Our Story
RYZ Founder Chris Lafaurie from Barrigada, Guam has been a pillar of the volleyball communities in Japan, Turkey, Italy, Germany, and throughout the Air Force Sports and youth outreach programs since 2002. For seventeen years he has sponged-up lessons in training around the world, within the Air Force & Armed Forces volleyball programs, and is certified with USA Volleyball. Everything he learned rooted itself in Germany where in 2014 he was presented the opportunity to coach club volleyball in Ferbandesliga and a couple years later he launched Back2Basics Volleyball in 2016 under Back2Basics USA non-profit organization. B2B Volleyball has since competed every year in the U15 & U17 divisions at United World Games in Klagenfurt, Austria.
His dedication to the sport has enabled him to build a network of like-minded coaches around Europe, who now all coach under one roof with the goal of growing the game for our youth. Over the years, he has coached countless camps, teams, and clubs; hundreds of American kids in Europe and Japan, adult varsity teams, the Air Force in Europe men’s and women’s teams, as well as German club volleyball in Ferbandeslia & Landesliga. He has earned men’s Armed Forces Gold, U.S. Nationals Silver, as well as tremendous experience through countless A’s & Open championships throughout Japan, Hawaii, Turkey, Italy, Austria, Netherlands, Belgium, UK, and Germany.
Chris has now taken his experience, lessons learned, and training regiments to set out on a journey with one of his best friends on and off the court. Like Chris, Josh Cruz has his own set of accomplishments throughout his journey, and together…they plan to give it all back!
RYZ Co-Founder Joshua Cruz from Mangilao, Guam has over 12 years of experience competing and training under the Guam Junior Nationals and Guam Men’s National programs; in both Indoor Volleyball and Beach Volleyball. His passion for the game earned him countless championship titles on the island, Defensive Player Award, back-two-back MVP awards, Best Spiker Award, and 3 consecutive Gold medals in the South Pacific Region. His accomplishments also extend to the 2012 London Olympic Sub-Zonal Qualifier where he earned a silver medal in beach for Guam. All his efforts over the years have earned him a spot in Sports Legends of Micronesia, 1966 to 2012, presented by Dr. Kurt C. Barnes as one of Guam’s Volleyball Legends.
In addition, Josh holds 7 years of coaching experience within the high school IIAAG leagues, and more than 10 years’ experience officiating indoor volleyball on Guam. His volunteer outreach and love for the game do not end there; Josh also hosts basic training indoor volleyball clinics and youth beach volleyball clinics to ensure the grass roots programs continue to offer a place to play, learn, and fall in love with the game.
Like his partner Chris passion for the sport of volleyball is an understatement and with RYZ Volleyball Academy as their vision going into tomorrow, they intend to RYZ to every occasion, every movement, and overcome every challenge that this sport has to offer. He will continue his journey with Chris in giving back to the athletics programs on the island and beyond. Their vision is clear and they will build the bridges that allow local talent to be recognized all over the world.
Where our Passion meets our Vision
The opening of RYZ Volleyball through camps, clinics, and dedication is a natural next step for the two friends. There has never been a clearer vision for Chris and Josh than to one day build a facility to coach and mentor the future of the sport. This was a funny conversation in 2013, at the Beach Bar, back home on Guam that has slowly been built by the two with no intentions of slowing down. Biba Guam, Biba Volleyball, Ta Fanacho!