Experiencing the USAV Girls’ Junior National Championships for the First Time

Erin Campbell
Intern, Media Relations and Publications
Phone: (719) 228-6864
E-Mail: erin.campbell@usav.org

RENO, Nev. (June 27, 2010) – The Reno-Sparks Convention Center holds 48 volleyball courts that 808 teams will play on throughout the duration of the tournament. Along with the 9,500 players, there are approximately 1,600 coaches on the sidelines helping their teams to victory. And for some, the experience is unlike anything they ever expected.

“I thought it would be a lot smaller,” said Kayla McCarthy, a player for Energy 12 Blue. “When I walked in, I thought ‘Wow, that’s a lot of volleyball’.”

But the volleyball is not the only thing the girls look forward to. Along with playing the sport that they love, they enjoy the social aspect of it like staying in the hotel with their friends, meeting girls from other teams and exchanging gifts with teams from all over the country.

“I think the biggest challenge as a coach is that I need to keep them focused on the task at hand,” SF Jrs 12 Roshambo Head Coach Tiffany Woo said. “One of the key things I reiterate is that they need to play their game rather than focus on other teams and what is going on externally.”

Even though these young girls are there to compete, many of them just want to absorb the environment and take everything they can from it, whether they walk away with a gold medal or just one tally in the win column.

“It is a really great learning experience,” Energy 12 Blue player Lauren Stadler said. “I know I will always remember this.”

For more information on the USA Volleyball Girls' Junior National Championships, click here.

For complete schedules, brackets and results, click here. 

Click here for the complete Schedule:

2010 USA Volleyball Girls' Junior National Championships
All Girls’ 12 Divisions:  June 27-3
All Girls’ 13 Divisions:  June 25-28
14 Open: Gold- Delta Valley 14-1, Silver- Miz LB 14 Rockstar, Bronze- ASICS MAVS 14 Blue and TAV 14 VB Rags Black
14 National: Gold- Ka Ulukoa 14 Wekiu, Silver- City Beach 14 Black, Bronze- Mizuno Northern Lights 14-1 and Amarillo Aces 14-1
14 American: Gold- Nike Six Pack 14-1, Silver- NKYVC 14 Tsunami, Bronze- So Cal Elite 14-Elite and Coast 14-1 Luis
All Girls’ 15 Divisions:  June 26-29
All Girls’ 16 Divisions:  June 30- July 3
All Girls’ 17 Divisions:  June 28- July
All Girls’ 18 Divisions:  June 29- July 2

Tags: USA Volleyball Girls' Junior National Championships