The most important aspect about being an athlete is how you take care of your body. Although volleyball is not a contact sport, it still can take a toll on the volleyball player’s body due to the constant impact from jumping and the countless swings that one will take during a match. That is why us here with the Ontario Matadors would like to thank Definition Sports Massage (DSM). DSM specializes in cryotherapy which is any form of treatment using freezing or near-freezing temperatures. This can include cryosurgery, or cryoablation, where liquid nitrogen is applied locally to destroy abnormal cells (such as tumors or cancerous cells). Small-scale cryotherapy can include ice bath immersion or cryotherapy facials.

Whole-body cryotherapy (WBC) involves sitting or standing in a “cryochamber” for two to five minutes. During this process, a person will expose his or her body to liquid nitrogen in subzero temperatures, typically between -100 and -140 degrees Celsius. Patients are required to wear minimal clothing in the chamber, which can only include things like socks, gloves, approved underwear and possibly a headband and a mask to protect the ears, nose and mouth. Cryotherapy is a new and groundbreaking way to reduce inflammation in muscles and joints, and allows for a quicker recovery so our NVA athletes can get back out on the court as quick as possible. DSM also specializes in other services, such as sport massages, relaxing massages, cupping therapy, soft tissue mobilization, and Norma Tec compression, so DSM can be seen as your one stop shop for all your body rehabilitation needs. DSM is located at 14755 Foothill Blvd Suite D, Fontana CA and 420 W. Baseline Rd. Suite A, Glendora CA. So stop by and give our friends at DSM a visit and get your body right!

definitionsportsmassage.com

The past couple of months have been a time of uncertainty, struggle, and confusion for everyone. The NVA and it’s teams have been particularly impacted with the stay-at-home orders, quarantine, and ultimately the cancelation of sports, especially those that are held indoors. During this time it is important for communities to come together and prosper, and there is no community better at doing that than the volleyball community. One of the teams that have consistently shown what being a family is all about, the Matadors, decided that they were going to take matters into their own hands and help the community of which they love so much.

 The Matadors, who are based out of Ontario in Southern California, pride themselves in the diverse community of which they reside and decided to give back by hosting a grass volleyball tournament. The grass tournament was held safely outside, and is a great way of bringing a community of volleyball players together to celebrate the sport they love. For the host Matadors, the games are all about what they can give. They want to create the space to have fun, and bring the athlete and volleyball community together under our current circumstances. 

The tournament was open for anyone to register, so all skill levels participated. By allowing all skill levels to participate in the tournament, it opened up the tournament to any potential upsets that could happen. The grass tournament is a great way to keep the players on the Matadors in great shape and allow for a competitive outlet. Concurrently with the tournament, the Matadors hosted a canned food drive, where they handed out non-perishable items to families and people in need of a meal during these trying times. In addition, for safety, they also handed out free masks and hand sanitizer to the attendees of the tournament to allow safe and socially-distanced interaction. 

While this is a friendly tournament, there will also be incentive to play. Prize money will be given to the first and second place teams, as this should encourage high-level volleyball players to participate in the tournament. This could potentially allow the Matadors to scout for more talent to build upon their already impressive roster. The actions that the Matadors are taking to empower their community is one that not only humbles a person, but a community as well. The Matadors are setting a precedent of what it means to not only be part of a community, but a family, a moral value that the Matadors take very seriously. Communities should take what the Matadors are doing as a blueprint of support and follow, as everyone could use a little bit of love and giving back during these times.

Follow the Matadors and the grass tournament here https://www.instagram.com/matadorsnvausa/

The Matadors boast numerous players on their roster with interesting backgrounds and varying takes on the game of volleyball. One of these players in particular is Elvis Minyakov. We were able to sit down with, and ask him some questions on his background and all things volleyball. 

Elvis is a 6’6 Opposite hitter for the Matadors and is known for his fast pace offensive attacks and relentless defense. He has also experienced a unique journey to the NVA. “I was born in Estonia, but moved here to the U.S when I was relatively young” he stated. Elvis went on to mention his observations on the differences between volleyball in the US compared to Europe. “A couple years back I did a tour with USA volleyball to Italy where we got to play a lot of international teams” he explained, “The energy and speed of the game is so different, Europeans are also so much more emotional compared Americans and I love it, that’s why I love having foreigners on my team as it adds another intensity to practice and games” said Minyakov.

He expressed his thoughts on the creation of the NVA, a domestic volleyball league, stating that this league was, “a long time coming” and much deserved here in the United States. He shares the same feelings with most individuals in the volleyball community in respect to the formation of a league here, and the overall growth of the game.

In talking about his specific team and playing with the Matadors, Elvis explained, “It is an exciting experience, and just the fact I get to share the love of the game with my teammates makes going to practice worth it every single day.” He went on to mention what the Matadors mean to the city of Ontario, and the Inland Empire in general, “It means a lot, for a long time volleyball has been centered around coastal California, but to see it make its way inland and thrive here as well is a great thing” he stated. The Matadors are excited about having Elvis on their roster, and they hope the big lefty opposite can make an immediate impact playing in the NVA. 

Follow Elvis and the Matadors on the journey here https://www.instagram.com/matadorsnvausa/