Week 1: FEBRUARY 14-16, 2026
Week 2: FEBRUARY 20-22, 2026
ATLANTA, GA
This Atlanta tradition, back for its 19th year, regularly attracts hundreds of college coaches. This is an invitational tournament for 17’s and under and a USAV National Qualifier for the 18-Open, 18-USA, 18-Liberty, and 18-American divisions.
WAVES
WEEK 1:
18 Liberty AM Wave (Saturday 2/14)
WEEK 2:
18 Open: AM (Friday)*
18 USA: AM (Friday)*
18 American: PM (Friday)*
17 Open: PM (Saturday)
16 Open: PM (Saturday)
16/17 Power: PM (Saturday)
15 Open: AM (Saturday)
14 Open: AM (Saturday)
14/15 Power: AM (Saturday)
13 Open: PM (Saturday)
12 Open: AM (Saturday)
ADMISSIONS
Admissions will open at 7am on all tournament days. NO ONLINE TICKET SALES - all tickets can be purchased on-site before you head into the competition halls.
Spectators-including “chaperones” or “team reps”-whether rostered or not-will be charged $18 per day, $35 for a 2-day pass, or $45 for a 3-day pass for admittance to the tournament. If you are planning on attending multiple days you can purchase all passes at the same time. Players, coaches, and college coaches will be admitted without cost.
All wrist bands must be worn on the wrist in order to enter the facility. If a spectator loses their wristband, they will be required to purchase a replacement wristband.
Credit/Debit Card Only; no cash will be accepted.
Ages 10 and under will be admitted for free.
PARKING
There is on-site parking available at the GICC. $15/day-there are no in and out privileges. CREDIT CARDS ONLY.
NOTE - There are two different entrances to the GICC parking lots.
TEAM & COACH INFORMATION
18’s Specific Information
SEQ will, again, be a National Qualifier for the 18-Open, 18-USA 18-Liberty, and 18-American divisions. Thus, for the 18s:
It is not necessary to be invited. If you want to attend, simply register using the link to the left. Registration opens 9/3/2025 at NOON EST on AES.
It will be a three-day National Qualifier on two separate weekends (depending on your division):
SEQ Week 1: 2/14-2/16 | 18 Liberty
SEQ Week 2: 2/20-2/22 | 18 Open, 18 USA, 18 American
For 2026, we expect SEQ will be able to award USAV National Championship bids as follows:
3 bids in the 18 Open division*
3 bids in the 18 USA division
3 bids in the 18 Liberty division
1 bid in the 18 American division
For more information about National Qualifiers and the National Championship Tournament for 18’s division, please visit the TEAM USA website
GOOD NEWS! If you would like to play in Liberty on the 1st weekend and Open, USA, or American on the 2nd weekend…YOU CAN! Sign up for both!
17’s and Below Information (General)
SEQ is a two-day invitational tournament for 17’s and below. (2/21-2/22)
USAV 18s National Bids at SEQ
OPEN: 3 Bids Available
USA: 3 Bids Available
LIBERTY: 2 Bids Available
AMERICAN: 1 Bid Available
SEQ Previously Qualified Teams
18 OPEN:
Alliance 18 Ren - 18 USA bid
A5 18 March - 18 Open bid
18 USA:
A5 18 Boba - 18 USA bid
A5 18 Scott - 18 Liberty bid
M2 Volleyball 18E1 - 18 Liberty bid
Mizuno CNVBC 18 Sammie - 18 Liberty bid
Smash 18’s - 18 American bid
TK 18 Legends Elite - 18 Liberty bid
Tsunami N181E Lane - 18 Liberty bid
18 LIBERTY:
A5 18 Scott - 18 Liberty bid
GJ 18 ADIDAS - 18 American bid
PSVA 18 1 - 18 Liberty bid
Tsunami S181E Dun - 18 Liberty bid
18 AMERICAN:
Smash 18’s Attack - 18 Freedom bid
Penalties and Fines
February 17th AT 11:59 PM IS THE LAST DAY TO UPLOAD OR EDIT YOUR ROSTERS.
If you need assistance, please reach out to Katie Bailey, who is copied on this email. No changes will be made after midnight on Wednesday, February 11th. If you must make a change at check-in, the representative checking the team in will need to pay a $50 Roster Change Fine. Once you have started your first match, any allowable roster changes as outlined in the USAV Championship Manual will be subject to a $50 Roster Change Fee, in addition to the Roster Change Fine.
Roster Changes and Penalties
Any roster change made after roster deadline will need to be made in person at team check in. There is a $50 penalty fee payable with a credit card
Players and Coaches can only be added to a roster if they are eligible in USAV's Sports engine system and can be uploaded to team roster in AES
Uniform Numbers
Penalties for incorrect jersey number are the following:
If the error is discovered prior or after the team’s match, the roster may be adjusted, and the player may play once the corrected roster is presented to the referees
If the error is discovered during the match, the player may not compete for the remainder of the match and the roster may not be adjusted until the conclusion of the match.
Penalties for Player not listed on Roster
If the missing player is discovered prior to the team’s first match of the tournament, the player may be added to the roster and may play once the $50 roster change fee is paid to the tournament desk, and the corrected roster is presented to the referees.
If the missing player is discovered during the match, player must sit for remainder of that match. Additional point penalties may be assessed. Player cannot play for remainder of match. After payment is made, player can play in following matches.
If the missing player is discovered after the completion of the match, the following will occur: o The team will forfeit the most recent match within the round where the illegal player was found to have played. o The player may only be added to the roster after confirming the player is eligible, and the team pays a $50 roster change fee to be paid to the tournament desk.
Penalties for Coach not listed on Roster
If a person that is not listed on the official roster for a team and is found present on a team’s bench during a match, a roster violation has occurred, and the individual is deemed an Illegal participant for that team. The following penalties will be enforced: The Illegal Participant will be asked to leave the bench for the remainder of the match, and a delay warning will be imposed on the team. If the same individual is caught a second time and verified during the match, they will be removed from the event and the team will forfeit the current set.
Locations
Georgia International Convention Center (GICC) 2000 Convention Ct Concourse, College Park, GA 30337
Flow Charts
Cost per Team/Registration
18’s 3-day National Qualifier: $895 per team
17’s and below 2-Day: $525 per team
Registration Policy/Refunds
When you register a team, their status for this event will be “pending”. It will be changed to “accepted” once we have received your registration fee and your hotel obligation has been met. Teams are not guaranteed acceptance until they have completed both the payment and hotel requirements. If teams do not complete these requirements, they may be placed on the wait list. We will begin accepting teams on October 27, 2025. This is a Stay and Play event. We will be using Team Travel Source to handle all hotel reservations. Refunds requested on or after December 1, 2025, will be subject to a $150 service fee. No refunds will be given on or after January 1, 2026.
Hotels
Both Weekends of the SEQ are Stay to Play. All teams that have registered and paid the entry fee will be sent an email from our housing company - Team Travel Source- on or around October 1. This email will have a link to set up a block of hotel rooms for your team or club.
Recruiting
Historically, we have had hundreds of college coaches scouting 15’s and above on GICC’s 30 courts. We ask that coaches stop by the registration desk, where they will be given a (free) wristband in exchange for their registering with us. The tournament is University Athlete-friendly.
Rosters
Please ensure that your rosters are uploaded onto AES two weeks prior to the tournament. We will have printed copies for you to review and sign upon check-in. Make sure your 18’s are safe sport certified, coaches are background checked, etc. Any roster changes after the deadline will be subject to a $50 fee, which must be paid in person with cash.
Departure Flights
All we can tell you this far out — when registrations are still coming in and we don’t even know the size of the field — is the following:
The last match will be scheduled to conclude not later than 4 p.m.
The venue is connected to the airport. You can finish a match, take the sky train and be at the check-in gate in 15 minutes.
Sometimes a few of the courts run behind — occasionally by as much as an hour
THEREFORE…. we think everyone will be safe in scheduling flights that depart 7:30 p.m. or later.
However, use your best judgement as we are not responsible for missed flights.
In past years, there have been coaches who have pulled their team from their final match on Sunday afternoon, claiming to be at risk of missing their flight. This wreaks havoc with tournament staff, and more importantly, deprives other teams of matches that they have paid for and are counting on. For this reason, we are enacting the following policy:
Teams that fail to compete in scheduled matches and/or honor their work obligations will be denied entry to SEQ for the 2026 season and will be subject to whatever sanctions that are imposed by USAV.
$500 fee for each match forfeited
Please take careful consideration of this when booking your flights and coordinating your departure after your final match on Sunday afternoon.
Athletic Trainers
Athletic trainers will be on site from about 7:00 a.m. through the close of competition. If you need to have your ankles wrapped you will need to bring your own tape/pre-wrap/etc.
Winners Invited to SEQ
Winners of this tournament receive a Champion’s Exemption-an automatic invitation to the 2026 SEQ.
Team/Coach Check-In
GICC: Teams competing at GICC are able, but not required, to check in the evening prior to competition commencing. We will be at the registration desk from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. in the pre-function area of the convention center for that purpose. If checking in the night prior to competition presents a hardship due to travel schedules or other reasons, teams competing in the a.m. wave may check in at 7 a.m. the day of competition, and teams in the p.m. wave may check in any time after noon.
Warm-up Volleyballs (No Rentals)
Please make arrangements to bring your own volleyballs to warm up with. We apologize for the inconvenience.
Any other questions?
Please contact the appropriate party with any other questions you may have.
Tournament Registration & Scheduling: Briana Johnson, briana@southernvolleyball.com
Housing Information: Denise Corrigan, denise@southernvolleyball.com
On-site Questions or Issues: Phil Teknipp, phil@southernvolleyball.com