Chinese Shandong Volleyball Team competes at SPIRE Institute June 16-17

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Chinese Shandong Volleyball Team competes at SPIRE Institute June 16-17

Tournament is open to the public

Geneva, Ohio – June 12, 2012:  The Shandong junior women’s volleyball team will compete in the 18 Open Division of the JVA Power League Championships at SPIRE beginning Saturday, June 16 at SPIRE Institute.  The JVA Power League Championships is an Invitational Tournament. Shandong is returning to the U.S. to compete with the best in the nation in four tournaments from Chicago, IL to Geneva, OH (SPIRE) to Orlando, FL (Disneyworld).

Shandong has a long, rich tradition of success in China. Most recently, the team won the Junior National League, took 2^nd in the China Junior League, the China Junior Championships and the Champions Cup. Established in 1956, Shandong volleyball represents a sports school where its players only play volleyball year round. A select group of 40 players live on campus and train up to six days per week. The players are between 15-18 years old and average just over 6’0” tall. 

Also competing at SPIRE are Ohio's Columbus Volleyball Academy, NorthShore Volleyball Club & Premier Volleyball; Indiana's Asics KIVA & Asics Munciana; Michigan's Dead Frog Volleyball Club & Far Out Volleyball Club; Illinois' Illini Elite Volleyball Club & Rolling Thunder Volleyball Club; and New York's Volley FX Volleyball Club.

Tournament play is open to the public and will begin on Saturday and Sunday at 8:00 AM. Tickets are $5 each day or $8 for a two-day pass.

For more information on the tournament, contact Caleb Sturrup at csturrup@spireinstitute.org

For more information on SPIRE Institute and SPIRE Volleyball, contact Matt Bashaw, Director of Admissions, at admissions@spireinstitute.org 

About SPIRE Institute 

SPIRE Institute, in Geneva Ohio, integrates sports and education, training and wellness with a focus on the development of the whole self.  It features 750,000 sq. ft. of Olympic grade facilities under roof, acres of outdoor fields and a multi-sport stadium complex. SPIRE and its nationally renowned coaches offer residential high school and post grad academy programs, summer and holiday camps, and weekend training sessions in soccer, track & field, volleyball, swimming and basketball (with more sports to follow).  Junior athletes train alongside collegians, professionals, wounded veterans, Olympians, Paralympians and masters level athletes. SPIRE features athletic development programs with Michael Johnson Performance, mental skills training, sports medicine, nutrition and wellness programs, and a variety of customized high school and collegiate academic options. SPIRE can simultaneously host clubs, leagues, tournaments and championship events, in multiple sports, no matter the weather or the season. SPIRE Institute is a part of the Geneva area Recreational, Educational and Athletic Trust, a non-profit organization that re-invests every dollar back into the development of its athletes, its programs and its facilities.