Columbus to Host Inaugural USA Volleyball Girls Junior Club Championship

The inaugural USA Volleyball Girls Junior Club Championship, a new national event, has been scheduled for June 5–7, 2026, at the Greater Columbus Convention Center in Columbus, Ohio.

The standalone, non-bid championship event will offer competition for girls teams in the 10u through 17u divisions. It will initially welcome 450 teams and is projected to grow into a 1,000–plus team championship in the coming years.

“Columbus is excited to host another big event with the inaugural USA Volleyball Girls Club Championship in 2026,” said Linda Logan, chief executive officer and president of the Greater Columbus Sports Commission. “Two key factors in what makes this a great market for volleyball are the strength of the Ohio Valley Region and a top host venue in the Greater Columbus Convention Center. Combined with the city’s central location, that makes Columbus ideal for participants and their families to explore some of our unique neighborhoods. USA Volleyball is a great partner, and we look forward to working with them again to create special memories for the girls playing in this championship.”

The GJCC will replace the Patriot Division within USA Volleyball’s Girls Junior National Championship structure for these age groups, which will now allow for additional bids in each division for GJNC beginning with the 2026 season. The initiative will enable USA Volleyball to expand its network of junior national qualifiers across the country, helping to reduce travel costs for clubs and families while meeting the growing demand for USAV-sanctioned events.

“The launch of the USA Volleyball Girls Junior Club Championship is an exciting step forward for our membership,” said USA Volleyball Chief Operating Officer Steve Bishop. “This new event is ideal for USA Volleyball clubs looking to compete in a high-quality, three-day, non-bid national championship during the early June window each year. This championship is just one of several initiatives we are rolling out during this quadrennial to expand opportunities and pathways for our clubs, athletes and coaches nationwide. We look forward to seeing this event grow in size and impact in the years to come.”

The inaugural GJCC will feature eight age divisions (10u–17u), a three-day event format (pool play, challenge rounds, bracket play) and multiple playoff divisions after pool play. The event will include awards for division champions and an overall Club Cup for the top performing club.