Originally called the Lutheran Young Adults & Nursing Staff (LYANS) Volleyball League, it was first started in the fall of 1983 by Glenn Kahle and Gary Stephenson.  Branching off from the successful co-ed softball league, it was designed to bring young adult co-workers together for evenings of fun and fellowship.  However, as the league progressed, adults of all ages became involved, and the “Youth” was dropped from the title to give the league name that still stands today, over twenty years later!

Teams were sponsored by local Kitchener hospitals and Lutheran congregations, with 50% of the team members having to be from the sponsoring institution.  This allowed team members to bring a partner or friend to play on the team, promoting the fellowship aspect that LANS leagues are known for.  This stipulation has changed over the years to accommodate for the fact that most teams are not sponsored by a hospital or congregation.  However, teams are still required to have some members that are representatives of local Lutheran or medical institutions.

The league has always been self-officiating, but in 1997, the LANS league decided to start using official Ontario Volleyball Association (OVA) referees for playoffs.  And while the league does follow most of the OVA rules, certain rules have been modified in order to maintain the spirit of fun, fairness, and camaraderie.  Such rules include the following:  having a minimum of two females on the court at all time; male players must hit from an “attack line”; and a maximum of five consecutive points per server allowed.

Through the years, the LANS Volleyball league has developed into one of the region’s best recreational volleyball leagues.  The league has stayed true to its purpose– to promote good sportsmanship and fellowship among participants, while having fun!