Volley by the James Preview

<p style="text-align: center;"><strong><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-126510" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/01/volley-on-the-james-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="300" /></strong></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><strong>It’s that time of the year in the commonwealth, big tournament season. </strong></p> <p><img class="alignleft" src="https://rvc.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/logo.png" />To kick it all off, Richmond Volleyball Club will be hosting the 17th annual Volley by the James, formerly known as Monument City Classic, over the Martin Luther King Holiday Weekend. This has been the premiere volleyball event in Central Virginia for almost 20 years. This season, the event will be housed in three venues this season: the Greater Richmond Convention Center and the two Richmond Volleyball Club facilities <img class="size-medium wp-image-126257 alignright" style="font-size: 1rem;" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/01/Oakland-Christian-Volleyball-300x258.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="258" /><span style="font-size: 1rem;">at Byrdhill and Stonebridge. Ages groups from 12 and under to 18 open will be competing this weekend. The tournament will host 174 teams in 2021 from Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina. Last year’s event hosted a whopping 346 teams.  The three-day event will have pool play and challenge brackets Saturday and Sunday and will culminate with the playoffs and championships on Monday. Only uniformed players and rostered staff will be allowed into the facility due to Covid concerns. Live streaming will be available thru BallerTV https://www.ballertv.com/events/monument-classic</span></p> <p>The event is the big season kickoff for a lot of teams in the Mid Atlantic and Southeast region with some of the elite players participating and dozens of coaches on hand for recruiting. This year’s field of athletes is ripe with prospects including several high-profile players who signed with major programs. From the AVCA Phenom program, we have 14 playing this weekend including<img class="size-medium wp-image-124511 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2020/12/IMG_0433-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /><span style="font-size: 1rem;"> multiple players who made their respective VHSL All State teams, VISAA All State Teams and 2020 PrepDig FallStars list. Below is just a few of the notable players to watch this weekend in the River City. </span></p> <p>The 18s Open and Club, 17s Open <span style="font-size: 1rem;">and Club, 13s Club and 12s Club will be playing in the morning wave Saturday and Sunday. The 15s Open and Club and 16s Open and Club will play the afternoon waves both days. The Old Dominion region will be staffing the volleyball officials for the event. </span></p> <p>There are dozens of current and former AVCA Phenom players, VHSL and All State players and PrepDig FallStars among the hundreds of players participating this weekend. Future pros and potential Olympians? Who knows? All in all, this is a spectacular events, showcasing two of the premiere facilities in Virginia and the city of Richmond. It should be another great event put on by the amazing and veteran staff at the Richmond Volleyball Club. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p>