The Tucson Sky were a franchise in the co-ed International Volleyball Association from 1977 until the league disbanded in the middle of the 1980 season. The Sky followed an earlier failed IVA team in Tucson – the Tucson Turquoise – who played for a single season in 1976 before folding. The Sky won the final championship of the IVA at the conclusion of the 1979 season.
The San Jose Diablos were a co-ed professional volleyball team that played parts of two seasons in the International Volleyball Association (1975-1980). The Diablos struggled to a 13-27 record in 1979 and then went out of business in June 1980, midway through their second season of play.
The Albuquerque Lasers were a co-ed volleyball team that played parts of two seasons in the International Volleyball Association during the summers of 1979 and 1980. NBA Hall-of-Famer Wilt Chamberlain played in three matches for the Lasers in 1979. The league folded midway through the Lasers’ second season in 1980.
The Seattle Smashers were a co-ed professional volleyball team from the International Volleyball Association. The team played at Seattle Center Arena for two seasons during the summers of 1978 and 1979. The team featured world-class volleyball stars such as Polish Olympians Stan Gosciniak and Ed Skorek and Americans Jeff Reddan and Lisa Fernandez. Retired basketball superstar Wilt Chamberlain also suited up as a member of the Smashers for a single match at Seattle Center Arena in June 1978. The franchise disbanded in 1980.
The Phoenix Heat were a short-lived entry in the co-ed International Volleyball Association, active during the summers of 1976 and 1977. Heat home games took place in the 3,500-seat gym at Brophy College Preparatory high school. Notable players included 1964 U.S. Olympian Mary Jo Peppler and 6′ 7″ former Phoenix Suns NBA player Scott English.
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