The history of American women’s volleyball is inextricably linked to our Asian sisters and brothers. From Debbie Green as the U.S. setter on our 1984 Women’s Silver Medal Team to Toshi Yoshida (Japan) and Lang Ping (China) as our national team coaches in Athens (2004) and Beijing (2008), we have shared knowledge, training and our love of the sport.
Today we stand hand in hand and heart to heart with the Asian community both in and out of volleyball, jointly grieving our loss and promising our support. Racism and anti-Asian bias have no place in our association or our sport.
Today we claim our failures to notice, speak up and act in defense of our Asian coaching colleagues and compatriots at large. We will fight racism and work for understanding throughout our community and our society.
– Kathy DeBoer, AVCA Executive Director
– Sharon Clark, AVCA President