USA Volleyball Girls’ Junior National Championships Preview

<p>One of the biggest youth volleyball events in the nation is taking place in Detroit over the next 10 days.</p> <p>The USA Volleyball Girls’ Junior National Championships got started on Monday and will continue until July 4 at Cobo Center in Detroit, featuring many of the future stars of the NCAA and Team USA.</p> <p>“This is a chance to see some of the best youth volleyball talent in the country. This is a major event for the city of Detroit and a great event for volleyball fans to be part of,” Detroit Sports Commission Director Kris Smith said of the event. “If you can’t find some good volleyball at Cobo Center, then I don’t think you can find it anywhere.”</p> <p>Over 1,270 teams from around the country will compete over the 10-day period from age groups 11-17. A total of 26 national championships will be up for grabs.</p> <p>Here’s a quick look at the top four age groups, 14-17.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>14 Open</strong></p> <p>Play for 14-year-old teams got started on Monday and will run through Thursday. Fresh off a runner-up finish at the AAU Junior National Championships last week in Orlando, <strong>OT 14 S. Felix V</strong> out of Florida will be looking to claim a title this week in Detroit. Joining them is <strong>Legacy 14-Elite</strong>, which reached the semifinals in Orlando before bowing out, but certainly is hoping to win it all in their home state.</p> <p><strong>Other local competitors: </strong>MVA 14 Elite (National); FIVE1 VBC 14-Adidas (Patriot); Legacy 14-East (Patriot); Legacy 14-West (Patriot); Michigan Elite 14 Mizuno (Patriot); Michigan Elite 14 Elite West (Patriot); Michigan Elite 14 National East (Patriot); TeamD 14-Red (Patriot); TeamD 14-White (Patriot); Unified 14-1 (Patriot).</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>15 Open </strong></p> <p>The 15 Open begins play on Tuesday and features the top-ranked club team, according to PrepVolleyball.com, in <strong>TAV 15 Black</strong> out of Texas. In face, the 15 Open division features all of the top-5 teams in the national rankings. That includes second-ranked <strong>Tstreet 15-Curtis </strong>out of California, third-ranked <strong>AZ Storm 15 Thunder </strong>out of Arizona, fourth-ranked <strong>A5 Mizuno 15-1 Bob</strong> out of Georgia and <strong>Madfrog 15 National Blue</strong> out of Texas. Locally, <strong>Michigan Elite 15 Mizuno</strong> will be in the mix as well. They were ranked 23^rd in the last PrepVolleyball.com rankings.</p> <p><strong>Other local competitors: </strong>Legacy 15-National (American); TeamD 15-Red (American); Legacy 15-Elite (National); FIVE1 VBC 15-Adidas (Patriot); FIVE1 VBC 15-Blue (Patriot): Legacy 15-East (Patriot); TeamD 15-White (Patriot); Unified 15-1 (Patriot); Unified 15-2 (Patriot).</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>16 Open</strong></p> <p>The 16 Open will actually close the show in Detroit, starting on Sunday, July 1 before wrapping up on Wednesday, July 4. This field is highlighted by <strong>TAV 16 Black </strong>out of Texas, who was second in the last PrepVolleyball.com 16 rankings. Third-ranked <strong>Coast 16-1</strong> out of California and fourth-ranked <strong>Mintonette Sports m.61</strong> out of Ohio are also in the mix. <strong>Legacy 16-Elite</strong> will be in the field as well. They were ranked 11^th back in the April 16 rankings.</p> <p><strong>Other local competitors: </strong>TeamD 16-Red (American); Legacy 16-National (National); MVA 16 National (National); FIVE1 VBC 16-Adidas (Patriot); FIVE1 VBC 16-Blue (Patriot); Legacy 16-South (Patriot); Legacy 16-West (Patriot); Michigan Elite 16 Elite West (Patriot); Michigan Elite 16 National West (Patriot); TeamD 16-White (Patriot); Unified 16-1 (Patriot); MVA 16 National Black (USA).</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>17 Open</strong></p> <p>The top six teams in the latest PrepVolleyball.com national rankings will be competing in this field. The two highlighted squads are top-ranked <strong>Arizona Storm 17 Thunder</strong> out of Arizona and <strong>Northern Lights 17-1</strong> out of Minnesota. <strong>A5 Mizuno 17-1 Jing</strong>, out of Georgia, is fourth in the rankings and coming off a runner-up finish at the AAU Junior Nationals in Orlando.</p> <p><strong>Other local competitors: </strong>Legacy 17-National (American); MVA 17 Elite (National); Unified 17-1 (National); FIVE1 VBC 17-Adidas (Patriot); FIVE1 VBC 17-Blue (Patriot); Legacy 17-West (Patriot); Michigan Elite 17 Elite West (Patriot); Michigan Elite 17 National West (Patriot); TeamD 17-Red (Patriot); TeamD 17-White (Patriot); Unified 17-2 (Patriot).</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>2018 USA Volleyball Girls' Junior National Championships</strong></p> <p><strong>Cobo Center</strong></p> <p><strong>June 25-July 4</strong></p> <p><strong>Age Group - Dates of play</strong></p> <p>11 - Friday, June 29-Sunday, July 1</p> <p>12 - Wednesday, June 27-Saturday, June 30</p> <p>13 - Friday, June 29-Monday, July 2</p> <p>14 - Monday, June 25-Thursday, June 28</p> <p>15 - Tuesday, June 26-Friday, June 29</p> <p>16 - Sunday, July 1-Wednesday, July 4</p> <p>17 - Saturday, June 30-Tuesday, July 3</p>