Columbus to Host 2012 USAV Girls’ Junior Nationals

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (July 21, 2011) – USA Volleyball has awarded the 2012 USA Volleyball Girls’ Junior National Championships (GJNC) to Columbus, Ohio from June 28 to July 7 at the Greater Columbus Convention Center.

The USA Volleyball Girls’ Junior National Championships attracts nearly 9,500 athletes and over 20,000 spectators annually. The tournament crowns 19 champions in age divisions ranging from 12 to 18. The event, showcasing the top talent from across the nation, also draws hundreds of college recruiters looking for the next stars for their programs.

“USA Volleyball is excited that its Girls’ Junior National Championships will be in Ohio,” USA Volleyball Senior Director Tom Pingel said. “That part of the country has a long and strong tradition in volleyball, and we look forward to partnering with the Ohio Valley Region of USA Volleyball to add to that tradition. While it may be the first time in a number of years for USA Volleyball to have one of its Championships conducted in Columbus, the city and venue is very experienced in hosting major club volleyball tournaments through the Ohio Valley Region.”

Columbus is no stranger to girls’ youth volleyball and USA Volleyball sanctioned events. The Greater Columbus Convention Center hosts several national and regional tournaments each year run by the Ohio Valley Region. Nearly 10,000 teams and over 116,000 volleyball players have competed inside the convention center since it opened in 1993, including the Ohio Valley Regional Championships and national bid qualifiers.

“On behalf of our 17,700 members, the Ohio Valley Region is honored to be an integral part of the USA Volleyball Girl’s Junior National Championships which draws the finest players, coaches and teams from across the United States,” Ohio Valley Region Commissioner and President Bob Price said. “The Greater Columbus Convention Center hosts the most USA Volleyball sanctioned tournaments in the U.S. in a year with as many as 62 courts in use at one time. Our central location in the country, along with the ideal combination of an experienced volunteer support base and an outstanding venue will make this a showcase championship.”

Columbus also hosted the 2000 and 1930 USA Volleyball Open National Championships, the top event for adult competition in the United States. The event in 2000 was held also held at the Greater Columbus Convention Center, while the 1930 event was the third-ever in the 82-year history of the Open Nationals.

“Columbus is very excited to host the USA Volleyball Girl’s National Junior Championships in Columbus in 2012,” Greater Columbus Sports Commission Executive Director Linda Shetina Logan said. “Columbus is a passionate and experienced volleyball community that has hosted over 70 tournaments in recent years. We all look forward to rolling out the red carpet to USA Volleyball participants and fans during our city’s Bicentennial.”

The Greater Columbus Convention Center is located in downtown Columbus. Dining, shops and entertainment are within a short walk of the convention center including the eclectic North Market, the charming Goodale Park, the lively Arena District and the trend-setting Short North Arts District. For fun, Zoombezi Bay is a combination water/amusement park that is part of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. The LC, Lifestyles Community Pavilion is a great place to catch an indoor or outdoor concert.

About USA Volleyball
Founded in 1928, USA Volleyball is a Colorado incorporated non-profit organization recognized by the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) and the Federation International de Volleyball (FIVB) as the National Governing Body for the sport of Volleyball in the United States. USA Volleyball is responsible for both the Olympic disciplines of indoor volleyball and beach volleyball. USA Volleyball has over 275,000 registered members, 12,000 teams and 5,300 clubs nationwide. With an annual budget in excess of $18 million dollars, USA Volleyball supports the USA men’s and women’s senior national team programs, youth and junior national teams, national championship events, coaching education and certification programs, grassroots development, and programs for the disabled and Paralympic Teams. USA Volleyball has a rich tradition of success as evidenced by winning an Olympic medal in every Olympic Games since 1984 and capturing numerous World Cup, World Championship and Continental Championship titles. USA Volleyball is committed to and works toward opportunity for all to participate. It is an advocate for all Americans endeavoring to assure universal access to opportunities at all levels of the game. For more information please visit www.usavolleyball.org.

Tags: Girls' Junior Nationals, High Performance, High Performance Championships, Indoor