COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Nov. 6, 2019) – The U.S. Women’s National Team has one tournament prior to heading to the 2020 Olympic Games, and Wichita, Kansas, will be front-and-center on Team USA’s journey to Tokyo.
The U.S. Women will host Japan, Turkey and Belgium during their FIVB Volleyball Nations League domestic preliminary round matches held June 9-11. The four-team round-robin match format will take place at Charles Koch Arena on the Wichita State University campus. Tickets go on sale today at 3 p.m. CT at goshockers.com.
“Next year’s FIVB Volleyball Nations League Week 4 will be a huge one,” U.S. Women’s National Team Head Coach Karch Kiraly said. “We will be approaching it as one of our last chances to prepare for the Tokyo Olympics. It will be one of the rare opportunities for Americans to cheer on their Olympic women’s volleyball representatives live and in-person, so we’re looking forward to an amazing atmosphere in Wichita.”
Match Schedule (All Times Central)
- June 9: Japan vs. Turkey, 4 p.m.; USA vs. Belgium, 7:30 p.m.
- June 10: Turkey vs. Belgium, 4 p.m.; USA vs. Japan, 7:30 p.m.
- June 11: Japan vs. Belgium, 4 p.m.; USA vs. Turkey, 7:30 p.m.
“This is an amazing opportunity for Wichita – both in exposure for the city and incredible entertainment for locals – and we’re beyond thrilled that Wichitans will have the chance to see the U.S. Women’s National Team compete at Charles Koch Arena before they head to the Olympics in Japan,” said Brian Hargrove, executive director of sports development for Visit Wichita. “Big things are happening when it comes to sporting events in Wichita, and this is yet another way for sports fans in this city to be a part of a tremendous and unique competition.”
The VNL, the premier annual international tournament, is a 16-country league comprised of 12 core teams and four challenger teams who compete in a round-robin format over the course of five weeks. Each country plays 15 pool play matches with each core country hosting at least one round-robin pool of four teams. The top five countries through the 15-match schedule joins host China for the VNL Finals July 1-5.
The U.S. Women have claimed consecutive Volleyball Nations League titles and the $1 million top prize that goes to the winner since the tournament’s inaugural edition in 2018. The VNL is the premier annual international women’s volleyball tournament.
Team USA is ranked second in the world, while Japan is ranked No. 7, Turkey is No. 12 and Belgium is No. 19. The U.S. and Japan have already secured their spots into the 2020 Olympic Games. Turkey and Belgium will have a final chance to qualify for the 2020 Olympic Games at CEV Tokyo Volleyball European Qualification Tournament held Jan. 5-12 in Netherlands. The winner of the eight-team field advances to the Olympics.
Wichita has hosted international volleyball events in the past. The U.S. Men’s National Team played FIVB World League matches at the 10,506-seat Koch Arena in 2009 (versus Netherlands) and 2010 (vs. Russia).
2020 FIVB Volleyball Nations League Schedule
May 19-21
(in Brazil): Brazil, USA, Canada, Dominican Republic
(in Netherlands): Netherlands, Germany, Russia, Belgium
(in Italy): Italy, Serbia, Turkey, Poland
(in China): China, Japan, Korea, Thailand
May 26-28
(in Belgium): Belgium, Korea, Poland, Dominican Republic
(in China): China, Germany, Turkey, Canada
(in Brazil): Brazil, Italy, Japan, Russia
(in Serbia): Serbia, Netherlands, Thailand, USA
June 2-4
(in Canada): Canada, Netherlands, Japan, Poland
(in Turkey): Turkey, Thailand, Russia, Dominican Republic
(in China): China, Brazil, Serbia, Belgium
(in Germany): Germany, Italy, Korea, USA
June 9-11
(in Wichita, Kansas): USA, Turkey, Japan, Belgium
(in Russia): Russia, Korea, Serbia, Canada
(in Poland): Poland, Germany, Thailand, Brazil
(in China): China, Italy, Netherlands, Dominican Republic
June 16-18
(in Thailand): Thailand, Italy, Belgium, Canada
(in Korea): Korea, Brazil, Netherlands, Turkey
(in China): China, Russia, USA, Poland
(in Japan): Japan, Germany, Serbia, Dominican Republic