USAV Open Nationals are for the Love of the Game

Bill Kauffman
Associate Director, Communications
Phone: 719-228-6800
E-Mail: bill.kauffman@usav.org

DALLAS (June 1, 2011) - From coast to coast and parts outside the United States, 534 volleyball teams arrived in Dallas to compete in the 82nd Annual USA Volleyball Open National Championships at the Dallas Convention Center May 28 to June 4. At stake are 26 titles in various age and skill levels, but the overriding themes are fun, friendship and the love of volleyball.

Except for 1943 and 1944 during the height of World War II, the USA Volleyball Open National Championships has been a mainstay celebrating adult volleyball across the country. The event remains as one of the largest national championships in any sport in the United States.

A total of 40 Sport Courts provide a floor plan for the Dallas Convention Center that absorbs the pounding of Mizuno shoes and the spike landings of one of the 220 colorful Molten balls. Spalding net support systems, 80 poles and 40 nets, are barriers between teams only in competition. Two championship courts provide seating for non-competing players, officials, friends, family and even the workers to watch great volleyball, including the men’s and women’s Open Division title matches on Tuesday night.

The USA Volleyball Open National Championships has a division for anyone. The top players compete in the Open Division, where ages range from 18 to the late 30s. Each gender has four skill level brackets under the Open Division.

In addition, age brackets start at 40-and-over for both genders and progress in increments of five years. The 75-and-over Men’s Division and the 70-and-over Women’s Division produce highly competitive matches and provide a clear illustration that volleyball is a healthy lifetime sport.

The tournament even includes brackets for the height-challenged with a U-Volley group for women under 5-9, and two co-ed brackets for mixed gender teams. Among the most engaging championships is the Special Olympics bracket, which routinely has players in other divisions cheering on the teams. The common threads among all 26 championships are volleyball, fun, friendship and spirited competition. And in some cases, players compete in more than one bracket as the tournament is split into two waves of four days each.

The 2011 USA Volleyball Open National Championships has clubs representing 36 of USA Volleyball’s 40 regions. The North Texas Region and the Lone Star Region have 35 teams apiece playing for titles in the 26 championship brackets. In addition, clubs from Brazil, Venezuela, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico and France are competing in the event. Venezuela continues to bring in more teams to the event, building from two teams in 2009 to 11 teams in 2011.

Young and old play on adjacent courts, and in some instances, on the same team. The smell of Ben Gay and sweat replace the colognes and perfumes worn away from the court like the players’ party Tuesday evening. Ice-wrapped knees and taped ankles are worn by young and old, alike.

Clubs come into the tournament with team names from the most basic to the tongue-in-cheek that flirt with decency. Players come to compete for titles in either skill or masters age brackets, but have a good time at the same time meeting new people who share their common love, volleyball. Returning players renew old friendships developed at past tournaments, while new players can look forward to the shared camaraderie and fellowship that will keep them wanting to come back for more the next year.

New players enter the tournament wishing they had known of the event years before to fill the void left behind from seasons of juniors play and college matches. Somehow travel volleyball outside the local area takes a back seat after college only to be recaptured on the courts of the USA Volleyball Open National Championships.

The tournament is administrated by 47 individuals in areas of competition, arbitration, operations, equipment, officials and all-tournament. On the court, a total of 223 referees have lent their time to this year’s USA Volleyball Open National Championships.

With an estimated 6,000 players going through the USA Volleyball-branded welcome signs for the Open, the city of Dallas has been the recipient of a small economic lift from the event. Around 12,000 room nights have been reserved at area hotels and with all the spending on food, transportation and other items, the city is estimated to pocket $4.8 million in director visitor spending.

Despite the expense out of pocket, people come to the USA Volleyball Open National Championships simply for the love of the game.

For the results and schedules of the 2011 USA Volleyball Open National Championships, click here.

Tags: Adult, USA Volleyball Open National Championships