COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Sept. 28, 2020) – USA Volleyball has selected Las Vegas to host the 2021 Girls Junior National Championship (GJNC) on June 26-July 5 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. It is the first time that USAV will host a major junior event in Las Vegas.
“We are excited to be bringing the Girls Junior National Championship to Las Vegas for the first time,” said USA Volleyball President and CEO Jamie Davis. “It is fitting for us to bring the excitement of USA Volleyball’s biggest event to one of the most dynamic and energetic destination cities in the world. The teams competing will be the best of the best having qualified for coveted spots to vie for the national championship titles and I am sure that the winners won’t let their victories that happen in Vegas stay in Vegas.”
“Welcoming USA Volleyball to the destination for the first time is exciting, and we know players, families, coaches and staff are going to have a great event and a great time experiencing all of the fun that can only be found in Las Vegas,” said Steve Hill, CEO/president of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. “As Las Vegas solidifies its position as the Sports and Entertainment Capital of the World, hosting an event of this caliber is incredibly important.”
The GJNC is the United States’ premier junior girls club tournament and attracts college scouts from across the country. Nearly 1,300 teams and 13,000 athletes attended the 2019 GJNC in Indianapolis, bringing approximately 40,000 people total to the city.
All teams except those in the Patriot Division must qualify through USA Volleyball national or regional qualifying tournaments held across the country, or through at-large selections based on results at qualifying tournaments.
All local regulations regarding the COVID-19 pandemic will be followed at the event in accordance with USA Volleyball’s Return to Play Guidelines to ensure that safety is the top priority for athletes, officials, coaches and families in attendance. Information about Las Vegas’ citywide Vegas Smart campaign, as well as health and safety plans for the various resorts can be found at VisitLasVegas.com, and health and safety plans for the Las Vegas Convention Center can be found at vegasmeansbusiness.com.
This will mark the first year that USA Volleyball will live stream all courts from the GJNC as part of a new partnership with BallerTV, so family and friends who cannot attend the event in person can watch on their favorite device.
The GJNC uses a staggered start and finish for age-group divisions over the course of the tournament. Teams will compete for one of 27 titles across seven age groups (11-17s). All but the youngest age division play four-day tournaments in the 10-day span (11 National Division runs three days).