WEST PLAINS, Mo. – In about two weeks, 16 of the best junior college volleyball teams in the nation will converge on West Plains for the National Junior College Athletic Association’s (NJCAA) Division I Women’s 2012 National Volleyball Championship Tournament, and members of the tournament organizing committee have finalized ticket prices for the three-day event.
Missouri State University-West Plains is once again hosting the tournament, set for Nov. 15-17 at the West Plains Civic Center. The university hosted the tournament from 2000 through 2006 and again in 2010 and 2011.
Tournament passes providing admittance for all three days will be available for $35 per person for adults and $15 per person for students with proper ID and senior citizens. Children under age six will be admitted free. Single-day passes also will be available for $15 per person for adults and $5 per person for students and senior citizens. Tickets may be purchased in advance at the Drago College Store, 411 W. Main St., in West Plains; call 417-255-7227 to find out when available. Tickets also will be available for purchase at the gate.
The tournament will get underway at 9 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 15, with first-round action. Matches will continue throughout the day and into the evening hours each day, with the championship match set for 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 17.
Area residents who cannot attend matches until late afternoon and evening hours can take advantage of discounted ticket prices. All tickets after 5 p.m. Nov. 15 and 16 will be $5 each for adults and $3 each for students with proper ID and senior citizens. These same discounted prices will be available after 3 p.m. Nov. 17. Children under age six will continue to be admitted free.
An awards ceremony will follow the championship match on Nov. 17. Team trophies will be presented to the first, second and third place teams, and individual medals will be presented to members of the first and second place teams. In addition, individual honors for Coach of the Year, most valuable player and all-tournament teams will be presented.
TEAM BANQUET
Tournament festivities will kick off at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 14, with a championship team banquet catered by Café 37 at the civic center. The public is welcome to attend; however, tournament chairs Rick and Lois Frazier stress there is a limited number of tickets available. Those wishing to attend should purchase their tickets early. The cost of the banquet is $30 per person. Tickets must be reserved in advance by Nov. 8; call 417-255-7975 or 417-255-7950 or e-mail ChrisTurner@MissouriState.edu to purchase tickets.
ECONOMIC IMPACT
Tournament organizers remind this event provides an estimated $1 million economic boost to the community, as teams from across the country and their fans stay in our motels, eat at our restaurants, shop in our stores and purchase gasoline and other items from our convenience stores.
“When you consider that every dollar they spend in West Plains is turned over seven times before it leaves the community, this event creates approximately $1.12 million in economic impact,” Rick and Lois Frazier said.
SPONSORSHIP AND VOLUNTEERS
The Fraziers said it’s not too late for area businesses and individuals to become a sponsor of the tournament or to volunteer. Sponsorships start at $50 and include a variety of special incentives, including tournament passes and name recognition in the official tournament program. They pointed out even a $50 sponsorship, which includes two tournament passes, will save the purchaser $20 in tournament admission. Advertisements in the championship program begin at $200 and also include a variety of special incentives, the added.
For more information about the tournament, visit the website at http://njcaavbd1.com/.