Volley America Partners with Spalding, Karch Kiraly and V-Go

Dec. 20, 2013 - PRLog -- HAMPTON BAYS, N.Y. (December 19, 2013) – Volley America, the largest adult outdoor volleyball membership program in the United States announced today that it will expand into the Juniors category in 2014 in a strategic partnership with Spalding, V-Go (a division of The Elevation Group) and Karch Kiraly.

“Volley America’s mission has always been to provide unparalleled benefits to regional Volley America programs throughout the country, including a unique playing experience and top purse and prize packages for the participants,” said Rich Heiles, Volley America Executive Director. “We’ve worked to align ourselves with key individuals who have tremendous experience and resources in the industry. Our new partnership will allow us to grow our programming into the Juniors’ category in 2014.”

Spalding, the first company to introduce the “beach volleyball,” will serve as presenting sponsor for the new effort.

“Spalding’s alignment with Volley America is consistent with our on-going commitment to and passion for the sport of volleyball,” said Paul Sullivan, Senior Vice President of Spalding. “We have long been committed to the core of the volleyball community, so this is a natural fit for us, particularly because of the focus on the future generations of the sport.”

Karch, a three-time U.S. Olympic gold medalist, has been committed to supporting all aspects of the volleyball community for decades, and he has partnered with Spalding to amplify that work.  “I am excited to support this program aimed at winning new life-long players and fans”, said Kiraly.

V-Go, the company that will manage the new program is a division of The Elevation Group, longtime operator of events and programs, including the USA Beach Junior Tour, US Open of Beach Volleyball, Corona Light Wide Open Pro-Am Tour and the Seaside Beach Volleyball Tournament. V-Go will utilize the company’s event marketing skills and experience in the sport to organize competitions, tournaments and clinics, as well as regional and national championships in cooperation with the Volley America program directors across the country.

VA Juniors will have a complete schedule of events, clinics, Regional and National Championships available on www.volleyamerica.com after January 31, 2014.

About Spalding

A Division of Russell Brands, LLC, Spalding is the largest basketball equipment supplier in the world, and America’s first baseball company. Spalding is the official basketball of the National Basketball Association (NBA) and Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA), the official backboard of the NBA and NCAA, and the official baseball of the Little League World Series. In addition to being the leading producer and marketer of basketballs, footballs, volleyballs and soccer balls, Spalding produces softballs under the Dudley brand. The SPALDING® and DUDLEY® trademarks are owned by Russell Brands, LLC. For more information, visit www.spalding.com.

For more information contact:

Rich Heiles, Volley America

eevb@i-2000.com

(631) 728-0397

Steve Lindecke, V-Go

slindecke@elevationgroup.com

(216) 363-1650

Bill Berger, Spalding

bberger@brandxcorporation.com

(760) 944-2819