A wide-ranging roster of the nation’s most accomplished volleyball programs will fill the halls again at the Kansas City Convention Center, as Triple Crown Sports prepares to unleash the 2025 Triple Crown National Invitational Tournament (TC NIT) event on President’s Day Weekend.
As the TC NIT celebrates 11 years as the premier youth volleyball tournament in the United States, Triple Crown Sports is anticipating a groundbreaking moment in collaboration with League One Volleyball (LOVB) to bring professional volleyball to Kansas City in 2025. The LOVB Classic, League One Volleyball’s inaugural in-season tournament, will run alongside the 2025 TC NIT, creating an entirely new level of play for passionate volleyball fans to experience.
The LOVB Classic, League One Volleyball’s inaugural in-season tournament, will be held at the Municipal Arena, next door to the Convention Center. The LOVB Classic will bring the league’s six professional teams to Kansas City for a winner-take-all competition. The LOVB Classic’s format will see teams seeded third through sixth compete in the quarterfinals on Friday, Feb. 14, followed by a semifinal doubleheader on Saturday featuring the winners of the quarters against the first and second seeds. Sunday’s winners play for the championship Monday while the remaining four teams battle it out for their final positions.
Players from the No. 1 and 2 seeds will host a clinic during College Camp Friday.
“As an organization rooted deeply in the club community, we couldn’t be more excited to introduce the LOVB Classic alongside what annually is the very best club play in the country. There is no more prestigious youth volleyball tournament than the Triple Crown NIT,” said Rosie Spaulding, COO of LOVB Pro. “LOVB is the first league designed to give youth a pathway to play pro in the United event, but also can inspire young players and families to see real futures in playing volleyball in college and beyond.”
LOVB Classic tickets go on sale Friday, October 18, but note that ticket will not allow for entry into the TC NIT event in the Convention Center. For LOVB Classic tickets only, please visit lovb.com to purchase.
The upcoming TC NIT will feature action in age groups ranging from 12u through 18u, with around 675 teams in attendance. Balls first take flight on College Camp Friday, Feb. 14, a full day of college-coach driven instruction and clinics to be followed with three days of high-tempo tournament play, concluding with championship day on Monday, Feb. 17.
The event is scheduled so the highest-ranked teams play each other right away, with Power Pool teams still guaranteed a berth in the Elite championship bracket. Other teams can earn their way into the final chase for the trophy – the 13u through 15u Elite championship matches will be broadcast on BallerTV with the 16u through 18u Elite title matches broadcast on ESPN3.
College Camp Friday will be populated with 1,000 athletes absorbing tactics to improve their games – more than 500 college coaches will spend time at the event in full recruiting mode, and conservative estimates see about 23,000 visitors coming to Kansas City over the holiday weekend, creating an $18 million economic impact moment.
“It’s an honor for Triple Crown Sports to provide this magnetic moment for the dedicated players, coaches and families who make club volleyball a remarkable showcase for excellence in the sport,” said Jared Rudiger, director of volleyball at Triple Crown Sports. “Kansas City has been a thoughtful and supportive partner in this journey, and we encourage people to come see for themselves how exciting and compelling the competition is at the Convention Center.”
“Kansas City’s sports culture is undeniable. The Triple Crown NIT is an important part of that experience,” said Nathan Hermiston, Senior Vice President of Convention Sales and Services at Visit KC. “Each year, our community anticipates the return of teams and fans for a weekend of high-level play. Triple Crown Sports has been a true collaborator in ensuring a top-tier experience for our guests, and we’re honored to be celebrating the event’s anniversary year together.”
For more information about TC, visit www.triplecrownsports.com.
For more information about League One Volleyball (LOVB), visit www.lovb.com
