COLUMBUS, OH / FRISCO, TX – Logan Tom, one of the world’s highest profile volleyball players, and Devonie McLarty, a highly respected volleyball referee, have joined Pro Volleyball Federation as the newest additions to the fast-growing League. Tom will serve as the League’s Director of International Development & Player Strategy, while McLarty becomes Pro Volleyball Federation’s Director of Officials.
Both women come to Pro Volleyball Federation as highly-respected professionals within volleyball circles. Tom’s experience as a player and coach both domestically and internationally brings to the League a wealth of knowledge, relationships, and respect, while McLarty’s reputation as one of America’s very best referees will allow the League to attract top volleyball officials and ensure our game is officiated with expertise and integrity.
“Pro Volleyball Federation continues to attract the highest caliber individuals to REAL PRO VOLLEYBALL,” said Pro Volleyball Federation CEO Jen Spicher. “Logan is an icon in the sport and brings tremendous passion and notoriety from all over the globe. She will be a tremendous asset to our League and will serve Pro Volleyball Federation in so many ways.”
In her role, Tom will help develop and maintain relationships with key international agencies and federations on behalf of the League, act as a domestic and international player liaison to all athletes participating in the League, and focus on athlete wellness and welfare in order to maintain Pro Volleyball Federation’s position as an attractive playing option for the greatest volleyball players in the world.
“I am excited to be part of Pro Volleyball Federation and bringing women’s professional volleyball back to American soil,” Tom said. “This league will have a positive impact on the sport internationally, but even more so domestically, bringing a professional level of understanding to the States and also much needed role models for young adults. To be part of a movement in women’s volleyball, and in women’s sport in general, is more than I could have asked for and has unmatched potential.”
The International Volleyball Hall of Fame inductee, Tom is one of the greatest volleyball players the United States has ever produced. At the age of 19, she became the youngest woman ever to be selected to the U.S. Olympic Volleyball Team and made her Olympic debut at the 2000 Sydney Summer Games. Tom would go on to play in four Olympics and helped lead the United States to a pair of silver medals in the 2008 Games in Beijing and in 2012 in London.
Tom’s professional career spanned 12 countries and featured high-level play in both the indoor game and in beach volleyball. She helped lead Fenerbahce Universal to the 2012 CEV Champions League title and won a championship with Unilever Volei in the 2013 Brazilian Superliga. She won an amazing eight championships and one runner up finish during her pro career. Recently, Tom worked as head/assistant coach for the Israeli Women’s National Teams, along with their younger federations teams and their sports academy male and female teams from 2020-2022.
As Director of Officials, McLarty will act as a liaison between the League and its teams, coaches, and volleyball officials, establishing a cohesive and effective system for the observation of the performance and other pertinent factors of officials assigned to officiate League matches. She will also train, observe, and grade all League officials, line judges, and scorers throughout the year.
“We are thrilled to have attracted someone the caliber of Devonie to be our Director of Officials,” said Dr. Cecile Reynaud, Pro Volleyball Federation’s Vice President of Volleyball Operations. “Devonie’s background and experience speaks for itself, and she has so much enthusiasm and excitement about joining Pro Volleyball Federation, and about officiating overall.”
McLarty has been a volleyball referee for more than 25 years, officiating domestically at all levels, including numerous Women’s NCAA Final Fours and a Men’s NCAA National Championship. She holds the highest levels of referee certifications in the United States and is also an FIVB International Referee. She serves in various leadership roles within USA Volleyball and is currently on the PAVO (Professional Association of Volleyball Officials) Board of Directors.
McLarty’s experience in refereeing in the United States runs deep. She referees all levels of NCAA women’s volleyball in many conferences, including in the Big Ten, ACC, Missouri Valley, Big East, MAC, Horizon, and WAC. She has been selected as a referee for final rounds of the NCAA, NJCAA, and NAIA National Championships as well as several conference championships. Additionally, she referees various levels of NCAA men’s volleyball and has been a line judge for the NCAA Men’s National Championships.
Pro Volleyball Federation is the premier women’s professional volleyball league in North America and the first women’s professional volleyball league in North America that provides world-class players the opportunity to make a living wage without having to go overseas to pursue their professional careers. Pro Volleyball Federation will open its inaugural season with seven teams in February 2024.
ABOUT PRO VOLLEYBALL FEDERATION
Pro Volleyball Federation is REAL pro volleyball and the premier women’s professional volleyball league in North America. Pro Volleyball Federation will begin play in February 2024 with world class players and coaches, including some of America’s greatest volleyball players and elite players from around the world. Our entire focus is on ensuring that our level and quality of play, our treatment of players, the quality of our event presentations, and our day-to-day fan experience is world class and the very best offered in North America. For more information, visit ProVolleyball.com.
For Media Inquiries or to arrange interviews, contact: Rob Carolla, (214-208-1876 / rob@provolleyball.com)