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COLORADO SPRINGS, CO. (Feb. 13, 2026) — Volleyball is not just having a moment in the United States. It’s redefining the landscape of youth and Olympic sports. To harness this momentum, USA Volleyball, the national governing body for beach, indoor, and sitting volleyball and beach Paravolley, has today announced Credit Union 1 as its Official Banking and Financial Literacy Partner through 2029, spotlighting a shared commitment to empowering the sports’ athletes and families both on and off the court.
This news coincides with USA Volleyball’s recent announcement naming leading media rights and venue development company JMI Sports as the organization’s exclusive property sales representative. Credit Union 1 is the first corporate alliance under this JMI Sports-led commercial strategy, signaling strong early momentum for USA Volleyball’s expanded sponsorship platform.
“Volleyball in the United States is no longer just growing; it’s exploding in influence and scale,” said John Speraw, President and CEO of USA Volleyball. “By working alongside JMI Sports, we are aligning with experts who understand how to translate that massive participation into innovative brand experiences. Welcoming Credit Union 1 as our first Founding Partner is a perfect example of this new era, providing our athletes and families with tangible value, like financial literacy, while ensuring the long-term sustainability of our sport as we head toward the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.”
For more than 65 years, Credit Union 1 has served its community through personalized banking solutions and a commitment to financial literacy and wellbeing, which has helped to build strong, long-term relationships with its members. Recognizing the value of these connections, Credit Union 1 and JMI Sports developed a platform with USA Volleyball that goes beyond traditional sponsorship. The initiative combines high-visibility multimedia assets with integrated programs designed to deliver practical financial education to athletes and their families.
At the heart of the partnership is a shared mission to give young athletes the tools for lifelong success. Credit Union 1 will lead a nationwide financial education initiative featuring workshops and digital resources focused on scholarships, personal finance, and navigating Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) opportunities, ensuring greater financial literacy across the entire volleyball community.
“Credit Union 1 believes in the importance of building financial confidence at every stage of life and that includes empowering the next generation of athletes,” said Todd Gunderson, President and CEO of Credit Union 1. “Partnering with USA Volleyball allows us to expand the impact of our financial wellbeing outreach by connecting with the more than 500,000 athletes of USA Volleyball and their families through financial wellbeing seminars at the upcoming national championship and local tournaments, as well as through a multitude of online resources. We hope the tools that Credit Union 1 provides these athletes will help them make the most of their current financial opportunities and set themselves up for future success.”
In addition, Credit Union 1 will receive premier event integration and on-site visibility across USA Volleyball’s top national events, including Championship Court naming rights, on-court logo placements, digital signage, and fan experiences. Credit Union 1 branding will debut at four marquee youth tournaments, reaching more than 158,000 athletes, coaches, and fans.
Credit Union 1’s first event as Presenting Sponsor is the 2026 Sunshine Classic Girls National Qualifier, which will take place Friday, February 27 to Sunday, March 1, 2026, in Orlando, Florida. While onsite, Credit Union 1 will present two sessions on Saturday, February 28, called “Your Money, Your Future: How Smart Spending Today Can Set You Up for Success” at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. ET. Each session will include coffee and the opportunity for one lucky attendee to win a $100 gift card.
Additional events include:
• April 25-27 & May 1-3, 2026: USA Volleyball Salt Lake City Showdown Girls National Qualifier presented by Credit Union 1 – Weeks 1 & 2 (Salt Lake City, Utah)
• June 25-July 3, 2026: USA Volleyball Girls 14-17 Junior National Championship presented by Credit Union 1 (Indianapolis, Indiana)
• July 8-11, 2026: USA Volleyball Boys Junior National Championship presented by Credit Union 1 (Phoenix, Arizona)
“As the first Founding Partner under our new collaboration with USA Volleyball, this agreement represents a blueprint for the type of meaningful, mission-aligned initiatives we are building,” said Erik Judson, Co-Founder and CEO of JMI Sports. “Credit Union 1’s investment underscores both the power of volleyball’s audience and the impact brands can have when they create real value for athletes, families, and fans.”
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About Credit Union 1
Credit Union 1 is celebrating more than 65 years of helping members reach their financial goals. CU1 is a member-owned, not-for-profit financial cooperative serving 120,000 members nationwide with convenient Digital and Mobile Banking, 130,000 surcharge-free ATMs, and more than 5,000 shared-branch locations. Credit Union 1 strives to exceed its members’ expectations by delivering innovative financial solutions and personalized member service to help achieve their maximum economic potential. Discover Better Banking for All at cu1.com.
About JMI Sports
JMI Sports is a leading media rights and venue development company that provides management of collegiate multimedia rights, sponsorship sales agency representation, and project management expertise for the development of collegiate and professional sports facilities. The company serves to maximize each client’s economic potential through customized initiatives, from marketing and branding solutions to facility design strategies.
JMI Sports’ signature collegiate multimedia rights partnerships include the University of Kentucky, the University of Utah, UCLA, the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Pittsburgh, Harvard University, DePaul University, Columbia University, San Diego State University, University of California at San Diego, University of San Diego, and joint-venture properties of the University of Georgia (with Learfield), and University of Notre Dame (with Legends). JMI Sports also represents multimedia rights for several conferences, including the Ivy League, the Mid-American Conference, the Mountain West Conference, the Patriot League and the Atlantic 10, and serves as third-party sales representation for premier sports properties, venues, and events including Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center, the Rose Bowl, the Penn Relays, and USA Volleyball.
JMI Sports was founded in 2006 by CEO Erik Judson and technology entrepreneur John Moores, former owner of the San Diego Padres. To learn more, please visit www.jmisports.com.