COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (July 7, 2025) – USA Volleyball is proud to announce the launch of the inaugural USA Volleyball Girls Junior Club Championship (GJCC), a new national event scheduled for June 5-7, 2026, at the Greater Columbus Convention Center in Columbus, Ohio.
Designed as a stand-alone, non-bid championship event, the GJCC will offer competition for girls teams in the 10u through 17u divisions, creating exciting new opportunities for junior clubs across the country. The event will initially welcome 450 teams and is projected to grow into a 1,000+ team championship in the coming years.
Importantly, the GJCC will replace the existing Patriot Division within USA Volleyball’s Girls Junior National Championship (GJNC) structure for these age groups, which will now allow for additional bids in each division for GJNC beginning with the 2026 season. This 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.”
Hosted in one of the country’s premier volleyball venues, the inaugural GJCC will feature:
- Eight age divisions (10u–17u)
- Wave assignments: AM-10u/12u/14u/16u, PM-11u/13u/15u/17u
- Three-day event format (pool play, challenge rounds, bracket play)
- Multiple playoff divisions after pool play (Divisions 1, 2, 3)
- Awards for division champions and an overall Club Cup for the top performing club
“Columbus is excited to host another big event with the inaugural USA Volleyball Girls Club Championship in 2026,” said Linda Logan, CEO 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.”
By creating this dedicated national championship platform for non-bid teams, USA Volleyball is providing an exciting new pathway for participation, opening the door for more teams to experience a national event atmosphere and helping to grow the sport across the country.
Check back for more details about the event.
