USA Volleyball Girls’ Junior National Championships Preview

One of the biggest youth volleyball events in the nation is taking place in Detroit over the next 10 days.

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.

“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.”

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.

Here’s a quick look at the top four age groups, 14-17.

14 Open

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, OT 14 S. Felix V out of Florida will be looking to claim a title this week in Detroit. Joining them is Legacy 14-Elite, which reached the semifinals in Orlando before bowing out, but certainly is hoping to win it all in their home state.

Other local competitors: 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).

15 Open

The 15 Open begins play on Tuesday and features the top-ranked club team, according to PrepVolleyball.com, in TAV 15 Black out of Texas. In face, the 15 Open division features all of the top-5 teams in the national rankings. That includes second-ranked Tstreet 15-Curtis out of California, third-ranked AZ Storm 15 Thunder out of Arizona, fourth-ranked A5 Mizuno 15-1 Bob out of Georgia and Madfrog 15 National Blue out of Texas. Locally, Michigan Elite 15 Mizuno will be in the mix as well. They were ranked 23^rd in the last PrepVolleyball.com rankings.

Other local competitors: 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).

16 Open

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 TAV 16 Black out of Texas, who was second in the last PrepVolleyball.com 16 rankings. Third-ranked Coast 16-1 out of California and fourth-ranked Mintonette Sports m.61 out of Ohio are also in the mix. Legacy 16-Elite will be in the field as well. They were ranked 11^th back in the April 16 rankings.

Other local competitors: 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).

17 Open

The top six teams in the latest PrepVolleyball.com national rankings will be competing in this field. The two highlighted squads are top-ranked Arizona Storm 17 Thunder out of Arizona and Northern Lights 17-1 out of Minnesota. A5 Mizuno 17-1 Jing, out of Georgia, is fourth in the rankings and coming off a runner-up finish at the AAU Junior Nationals in Orlando.

Other local competitors: 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).

2018 USA Volleyball Girls’ Junior National Championships

Cobo Center

June 25-July 4

Age Group – Dates of play

11 – Friday, June 29-Sunday, July 1

12 – Wednesday, June 27-Saturday, June 30

13 – Friday, June 29-Monday, July 2

14 – Monday, June 25-Thursday, June 28

15 – Tuesday, June 26-Friday, June 29

16 – Sunday, July 1-Wednesday, July 4

17 – Saturday, June 30-Tuesday, July 3