GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Grand Rapids Rise, embarking on their debut Pro Volleyball Federation season, will have select home matches televised locally on WXSP-TV — including the home opener this Thursday, Jan. 25 against the Columbus Fury — while 96.1 The Game will be the radio home for all home matches.
WXSP will serve as the local live in-market television partner for the Rise. A sister station to WOOD TV8 and WOTV, WSXP can be found on all local cable systems as well as a series of low-power channels across the region, including in Grand Rapids (WOLP channel 27), Holland (WOHO ch. 33), Muskegon (WOMS ch. 29), Kalamazoo (WOKZ ch. 50) and Battle Creek (WOBC ch. 14). Additional Rise telecasts will be announced soon.
Dan Hasty, the voice of the West Michigan Whitecaps and the University of Detroit Mercy men's basketball team, will provide the play-by-play, with former Grand Valley State volleyball standout Katie Olson on the color commentating duties. All telecasts will be simulcast on 96.1 The Game.
Hasty has also filled in as a play-by-play broadcaster for the Detroit Tigers and is the host of the “Road to Detroit” podcast. He began calling volleyball matches as a college student at Central Michigan University. In 2014, he served as the public address announcer for the Michigan Wolverines volleyball team, and he has been doing matches locally for Caledonia High School the past three seasons.
“What a special opportunity it is to be a part of the Grand Rapids Rise — the newest member of the West Michigan sports family,” Hasty said. “It’s an honor and privilege to tell the stories of some of the best volleyball players in the world. To be a part of this from the very beginning is as unique as it is special. I couldn’t be more excited to partner with some incredible broadcasting and volleyball minds, beginning with Katie Olson, who enjoyed remarkable success playing for Grand Valley State. She’ll be a tremendous asset to our broadcast and fans, and I can’t wait to see the sport through her lens.”
Olson, a three-time All-GLIAC selection for GVSU from 2014-17, is currently a coach for the FaR Out Volleyball Club in Grand Rapids. She was also a volunteer assistant coach for the 2021 Michigan State volleyball team, which was coached by Rise head coach Cathy George.
“I am thrilled to be a part of something so inspiring to the volleyball community,” Olson said. “It’s amazing to have such a high level of volleyball not only in the states, but in West Michigan.”
Pro Volleyball Federation announced two more national broadcasting partners last week in Bally Live and Stadium, following December’s announcement of a partnership with CBS Sports. More information and a schedule of the matches being broadcast by those outlets can be found here.
ABOUT THE 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 THE GRAND RAPIDS RISE
Founded in December 2022 as the first Pro Volleyball Federation franchise and Grand Rapids’ first major-league women’s sports team, the Grand Rapids Rise will make their debut at Van Andel Arena on Jan. 25, 2024. Led by longtime Michigan State and Western Michigan head coach Cathy George, the Rise’s 14-player roster will play 24 games (12 home, 12 away) during their inaugural season. The team is operated by DP Fox Sports & Entertainment and owned by Dan DeVos, who is also co-owner and CEO of the American Hockey League’s Grand Rapids Griffins. Visit grrise.com for the schedule and to purchase tickets.