You guys are cracking me up. We play on every other holiday so why not new years day? I think SCVA, N3T, and USAV would be stupid to put the Invitational up against CHI. It would hurt both tournaments.
As far as the CHI tourney goes, it's true there was some sketchy scheduling day 3 and the 18s playoffs were tucked back in the corner of the gym where no one could find them, but it's still arguably the best tournament and/or VENUE in the country. I can send my coaches to CHI on a direct flight, put them on a train and lodge them in a great hotel attached to the venue with 2 decent restaurants. My coaches, parents and players loved it. Anaheim is a close second but it's 40 min drive from LAX, everyone needs a rental car, airfare is more expense, etc. And by the way, ALL bid tournaments should be 3 day events.
Making the CHI tourney into 6 bids was the best move N3T could do. And I'm pretty sure we'll see some WI teams at East Coast so I'm not too worried about them losing their bid tournament. Also looking forward to seeing Nittany combine with Atlantic NE Tournament eventually. No love loss there to see Nittany go away. We played 11 matches last year in some crazy ass 2 day format. Courts are tight, no room for benches, can't take a bag into the gym.
AND IT WAS SCHEDULED ON SUPERBOWL WEEKEND! Who does that?
The Friday it usually starts on is New Years Day.
You defeated your argument in your own post.
#1 The SCVA was always on the MLK weekend up until 3 to 4 years ago.
#2 The Wisconsin Event was often on SuperBowl Sunday weekend
#3 By moving the Nittany Event and combining with the "Zonal" event you may have better organization and slightly better format but WE ALL will now lose an important date of competition that was nice having both events. To me that having more dates of competition is MORE important.
If things hold true as people elude we will even more limited opportunities to go to qualifiers which is NOT good.
For all Top seeds in the Nittany Event that hold they will play 4 matches Saturday and a max of 5 on Sunday it seems.
For the Girls, (yes, much much larger) it is so so nice having so many more options and spread out over 3 months.
For the LIVBC,Coastals, Pace,Eden, NVVA, Yorktowne etc and the Midwest HP, SPRI, MVVC, Ultimate . it is clear we all are willing and used to travel. I would like
to still be able to go to California next year but it is again one of those years we will ALL have to choose.
Event: Colorado Crossroads - Denver, Colo.
Date: February 21-23, 2015: 12s, 13s, 14s, 15s
Date: February 27 - March 1, 2015: 16s, 17s, 18s
Contact: Qualifier Staff
Event: Mid East Qualifier
Date: March 13-15, 2015 (St. Louis, MO); 12's, 13's, 14's, 15 American
Date: March 20-22, 2015 (Indianapolis, IN); 15 Open, 15 USA, 16's, 17's, 18's
Contact: Qualifier Staff
Event: Disney Volleyball Showcase - Orlando, Fla.
Date: April 17-19, 2015: All Ages & Divisions
Contact: Kristy Cox, USA Volleyball
Event: Pacific Northwest Qualifier - Spokane, Wash.
Date: March 20-22, 2015: 12s, 13s, 14s, 16 USA, 16 American
Date: March 27-29, 2015: 15s, 16 Open, 17s, and 18s
Contact: April Stark
Event: Southern California Qualifier - Los Angeles, Calif.
Date: April 11-13, 2015: 15 USA, 15 American, 14's, 13's and 12's
Date: April 17-19, 2015: 15 Open, 16's, 17's, and 18's
Contact: Ann Davenport
Event: Big South Qualifier - Atlanta, Ga.
Date: April 3-5, 2015 (All ages)
Contact: Qualifier Staff
Event: Windy City National Qualifier - Chicago, Ill.
Date: April 3-5, 2015 (All ages)
Contact: Qualifier Staff
Event: Show Me Qualifier - Kansas City, Mo.
Date: March 28-30, 2015: 11's, 12's, 13's, 14's, and 15's
Date: April 3-5, 2015: 16's, 17's, and 18's
Contact: USA Volleyball
Event: NorthEast National Qualifier
Date: March 28-30, 2015 (Philadelphia, PA): 15's and 16's
Date: April 3-5, 2015 (Philadelphia, PA): 12's, 17's, 18's
Date: April 3-5, 2015 (Gaylord National): 13's and 14's
Contact: Julie Rife
Event: Mizuno Lone Star Classic
Date: April 11-13, 2015 (Dallas, TX): 13's, 14's, 15 American
Date: April 17-19, 2015 (Dallas, TX): 10's, 11's, 12's, 15 Open, 15 USA, 15 Select, 16's, 17's, Boys
Date: April 17-19, 2015 (Houston, TX): 18's
Contact: Jonathan Paris
Event: Far Western - Reno, Nev.
Date: April 18-20, 2015; 12's, 13's, 14's, 15's
Date: April 24-26, 2015; 16's, 17's, 18's
Contact: Donna Donaghy
Event: Mizuno Northern Lights - Minneapolis, MN
Date: April 17-19, 2015; 12's, 13's, 14's, 15's
Date: April 24-26; 16's, 17's, 18's
Contact: Northern Lights Staff