COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (July 3, 2017) – USA Volleyball announced today that Anaheim will be the host city for the 2018 USA Volleyball Girls 18s Junior National Championships (GJNC18). The event will take place April 27-29, 2018, at the Anaheim Convention Center in California.

The GJNC18, which will be in its third year as a standalone event featuring only the 18s age division, will take place in Anaheim, which also serves as the official host city to the U.S. Women’s and Men’s National Teams.

“USA Volleyball looks forward to bringing the Girls 18s Junior National Championships to Anaheim, who have been a long-time volleyball partner on both the regional and national levels,” USA Volleyball Senior Director Tom Pingel said. “Not only is Anaheim the official host city for the U.S. Men’s and Women’s National Teams, the city has partnered with the Southern California Volleyball Association to host various national junior qualifiers and other events.”

Earlier today, the 17-and-Under Age Division at the USA Volleyball Girls Junior National Championships concluded in Minneapolis as these athletes will move into the GJNC18 to be held next year in Anaheim.

The GJNC18 is expected to draw approximately 260 teams, nearly 3,000 players and over 5,000 family and friends of the players from across the country. The event will crown champions in five age divisions: Open, National, USA, American and Patriot Divisions.

“Hosting the 2018 USA Volleyball Girls 18s Junior National Championships in Anaheim is an absolute honor,” Visit Anaheim President and CEO Jay Burress said. “As the official host city to the U.S. Men’s National Volleyball Team since 2006 and the U.S. Women’s National Volleyball Team since 2009, it is our mission to support the next generation of superstar athletes, especially during one of the fastest growing youth competitions.”

Later this year Anaheim will also host two USA Volleyball Cup matches as the No. 2 U.S. Women’s National Team hosts No. 4 Brazil at the Anaheim Convention Center Arena on Aug. 27 at 4 p.m. PT and Aug. 29 at 7:30 p.m. PT. Tickets for these matches will be on sale later this month.

The U.S. Men have hosted events at the Anaheim Convention Center during the 2007 NORCECA Men’s Continental Championship and the 2014 USA Volleyball Cup against Iran.

Sport Court is the official athletic flooring for all four events.