Below is a summary of Vilis’ volleyball exploits. All volleyball photographs are copyrighted and provided courtesy of Mathew Barber Studios

Volleyball History for Vilis Ozols

HIGH SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL:

  • 1975 – Freshman, Banting Memorial High School, Georgian Bay Conference Volleyball Champions
  • 1976 – Sophomore, Banting Memorial High School, Georgian Bay Conference Volleyball Champions
  • 1979- Senior, Player/Coach, Burnhamthorpe High School, Etobicoke Conference Champions (National Team Rule Change: Ozols eligible for High School Competition)
Vilis Volleyball

UNIVERSITY VOLLEYBALL:

  • 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985 – University Of Guelph Gryphons Varsity Volleyball Team Member
  • 1981 Ontario Universities Athletic Association (OUAA) West Conference Champions, Undefeated
  • 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984 – Ontario Universities Athletic Association  (OUAA)  Vilis Ozols named First Team All-Conference All-Star
  • 1982, 1983, 1984 –  Ontario Universities Athletic Association (OUAA) West Conference Vilis Ozols named Conference Most Valuable Player.
  • Ozols inducted into the U. of G. Athletic Hall of Fame. Vilis Ozols, a 3-time volleyball conference MVP, 4-time all-star, an All-Canadian, a Jr. National Team member and Pro Beach Volleyball tour competitor was inducted into the University of Guelph Gryphon Athletic Hall Of Fame in September 2001.
Ozols Volleyball Hall of Fame

CLUB VOLLEYBALL:

  • 1977 – Ontario Juvenile (U-17) Volleyball Champions, Toronto West Volleyball Club. *Vilis Ozols named Tournament Most Valuable Player.
  • 1977 Canadian National Juvenile (U-17) Championships, Bronze Medalists, Toronto West Volleyball Club.
  • 1978 – Ontario Juvenile (U-17) Volleyball Championships, 4th Place, Toronto West Volleyball Club.
  • 1978 Canadian National Juvenile (U-17) Championships, 5th Place, Toronto West Volleyball Club.  *Vilis Ozols named 1st Team All-Canadian selection.
Ozols beach volleyball photo
Ozols Volleyball photo
  • 1978 – Ontario Junior (U-19) Volleyball Champions, Toronto West Volleyball Club
  • 1979 – Ontario Junior (U-19) Volleyball Champions, Toronto West Volleyball Club
  • 1980 – Ontario Junior (U-19) Volleyball Champions, Toronto Blues Volleyball Club
  • 1980 – Canadian National Junior (U-19) Volleyball Championships, 5th Place, Toronto Blues Volleyball Club
  • 1987 – Colorado State AA Champions, Incline Club. *Vilis Ozols named Rocky Mountain Region Player Of The Year. Participant USAV Open Championships.
  • 1988 – Colorado State AA Champions, Incline Club, Participant USAV Open Championships.
  • 1990 – Colorado State AA Co-ed Champions, Participant USAV CoEd Championships.
  • 1994 – Colorado Cup Champions, Straight Down Volleyball Club
Ozols Beach Volleyball

ONTARIO PROVINCIAL TEAM:

  • 1977 – Member Ontario Provincial team
  • 1978 – Member Ontario Provincial team
  • 1979 – Member Ontario Provincial team
  • 1979 – Canada Winter Games, Silver Medalists, Ontario Provincial Team
  • 1980 – Member Ontario Provincial Team
Ozols Beach Volleyball Picture

INTERNATIONAL VOLLEYBALL:

  • 1977 Canadian Junior National Team Member
  • 1978 Canadian Junior National Team Member
  • 1979 Canadian Junior National Team Member
  • 1979 North America, Central America, Caribbean (NORCECA) World Championship Qualifying Tournament. Canada Silver Medalists
  • 1980 Free World Olympiad (Moscow Boycott Event) Gold Medalist, Latvian National Team
  • 1976 Montreal Olympics, 1984 Los Angeles Olympics – Spectator
Ozols Beach Volleyball Photo

PROFESSIONAL BEACH VOLLEYBALL:

  • 1988 Jose Cuervo Colorado Pro Beach Championship AA Champion
  • 1988 Miller Lite AVP Tour Competitor, Corporate Sponsor: Incline Club Sportswear
  • 1989 DeKuyper Schnapps Pro Tour Competitor
  • 1990 Make-A-Wish Foundation Co-Ed Colorado Beach Champions
  • 1990 Make-A-Wish Foundation Co-Ed U.S. National Championships, Bronze Medalists, Orlando, FL
Vilis Ozols Coaching
Volleyball action 2011

VOLLEYBALL COACHING

  • 1979 Burnhamthorpe High School Coach/Player – Etobicoke Conference Champions.
    Record: 20-3
  • 1985, 1986 Toronto Latvians Women’s Volleyball Club Coach – 1987 Canadian National Champions
  • 1986 Toronto Region All-Star Team Coach – Ontario Summer Games Silver Medalists
  • 2005, 2006 – D’Evelyn Middle School and High School. 7th Grade Girls Coach. 3rd Place Gold Crown Gold Division.
  • Queens Volleyball Club – 13 year USAV club team- established 2007
    2nd Place – RMR Division 2
  • Mullen High School, Denver, CO – Head Volleyball Coach, 2007 to 2010.
    • 2007 record: 13-13 (9th place in State 4A).
    • 2008 record: 22-9 (2nd Place in 4A State, Regional Champions, District Champions).
    • 2009 record: 26-4 (2009 Centennial League Champions, Semi-Finalists in 4A State, Regional Champions, District Champions)
    • 2010 record: 13-16, (7th place in State, Regional Champions, District Runners-up)
  • University of Colorado Volleyball, NCAA Division 1- Volunteer Assistant Coach 2011
  • University of Wyoming Volleyball, NCAA Division 1 – Assistant Coach, 2011-2013.
  • Niagara University Volleyball, NCAA Division 1 – Head Coach
    • Ozols led Niagara to MAAC Tournament berths in each of his final four seasons at the helm, while posting a 42-30 (.583) record in league action during that time.
    • Over his five seasons on Monteagle Ridge, he recruited and developed three-time MAAC Libero of the Year Rylee Hunt — who ranked third nationally averaging 6.17 digs per set in 2017 — seven All-MAAC selections, and six MAAC All-Rookie Team honorees.
    • In 2017, Ozols piloted the Purple Eagles to the fourth highest overall win total and third most conference victories in the program’s 40-year history. Niagara was victorious in 17 of its final 22 matches to secure its highest win total in six years in posting an 18-10 overall record. The Purple Eagles finished second in the MAAC with a 14-4 league mark, and were heralded with two First Team All-MAAC, one Second Team, and two All-Rookie Team selections.
    • Ozols guided Niagara to .500 or better finishes in conference play in each of his last four years, and propelled the Purple Eagles to a MAAC Semifinals appearance in 2015. In just his second year at the helm in 2014, Ozols orchestrated a 10-win improvement which marked the 10th best turnaround in the nation.
  • 2018, Siena College, Albany, NY. NCAA Division 1 Head Coach –
    Vilis Ozols was named the seventh head coach in Siena Volleyball history on Feb. 12, 2018. 

Other Sports Stuff For Vilis:

  • High School High Jump Champion and record holder. Vilis jumped a height of 2m 11cm. (Just a hair under 7 feet)
  • 1979 High School Basketball Etobicoke/Toronto All City All-Star
  • Vertical Jump: Vilis’ measured vertical jump while on the Canadian National Junior team was 44 inches.

All of the above are subject to Vilis’ notoriously poor memory. If you have a correction or enhancement from your experience please e-mail us.

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