divisional honoree (NCAA Division I, Division II, Division III, NAIA, NJCAA, top web honoree, top social media honoree) is a finalist for the top national honor.
This year, the AVCA instiuted a new level of recognition, naming "Sports Information Honorees" from districts around the nation (see bottom of page) as the organization singles out schools or conferences for their volleyball coverage/promotional efforts.
Below are those CoSIDA members who were honored. Information provided by the AVCA.
Finalists
Sports Information Directors
Division I: Michelle Traversie (University of Minnesota)
FAST FACTS
• Posted 148 articles on their website in one calendar year (June 2016-June 2017)
• Minnesota Volleyball consistently appeared in local mainstream media outlets
• Runs some of the most followed social media accounts in the sport
University of Minnesota Head Coach Hugh McCutcheon…
“Michelle Traversie is more than a sports information director for the Minnesota women’s volleyball team. She is a trusted member of the program who tirelessly promotes the Gophers on and off the court and is deserving of the Grant Burger Media Award. She is sincere, genuine and professional in her job and is a respected professional in the sport and the industry. Traversie views promotion of the sport as a 365-day venture.”
Division II: Doug Self (Southwestern Oklahoma State University)
FAST FACTS
• Introduced video interviews, splash pages, record books, and media guides to the program’s coverage
• Finds new and innovative ways to increase volleyball exposure in Oklahoma
• His coverage keeps the program even more relevant to those their head coach is trying to recruit
Southwestern Oklahoma State University Head Coach Josh Collins…
“Doug’s impact reaches far beyond volleyball here at SWOSU, as he continues to elevate the promotion and coverage of all Southwestern Oklahoma State and Great American Conference sports. However, it is his consistent dedication to growing volleyball in a part of the United States where the game is still in its infancy that implores me to submit this nomination.”
Division III: Ira Thor (New Jersey City University)
FAST FACTS
• Responsible for all 13 varsity programs, including the men’s and women’s volleyball team
• Authored a tribute to former player Lyanelly Negron Dapia who passed away at a young age
• Covered the women’s team first ECAC Tournament appearance since 2007
SUNY Plattsburgh Director of Athletic Communications Brian Savard…
“I’m proud to call him a colleague and hope that he continues to work in college athletics for years to come…As long as Ira remains involved in athletics, he will constantly serve as one of volleyball’s biggest advocates and will cotinuously raise the bar with regard to how the sports is covered.”
NAIA: Edward Cassiere (Xavier University of Louisiana)
FAST FACTS
• Won the CoSida 25-Year Award
• Keeps the website updated in the off-season with various news and stories, including the signings of recruits
• A featured writer for Sports Nola, which covered local New Orleans sports
Xavier University of Louisiana Head Coach Pat Kendrick…
“In the short amount of time I have been the head coach at Xavier University of Louisiana, I have found Ed to be tireless when it comes to getting out news about XULA Athletics… No story is too small. When we recently signed our first 2017 recruits, Ed personally contacted them to get their individual stories.”
Two Year College: Roy Allen (Seward County Community College)
FAST FACTS
• Provides game notes, updated scores, stats, and photos on their website
• Writes individual features of their players with his “Above the Net” series
• Implemented livestreams of all Lady Saints home matches
Seward County Community College Head Coach Thais Baziquetto-Allen…
“Roy Allen helped Lady Saints Volleyball back to national prominence this year, promoting a Jayhawk West and Region VI Champion Seward squad while along for an 11th place ride at the NJCAA National Tournament.”
Web: Ricky Nelson (uwoshvball.wordpress.com)
FAST FACTS
• Assistant sports information director at University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh
• Creator of NCAA Division III Women’s Volleyball website
• Provides info in snippets, allowing the user to quickly consume the information
• Creates and provides content, links, and commentary all year round as well as constant updates in other DIII volleyball programs
• Feedspot ranked his website 20th, which is the highest out of all DIII volleyball websites
College.
EXAMPLES OF WORK
D-III Women’s Volleyball
Reader Robert Rochelle…
“I began to educate myself through Ricky’s site and ultimately reached out to him with additional questions. What I found was a giving man who simply loves the sport and who wants to give back to the D-III community.”
Social Media: Katie Gwinn Hewitt (University of Michigan)
FAST FACTS
• Director of volleyball communications/PR at the University of Michigan
• Uses Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook to create daily/weekly buzz for the program
• Creates content that includes; weekly player profiles, videos, and informational pieces
• Because of her success the University of Michigan, volleyball team is #1 in all collegiate volleyball programs for Facebook followers, #4 for Instagram followers and #7 for Twitter followers
• Creator of the Rosen Report
EXAMPLES OF WORK
University of Michigan Volleyball Twitter
University of Michigan Volleyball Instagram
University of Michigan Volleyball Facebook
University of Michigan Head Coach Mark Rosen…
“She did an outstanding job of getting to know our team and coaching staff and immediately went to work to promote and grow our fan base. She brought a strong focus on the social media platforms that could help grow the brand of Michigan Volleyball.”
About AVCA Grant Burger Media Award
The AVCA Grant Burger Media Award is an honor intended to recognize members of the media who have been involved in the advancement of the sport of volleyball, whether it be through consistent coverage in all mediums (sports information, print, broadcasting, web content, college student reporter and social media), production of volleyball-specific publications or extensive radio and/or television exposure. It is named in honor of Grant Burger, former Director of Sports Information and Associate Director of the AVCA (1988-92), whose hard work, innovative mind, knowledge and enthusiasm took the areas of media relations and publications at the AVCA to a higher level and increased awareness of the sport of volleyball nationwide.
AVCA Sports Information Honorees
NCAA DIVISION I (AVCA AWARDS REGION)
Pacific North: Sacramento State
Pacific South: UNLV
Southwest: Texas
Midwest: Northern Iowa
North: Minnesota
South: Lipscomb
Southeast: Kentucky
Northeast: Wisconsin
East Coast: Stony Brook
East: Creighton
NCAA DIVISION II (AVCA AWARDS REGION)
Atlantic: Urbana
Central: Central Missouri
East: Daemen
Midwest: Northwood (MI)
South Central: Texas Woman's
South: Nova Southeastern
Southeast: Wingate
West: Central Washington
NCAA DIVISION III (AVCA AWARDS REGION)
Central: Washington-St. Louis
Great Lakes: Calvin
Mid Atlantic: Cabrini
Midwest: Chicago
New England: Johnson & Wales (RI)
New York: Ithaca
North: Gettysburg
Northeast: Gallaudet
South: Hendrix
West: Colorado College
NAIA WOMEN'S (AVCA AWARDS REGION)
MidCentral: Indiana University Kokomo
MidEast: Cornerstone
Midwest: Columbia
North Central: Bellevue
Northeast: Union
Northwest: Corban
South Central: Wayland Baptist
Southeast: Keiser
Southwest: Vanguard
West Central: Hastings
NCAA DIVISION I-II MEN (CONFERENCE)
EIVA: Princeton
MIVA: Loyola-Chicago
MPSF: BYU
Conference Carolinas: Mount Olive
NCAA DIVISION III MEN (CONFERENCE)
CUNYAC: Baruch
CVC: Juniata
GNAC: Johnson & Wales (RI)
Independent: Arcadia
MCVL: Dominican
NECC: Elms
NEAC: Lancaster Bible
Skyline: Ramapo
UVC: SUNY New Paltz
NAIA MEN'S SID (CONFERENCE)
Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (Division II): Cardinal Stritch
Heart of America Athletic Conference: Culver-Stockton
Unaffiliated - AAC/Midsouth: Campbellsville
Unaffiliated - American Midwest/Independent: Lindenwood-Belleville
Unaffiliated - Cal Pac/Golden State: UC Merced
BEACH
Southern California