Wichita to Host International Volleyball Action | Sports Destination Management

Wichita to Host International Volleyball Action

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May 26, 2021

The U.S. Women’s National Team has one tournament in the United States prior to heading to the Tokyo Olympic Games. As the only host in the country, Wichita, Kansas will be front-and-center on Team USA’s journey to Tokyo. Additionally, the 2021 Volleyball Nations League (VNL) is the first time the team will compete together since 2019.

The U.S. Women will host Belgium, Japan and Turkey during their FIVB Volleyball Nations League domestic preliminary round matches, which will now be held June 1-3, 2021. The four-team round-robin match format will take place at Charles Koch Arena on the Wichita State University campus.

Tickets are currently on sale and will be allocated on a first-come, first-serve basis.

“Next year’s FIVB Volleyball Nations League Week Four in Wichita will be a huge one,” U.S. Women’s National Team Head Coach Karch Kiraly said. “It’ll be one of our first chances to compete together since the coronavirus lockdown, one of our last chances to prepare for the Tokyo Olympics, and the only opportunity for American volleyball fans to watch and cheer their USA Olympic women’s volleyball representatives live, so we’re looking forward to an amazing atmosphere at Koch Arena.”

Match Schedule (All Times Central)

  • June 1: Japan vs. Turkey, 4 p.m.; USA vs. Belgium, 7:30 p.m.
  • June 2: Turkey vs. Belgium, 4 p.m.; USA vs. Japan, 7:30 p.m.
  • June 3: 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 Josh Howell, sports sales manager at Visit Wichita. “Big things are brewing 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 in 2021.”

The VNL, an 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.

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. Women, Japan and Turkey have qualified for the Tokyo Olympic Games.

Wichita has hosted international volleyball events in the past. The U.S. Men’s National Team played FIVB World League matches at the arena in 2009, 2010 and 2013.

Additional sporting events Visit Wichita is set to host in 2021 includes, but is not limited to:

  • March 3-5: NAIA Wrestling National Championships
  • March 12-13: NAIA Men's & Women's Basketball Regionals
  • March 19-21: NCAA Men's Basketball Championship 1st & 2nd rounds
  • March 25-28: National Wheelchair Basketball Association Toyota National Championship Series
  • June 1-3: USA Volleyball Women's Nations League
  • June 5-10: NJCAA DII Men's Soccer National Championships
  • June 17-20: US Figure Skating National Theatre on Ice  
  • July 27-31: National Beep Baseball Association World Series
  • Nov. 15-19: NJCAA DII Women's Soccer National Championships

About Visit Wichita
Visit Wichita markets the greater Wichita area as a major convention and tourism destination, thereby enhancing the economic development of the city, county, region and state. Visit Wichita is led by president and CEO Susie Santo, and in 2019 travel and tourism contributed more than $1.1 billion in economic impact to the greater Wichita area.

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