COLUMBUS, Ohio / FRISCO, Texas – Franklin Sports, a leading manufacturer in the sporting goods industry, has announced the retail release of its newly designed REAL Pro Volleyball, the exclusive volleyball of Pro Volleyball Federation, North America’s premier women’s professional volleyball league.
The Franklin REAL Pro Volleyball will debut on the court for Pro Volleyball Federation’s inaugural match between the Atlanta Vibe and Omaha Supernovas at CHI Health Center in Omaha on January 24 at 8 p.m. ET. In collaboration with the League and in conjunction with its inaugural match, the Franklin REAL Pro Volleyball will now be available at a suggested retail price of $79.99, offering volleyball athletes of all ages and expertise the unique opportunity to buy the exact ball used by volleyball pros.
"The partnership with Pro Volleyball Federation is an incredible milestone for us at Franklin Sports. We are proud to collaborate with the League and disrupt the volleyball world," said Adam Franklin, President of Franklin Sports. "The Franklin Sports Real Pro Volleyball is the ultimate professional ball, priced to shake up the existing wholesale ball market. We support Pro Volleyball Federation's mission to create new opportunities for athletes at all levels, offering volleyball players nationwide a chance to experience a new era in women’s volleyball."
The multi-year agreement and partnership between Franklin Sports and Pro Volleyball Federation comes at the perfect time. Both organizations share a collective goal and commitment to bringing the highest level of women’s professional volleyball to the United States. In joining forces, Franklin and Pro Volleyball Federation aim to highlight the groundbreaking opportunity for women to participate in professional volleyball in North America at a major league level. With this objective in mind, the carefully crafted Franklin REAL Pro Volleyball serves as an inspiration, designed to meet global professional standards, and encourage aspiring young athletes to pursue their passion for the sport. To that end, the Franklin REAL Pro Volleyball was designed for Pro Volleyball Federation to rival any other ball played in any other league in the world.
Omaha Supernovas outside hitter Gina Mancuso-Prososki has first-hand experience with the REAL Pro Volleyball, especially in preparation for the first official Pro Volleyball Federation match on January 24, sharing an initial account of using the REAL Pro Volleyball, “The unique, one-of-a-kind indoor professional volleyball designed by Franklin Sports is the future of volleyball in the United States. Through their in-depth research and dedication to bringing the best volleyball possible to the sport, Franklin has truly raised the quality standard for indoor volleyballs with the REAL Pro Volleyball,” said Mancuso-Prososki. “It’s been a fun experience training with the REAL Pro Volleyball over the past couple of months and getting familiar with the ball itself. For anyone aspiring to play professionally or enhance their game at any level and age, this is the perfect volleyball to do so.”
As the first volleyball designed specifically for Pro Volleyball Federation, the Franklin REAL Pro Volleyball is renowned for its innovative and cutting-edge features including a distinctive and first of its kind cover material, a 12-panel design, and an innovative wave surface texture. The ball’s embossed cover and precisely balanced construction play a pivotal role in ball tracking and assist in generating consistent float and spin through the air. This ensures consistent performance for players of all positions. The cover material, pattern, and surface texture are meticulously crafted to enhance touch, providing ultimate ball control, and making it conducive to high-intensity performance. The ball is designed to meet all Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB) size and weight requirements and has passed all performance standards. This guarantees that players at all levels, from amateur enthusiasts to professional athletes, can rely on the Franklin REAL Pro Volleyball for quality and performance during play.
Gearing up for her debut as a setter for the Atlanta Vibe, Tori Dilfer-Stringer has been training with the REAL Pro Volleyball, dialing in her technique. “I’ve really enjoyed becoming accustomed to the REAL Pro Volleyball, especially as a setter, it’s been nice with the grooves, pattern and padding on the surface, and it helps me generate a nice release of the ball as it leaves my hands,” said DilferStringer. “I love walking into practice with the team and seeing Franklin Sports and Pro Volleyball Federation logos on the balls. It adds a real factor that the organization didn’t just put logos on a ball that’s already out there. It’s truly the league’s very own ball and it was created specifically for us!”
The REAL Pro Volleyball will be available for purchase on Wednesday, January 24 on franklinsports.com, Amazon.com, and will be coming soon dickssportinggoods.com. For more information about the Franklin REAL Pro Volleyball, visit franklinsports.com/elite-pro-volleyball. Photography assets can be found here. To learn more about the Pro Volleyball Federation, visit ProVolleyball.com.
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 January 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.
ABOUT FRANKLIN SPORTS
Founded by Irving Franklin in 1946, Franklin Sports is a Stoughton, Massachusetts-based sporting goods brand that manufactures and sells over 10,000 products across many different categories. Franklin Sports is proud of its partnerships with Major League Baseball, Major League Soccer, the National Basketball Association, the National Football League, the National Hockey League, USA Pickleball, Pro Volleyball Federation and Hasbro’s Nerf brand including the leagues’ youth participation programs. Franklin also works with hundreds of elite athletes through sports equipment and apparel collaborations. Franklin is a multigenerational, family-owned business with a rich history and trusted reputation as a quality sporting goods brand – from recreational sports all the way up to the professional level – has made it one of the perennial leaders in the industry. At Franklin Sports, the team believes that sports make life better. Driven by Franklin’s passion to get people moving, playing, and competing, the Franklin mission is to bring sports to life for athletes of all ages. Whether designing a product for a World Series MVP or a child enjoying their first swings of the bat, Franklin Sports is dedicated to making sports inspiring, fun and accessible for all. For more information on Franklin Sports, please visit www.franklinsports.com or follow Franklin on Instagram @franklinsports, @franklinsportseqp, and @franklinpickleball, Facebook, and Twitter @franklinsports.