2  History of the Ohio Valley Region

While the Ohio Valley Region has undergone many changes, stability has been assured in the office of Commissioner.

Appointed by Bill Baird in 1970 to replace G. R. "Jeep" McDonald as Region 4 leader, Roland Stone logged the second longest continuous service as a Regional Commissioner in the history of USA Volleyball. "Stoney" received many honors and awards during his tenure. Most notable of these were the "Leader in Volleyball" in 1976, and the 1986 "Doc" Booth Award signifying excellence in the capacity of regional commissioner.

On May 19, 1989, in continuation of the OVR long-term stability, the OVR Board of Directors unanimously elected Assistant Commissioner Ronald J. Wyzynski to the position of Regional Commissioner. Ron started his first four-year term on November 1, 1989 and was re-elected in 1993.

In May 1995, the Regional Operations Division (ROD) approved the request made by Ron Kordes (Louisville) for the formation of the Pioneer Sub-Region. The Pioneer Sub-Region, consisting of Kentucky and any teams within southwest Ohio's 513 and 937 area codes who wished to join, operated under guidance of the OVR for one year, following which it became the Pioneer Region. Despite that split, our membership has grown every year since 1988.

1997 was a benchmark year for the Ohio Valley Region. Bob Price was appointed Commissioner / President, with Ron Wyzynski becoming our first CEO / Executive Director. Through Ron and Bob's leadership the OVR continued to grow, setting the standard for regional volleyball associations many times over. In 1997 both Adult and Junior Championships were held in a metropolitan convention center, a first for the nation. Later, in 2002, our Junior Championships in the Greater Columbus Convention Center were held over two back-to-back weekends, another first, with the youngest age groups being held in satellite sites.

We have grown significantly since our formative years. In 1970 the OVR sanctioned 16 men's and 2 women's tournaments, barely a hint of the approximately 900 men's, women's, and juniors' divisions to follow in 2001. In 1970 we supported 38 teams; by 2002 that number exploded to 1,228. From hosting the nation's first bona-fide volleyball camp (Columbus, 1968) to hosting the largest USA Open Volleyball Championships ever (521 teams, 2000), the Ohio Valley Region has shown unwavering commitment to promote volleyball at all levels.

OVR individual registrationa
  adult junior provisional other total grand    
year m f m f m f m f m f total rank regions
1969b 172 37                   8th 16
1970 212 90                   7th 17
1975 221 86 12 54 - - 0 0 233 140 433 10th 17
1976 323 152 12 53 - - 0 0 335 205 583 9th 17
1977c 285 122 17 23 88 45 14 5 404 195 599 10th 18
1978 278 140 21 82 66 60 0 0 365 282 647 11th 20
1979 308 306 26 155 175 239 0 0 509 700 1209 7th 23
1980 363 222 21 122 115 86 0 0 499 430 929 7th 25
1981 316 174 28 147 59 66 0 0 403 387 790 13th 25
1982 212 159 18 77 52 62 8 3 290 301 591 14th 26
1983 233 181 22 112 86 35 55 17 396 345 741 15th 27
1984 233 184 14 91 86 77 0 0 333 352 685 15th 29
1985 231 159 34 87 139 77 0 0 404 323 727 18th 28
1986d 316 271 30 581 85 83 57 0 488 935 1423 7th 28
1987 337 244 32 718 189 135 67 26 625 1123 1748 6th 28
1988 309 247 41 699 135 96 66 60 551 1102 1653 10th 30
1989 356 229 21 569 193 277 12 24 582 1099 1681 13th 31
1990 473 241 43 745 284 153 133 103 933 1242 2175 9th 33
1991 810 400 57 1010 - - 264 239 1131 1649 2780 6th 33
1992e                      
1993 2002 2005   4007 2nd 35
1994 2484 2816   1537 3763 5300 2nd 35
1995 2575 3712   1502 4785 6287 2nd 35
1996 2628 4882   1411 6099 7510 2nd 35
1997f 2432 5403   1335 6500 7835 4th  
1998 2467 6333   1348 7452 8800    
1999g 1241 1181 179 6894 - - 22 110 1442 8185 9627 2nd 38
  2595 7075     1416 8254 9670    
2000 2696 7714     1518 8892 10410    
2001 2813 8863     1494 10182 11676    
2002 3156 9520     1749 10927 12676 1st 39
2003 1382 1825 368 10084     1750 11909 13659 1st 39
2004 1409 1939 411 11293     1820 13232 15052 1st 39
2005 1400 2056 540 11883     1940 13939 15879    
2006 1395 2011 586 12484     1981 14495 16476    
2007 1391 1889 472 13280     1863 15169 17032    
2008 1402 1919 509 13300     1911 15219 17130    
2009 1445 2043 532 13241     1977 15284 17261    

Notes

  1. Where USAV Official Guidebook and OVR records differ, accurate OVR records are used.
  2. USVBA Official Guides from 1967 and earlier do not include registration figures. Prior to 1958, Region 4 consisted of Ohio, West Virginia, and Kentucky, with Pennsylvania, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia making up Region 3.
  3. From 1975-1977 Region 4, now known as the Ohio Valley Region, included all of western Pennsylvania. From 1978 to date, the OVR includes only the border counties of Pennsylvania.
  4. Beginning in 1986, OHSAA allows high school players to participate on USVBA (now USAV) Junior teams.
  5. 1992 to date: OSHAA significantly eases restrictions on high school players participating on USVBA Junior teams.
  6. 1997 marked the divergence of the Pioneer Region, which was the Pioneer Sub-Region in 1996.
  7. 1999 figures include Official Guidebook values for comparison.