What is a USAV National Qualifier?
A USAV National Qualifier is a series of large, multi-day tournaments held across the country, typically from January to May. They serve as the "stepping stones" for teams to earn a bid—an invitation to compete in one of the specific, highly competitive divisions at the USA Volleyball Junior National Championships.
Divisions: Qualifiers typically host multiple divisions (e.g., Open, USA, Liberty, American) for different age groups.The Open division is the highest and most competitive.
Bids: Teams that place highly (e.g., 1st, 2nd, 3rd, or 4th, depending on the division and number of entries) in these tournaments are awarded a bid to the National Championships.
Competition Level: The NQs attract top-tier talent and are heavily attended by college recruiters, especially for the older age groups.
How Do Teams Qualify for the USAV National Qualifier?
There are generally three main paths for a junior club team to earn a "bid" (a qualified entry) to the USAV Junior National Championships:
1. The National Qualifier (NQ) Path
This is the most common and competitive way to qualify.
Earning a Bid: A team competes in one or more National Qualifiers and must finish in a designated bid-award position (usually top 1-4, depending on the division and tournament size) to secure a bid.
Bid "Trickle Down": If a team that wins a bid has already qualified at a previous NQ (known as "double-qualifying"), the bid will "trickle down" to the next highest-finishing team that has not yet qualified, provided that team finishes no lower than fourth place.
2. The Regional Bid Path
Each of the 40 USA Volleyball Regions (like the Arizona Region, Southern California Region, etc.) is allocated a certain number of bids for certain divisions (typically National, American, and Freedom divisions).
Regional Championships: Teams can earn a bid by performing well in their respective Regional Qualifying Event or Regional Championship tournament.
Reallocation: Bids that are turned back by other regions or teams can be reallocated to a region based on a pre-determined order.
3. The At-Large Bid Process
This path is available for the most competitive divisions (Open, USA, and Liberty), but it's not guaranteed.
Application: Teams that performed well in multiple National Qualifiers but just missed earning a bid can apply for an At-Large Bid.
Selection: USA Volleyball's selection committee reviews the applicant teams' overall record, competitive strength, and performance against other qualified teams to award the limited At-Large Bids.
Non-Qualifying Entry
It's also worth noting that USAV has other divisions that typically do not require a bid:
Patriot Division: Often an "open entry" or "pay-to-play" division where teams can register without having to win a bid, allowing a postseason experience for more clubs.
Girls Junior Club Championship (GJCC): This is a newer, open-entry event (beginning in 2026 for girls) aimed at club-level teams that did not qualify for the main GJNC bid divisions.