COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Oct. 10, 2007) – USA Volleyball announced today that its 2008 USA Volleyball High Performance Championships will be hosted by the city of Tucson (Ariz.) on July 23-27. Matches will take place on 15 courts in the Tucson Convention Center exhibition halls and arena in downtown Tucson. The event is expected to have a $2.4 million economic impact on Tucson.

For the second year in a row, the USA Volleyball High Performance Championships will combine both the boys’ and girls’ events into one concurrent tournament format. Titles up for grabs for girls include Girls’ International Junior, Girls’ International Youth, Girls’ National Youth and Girls’ National Select. Championships to be contested for boys include the Boys’ International Youth and Boys’ National Select.

“We are looking forward to conducting the 2008 USA Volleyball High Performance Championship in Tucson,” said Tom Pingel, USA Volleyball Managing Director of High Performance Indoor National Programs. “I am confident Tucson will be a great site for this event, one in which the teams will have a wonderful experience.”

“We are pleased to be hosting the 2008 USA Volleyball High Performance Championships in Tucson,” said Jonathan Walker, president of the Metropolitan Tucson Convention & Visitors Bureau. “We believe that Tucson is a perfect match for the needs of the athletes and organizers both for the competition and off-time attractions and activities our city has to offer.”

Age divisions for all USA High Performance Programs: Women’s Junior – born on and after Jan. 1, 1989; Girls’ Youth – Born on and after Jan. 1, 1992; Girls’ Select – born on and after Jan. 1, 1994; Men’s Junior – born on and after Jan. 1, 1989; Boys’ Youth – born on and after Jan. 1, 1991; Boys’ Select – born on and after Jan. 1, 1993.

Divisions will be comprised of teams from Region High Performance Programs, USA Volleyball High Performance Programs, international clubs and/or national teams. USA Volleyball clubs may not enter this event unless they are representing their USA Volleyball Region.

To increase the festive atmosphere of the event, an Opening Ceremonies and dinner buffet will be held in the Grand Ballroom of the Tucson Convention Center the evening of July 22.

Pool play for all division will take place July 23-25. Bracket play for all divisions will take place on July 26 with the finals of all International Divisions settled that day. Championships for the National Divisions will be completed by 12:30 p.m. on July 27.

The USA Volleyball High Performance Championships Manual will be posted on the USA Volleyball web site under the High Performance section no later than Jan. 1, 2008. The manual will include topics such as entry process, entry fees, hotels, meetings dates, etc.

The 82-team event will be hosted locally by Metropolitan Tucson Convention and Visitors Bureau, Joseph Volleyball Camps, Inc., and the Arizona Region.

Host hotels, which will be detailed in the Championship Manual, are within walking distance of the arenas.