Tombstone
Formed: November 25, 19861UNITED PRESS INTERNATIONAL. “Pro league started in volleyball”. The Journal Gazette (Mattoon, IL). November 26, 1986
Disbanded: March 20, 1989
First Game:
Last Game:
Seasons: 2.5
States: 1
(Arizona, California, Illinois, Minnesota, New York, Oregon, Texas)
Leadership
Trophy Case
Background
Major League Volleyball was an attempt to establish an all-women’s professional volleyball circuit in the United States. The league launched in 1987 and even managed to land an ESPN cable TV contract to broadcast select matches.
The league toiled in obscurity and folded midway through its third season in March of 1989.
The Minnesota Monarchs franchise soldiered on for at least one additional season in the spring of 1990. Billing themselves as members of the “Women’s International Volleyball League”, the Monarchs weren’t actually part of a league at all. The club played an exhibition schedule at various locations around Minnesota, Wisconsin and South Dakota against collegiate opponents, foreign clubs and the “Legends of Beach Volleyball”. It appears the Monarchs faded quietly away after 1990.
Major League Volleyball Franchise List
| FRANCHISE | YEARS ACTIVE | MLV Champions |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona Blaze | 1988 | Never |
| Chicago Breeze | 1987-1989 | Never |
| Dallas Belles | 1987 | Never |
| Los Angeles Starlites | 1987-1989 | 1987 & 1988 |
| Minnesota Monarchs | 1987-1989 | Never |
| New York Liberties | 1987-1989 | Never |
| Portland Spikers | 1989 | Never |
| San Jose Golddiggers | 1987-1989 | Never |
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