Extra Element of Entertainment in Reno

Erin Campbell
Intern, Media Relations and Publications
Phone: (719) 228-6800
E-Mail: erin.campbell@usav.org

RENO, Nev. (July 1, 2010) – Volleyball fans watching championship court at the USA Volleyball Girls’ Junior National Championships in Reno, Nev., experienced a little more entertainment besides the volleyball Thursday.

Chris Schardt, a current member of the event’s equipment staff, is the self-proclaimed “#1 Volleyball Fan” of center court. Believe it or not, this is not his first time being the top fan at an event.

“I played football for (University of Northern Colorado),” Schardt said. “I would always go to volleyball games and I played volleyball in high school. Someone told me that I look like Superman and my mom got me a Superman costume for Christmas one year. My friends convinced me to wear the costume to a basketball game.”

He decided to play up both the Clark Kent persona and the Superman persona. He wore the superman costume under a nerdy, Clark Kent outfit and would rip the shirt just like Superman.

Shardt decided to carry on his tradition wearing costumes to athletic events, here, at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center.

“It was weird how it all worked out,” Schardt said. “They needed people to throw [mini] volleyballs and I love doing things like that.”

His work throwing out mini-volleyballs began on day-one of the tournament but today, he decided to take his responsibility of getting the crowd out of their seats and cheering to a new level.

“I had the pants,” Schardt said. “They are from Gap and they are Capri pants that are so tight you can’t even pinch the fabric.”

Along with the pants, he wore suspenders and glasses with tape around the frames.

“I just like being a nerd,” Schardt said.

Schardt is a member of the Johnson & Wales University volleyball team and also played football for the University of Northern Colorado for three years. Rest assured, his work as being super-fan is no where close to being over.

Volleyball fans across the nation can see what some of the recruiters are scouting this week, thanks to the Internet. In a partnership with the United States Olympic Committee (USOC), USA Volleyball will stream live video of championship matches scheduled between July 1 and July 3 can be viewed live. This schedule includes gold-medal matches in the Open, National and American Divisions for 17s (July 1), 18s (July 2) and 16s (July 3) age groups. To access the stream during the matches, visit usavolleyball.org/live.

For more information on the USA Volleyball Girls' Junior National Championships, click here. For all brackets, results and schedules, click here.

Click here for the complete Schedule.

USA Volleyball Girls’ Junior National Championships
12 National: Gold - Borinquen Coqui 12-1F (Puerto Rico), Silver - I Mua Girls 12s (Aloha), Bronze - ASICS MAVS 12 Blue (Heart of America) and WAVE 12 Jade Spalding (Southern California)
12 American: Gold - Club West 12 Elite (Southern California), Silver - Laguna Beach 12 Gaido (Southern California, Bronze - SG Elite 12 Roshambo (Southern California) and Excel 12 Elite National (North Texas)
13 National: Gold - SG Elite 13 Roshambo (Southern California), Silver - ASICS MAVS 13 Blue (Heart of America), Bronze - Arizona Sky 13N1 (Arizona) and WAVE 13 Katie Spalding (Southern California)
13 American: Gold - Rockwood Thunder 13-1 (Gateway), Silver - Team Piko 13 (Aloha), Bronze - Iowa Rockets 13 Black (Iowa) and Mizuno Long Beach 13 Mizuno (Southern California)
14 Open: Gold - Delta Valley 14-1 (Northern California), Silver - Miz LB 14 Rockstar (Southern California), Bronze - ASICS MAVS 14 Blue (Heart of America) and TAV 14 VB Rags Black (North Texas)
14 National: Gold - Ka Ulukoa 14 Wekiu (Aloha), Silver - City Beach 14 Black (Northern California), Bronze - Mizuno Northern Lights 14-1 (North Country) and Amarillo Aces 14-1 (Sun Country)
14 American: Gold - Nike Six Pack 14-1 (Iowa), Silver - NKYVC 14 Tsunami (Ohio Valley), Bronze - So Cal Elite 14-Elite (Southern California) and Coast 14-1 Luis (Northern California)
15 Open: Gold - Invasion 15 Black (Heart of America), Silver - Mizuno Northern Lights 15-1 (North Country), Bronze - STL CYC 15 Green (Gateway) and TAV 15 VB Rags Blue (North Texas)
15 National: Gold - City Beach 15 Black (Northern California), Silver - Tejas 15 Kaepa 1 (North Texas), Bronze - Synergy 15 Orange (Keystone) and Black Swamp 15 Orwig (Ohio Valley)
15 American: Gold - Vision Zone 15 Elite (Northern California), Silver - Club West 15 Elite (Southern California), Bronze - Lakewood Performance 15 (Rocky Mountain) and Springfield 15 Blue (Heart of America)
All Girls’ 16 Divisions: June 30- July 3
17 Open: Gold - TAV 17 VB Rags Black (North Texas), Silver - Synergy 17 Orange (Keystone), Bronze - Vision 17 Gold (Northern California) and Premier 17 Mizuno (Northern California)
17 National: Gold - Michigan Elite 3rd Degree 17-1 (Lakeshore), Silver - Mizuno Northern Lights 17-1 (North Country), Bronze - TAV 17 VB Rags Blue (North Texas) and Atlantis Pterodactyls (Ohio Valley)
All Girls’ 18 Divisions:

Tags: USA Volleyball Girls' Junior National Championships