LEXINGTON, Ky., Dec. 9, 2022 — The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) is bringing a group of volleyball pioneers to its 2022 convention in Omaha, Neb., this Wednesday through Saturday, Dec. 14-17, in conjunction with the NCAA Volleyball Championship semifinals and title match.
Former Morgan State head volleyball coach Ramona Riley-Bozier will be one of the 15 who will be honored by the AVCA.
Riley-Bozier spent 34 years at the helm of the Lady Bear volleyball program and ended her coaching career at Morgan State as the all-time winningest coach with 481 victories. During her time at her alma mater, Riley-Bozier guided Morgan State to nine Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) regular-season titles, four MEAC tournament championships, three NCAA Tournament appearances and five MEAC Coach of the Year honors.
Riley-Bozier will also be inducted into the MEAC Hall of Fame in March, as part of the Class of 2023.
In honor of this being the 50th anniversary of Title IX's passage, the AVCA is recognizing what it is calling the "Godmothers of Volleyball," and 15 of them will attend the convention. The group includes women who have done the heavy lifting across the decades to pave the way regarding women's sports and the struggle for access to collegiate playing opportunities.
The accomplishments of this group are many, and they are significant. These women have impacted the sport in a number of ways including coaching at various levels, serving as volleyball officials, being athletics department executives, and serving on national rules and awards committees.
During the event, the Godmothers will take part in a number of convention activities including panel discussions, receptions, and banquets. They will also be recognized on-court as part of a special presentation during the semifinals of the 2022 NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Championship.
The Godmothers who will be in Omaha are:
Marcia Alterman
Susan Brewer
Linda Dollar
Linda Herman
Debbie Hill
Pat Kendrick
Jodi Manore
Peggy Martin
Ruth Nelson
Joan Powell
Nona Richardson
Ramona Riley-Bozier
Sue Sinclair
Cookie Stevens
Sandy Vivas