CEVA Celebrates Volleyball’s Legends at 2026 IVHF Induction

Volleyball’s past and present came together in Holyoke, Massachusetts, on October 17, as the International Volleyball Hall of Fame celebrated its 40th induction class. Nine honorees earned recognition for careers spanning indoor and beach volleyball, coaching, leadership, officiating and ParaVolley. The ceremony honored the people who have helped shape the game around the world. Meet the Class of 2026.

CEVA always sends a delegation to support the Hall of Fame induction weekend, continuing a tradition of celebrating the sport’s history and the people whose contributions make today’s volleyball opportunities possible. The annual gathering offers a meaningful connection between our local volleyball community and the game’s international legacy.

This year’s inductees brought an impressive range of accomplishments:

  • April Ross — United States, beach volleyball: A three-time Olympian who collected gold in Tokyo, silver in London and bronze in Rio, along with the 2009 world championship.
  • Alison Cerutti — Brazil, beach volleyball: A two-time world champion and three-time Olympian, with Olympic gold from Rio and silver from London.
  • Fabiana “Fabi” Alvim — Brazil, indoor volleyball: A standout libero who helped Brazil win consecutive Olympic gold medals in 2008 and 2012.
  • Ekaterina Gamova — Russia, indoor volleyball: A four-time Olympian whose career included two world championships and two Olympic silver medals.
  • Yoel “Joël” Despaigne — Cuba, indoor volleyball: A two-time Olympian who helped Cuba capture the 1989 World Cup and silver at the 1990 World Championship.
  • Laurent Tillie — France, coach: A former Olympic player who coached France’s men to their first Olympic gold medal at the Tokyo Games.
  • Dr. Ary Graça — Brazil, leader: FIVB president from 2012 to 2024, recognized for expanding volleyball’s global reach and development.
  • Denis Le Breuilly — ParaVolley: A longtime administrator and referee whose work strengthened international ParaVolley and helped secure sitting volleyball’s continued Paralympic inclusion.
  • Takashi Shimoyama — Japan, referee: An official at three Olympic Games who also helped educate referees and advance international officiating standards.

Additional career details are available in the Hall of Fame’s official inductee announcement.

The celebration also recognized four special award recipients: the late Dr. Gabriel Cherebetiu, Mintonette Medallion of Merit; John Cook, Mayoral Award of Excellence; Starlings USA, Court of Honor; and Alejandro Coccia, Award for Media Excellence. Their recognition highlighted the many ways people and organizations contribute to volleyball beyond competition. Read more about the honorees.

Located in volleyball’s birthplace, the International Volleyball Hall of Fame preserves the sport’s history and celebrates its most influential figures. Fans can visit the museum at 444 Dwight Street in Holyoke, explore online exhibits, read inductee biographies and learn how to support its work at VolleyHall.org.

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