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Josh Bigford





Meet Josh Bigford!
 
We are excited to announce that Josh Bigford has accepted the role of Head Coach for the boys All-Star program!  

Josh currently serves as the Head Coach of both the Men’s and Women’s Volleyball programs at Hartwick College.   Prior to joining the Hartwick Volleyball program in 2023, Josh was a 4-year member and captain of the St John Fisher Cardinals Men’s Volleyball Program, a 4-time All-American and is the all-time record holder for kills in his career at St. John Fisher.
 
 
 
**The Excelsior Empire Region is looking for all boys interested in trying out and traveling to the All-Star Championship in Columbus, OH from July 21-26.  If you are interested, Josh will be observing players at the upcoming Boys Regionals tournament and we would request that you complete the following registration in order that we can identify those players.  For players who may be interested but not attending the Boys Regionals tournament, please fill out the registration form and we’ll work with you to determine the best way for Josh to observe your skills and level of play.
 
Please contact Tracy Manning at tracy.manning@xlvball.com with any questions.
 

How to Join the Excelsior Empire Boy’s All-Star Team

Step 1: Attend a Tryout
Register for an Excelsior Empire (XL) All-Star Tryout and show us your skills! Players can participate in as many tryouts as they like, for a fee of $40 per tryout. Each session gives athletes the chance to make their mark and stand out for selection.

Step 2: Training Sessions
Once selected, prepare for the big event by attending our Training Sessions, which will be held in June/July before the tournament. More information will follow after being accepted to the team.

Step 3: Travel to USAV All-Star Championships
All selected Excelsior All-Star teams will travel together to the prestigious USAV All-Star Championships. Compete alongside the best, representing Excelsior and showcasing your talent on a national stage!

What are the Participation Requirements?

  • All players must have an active annual membership with USAV and Excelsior. One-Event memberships will not be accepted.
  • All players must be rostered on an Excelsior/USAV Rostered Team.
  • All players must participate in one or more of the Excelsior sponsored event tournaments – these include: Icicle Challenge, Syracuse Smash, and our Regional Tournament.

Other Important Information to note:

 

Team Travel: All players will travel together as a team to the All-Star Championship tournament and remain as a team throughout it. Return travel will be made as a team, unless otherwise approved by the Championship coordinator. Jerseys, lodging and meals will be provided during the trip.

Parents are welcome to attend at their option and at their own expense.

Age Divisions/Teams

U19 International - Birth years '07, '08 and '09
U19 - Birth years '08 and '09
U17 - Birth years '10 and '11
U15 - Birth years '12 and '13
U13 - Birth years '14 and later

Tryout times and locations may be adjusted based on participant interest. Athletes are welcome to attend as many tryouts as they’d like; however, attending at least one tryout is required to be considered for a team. 

*2026 tryouts:
Friday, March 13, 6:00-8:30pm at the Gary Bynon Athletic Center, Clifton Park NY
Sunday, March 29, 12:00-2:30pm at  Owego Schools
**Athletes are strongly encouraged to attend BOTH tryouts!!
**Link to try out: https://xreva.sportngin.com/register/form/473987872

What Is The Team Selection Process?

Those players selected will be sent an invitation and will be given 3 days to accept or reject the invitation. Once an invitation is accepted, a deposit of 50% of the player fee will be required, with the remainder to be paid prior to team travel.

YOUR 2026 TEAMS