BLUE RIDGE VOLLEYBALL CLASSIC RETURNS TO ASHEVILLE ON SEPTEMBER 4-6, 2026, AT HARRAH’S CHEROKEE CENTER - ASHEVILLE
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – The 2nd Annual Blue Ridge Volleyball Classic, in conjunction with Ingles, Markets, Asheville Buncombe Regional Sports Commission, Harrah’s Cherokee Center - Asheville, Pepsi, and New Belgium Brewing, will return to Asheville, North Carolina, at Harrah’s Cherokee Center – Asheville on September 4-6, 2026. The lineup includes women's volleyball teams from Western Carolina, Seton Hall University, UNC Asheville, Bellarmine University, and Jacksonville State. Tickets are available for purchase via BlueRidgeVolleyballClassic.com, Ticketmaster.com, and at the iHeart Media Asheville Box Office located at the venue.
This is the second year of the Blue Ridge Classic. The first year featured Western Carolina, UNC at Charlotte, College of Charleston, and Bradley University competing in an action-packed invitational event.
“Western North Carolina has become a hotbed for quality high school volleyball. With Brevard, Polk County, and West Henderson claiming recent state championships and the storied tradition at Hendersonville High (state record of 12 championships), there’s little doubt that our region can compete with the best that the state has to offer. The Blue Ridge Volleyball Classic will show those athletes and area fans firsthand what it takes to compete at the college level,” said Chris Smith, President, Asheville Buncombe Regional Sports Commission. “This event will serve as a great precursor to the Ingle’s Southern Conference Volleyball Tournament at the same venue in November.”
Western Carolina of the Southern Conference kicks off an extensive early season on the road as the host team for the Blue Ridge Volleyball Classic. Following an 8-21 record in 2025, two-time Southern Conference Coach of the Year Karen Glover, in her 16th year at WCU, returns to lead a youthful team on the brink of dominance. Learn more at https://catamountsports.com/sports/womens-volleyball.
"We’re looking forward to competing in the Blue Ridge Volleyball Classic in Asheville. It’s an early opportunity to test who we are against strong competition and set the standard for how we compete all season,” says Tim Ebbecke, head coach of Jacksonville State University’s women’s volleyball team. “Asheville is a great environment and an exciting place for our athletes to experience together, which makes it even more meaningful. This group takes pride in representing Jacksonville State, and trips like this are about building toughness, connection, and a team that plays for something bigger than itself." Coach Ebbecke, making his Gamecocks coaching debut after a stint as an assistant at Marshall University, leads a talented Jax State team looking to improve a 14-15 record in 2025. Learn more at https://jaxstatesports.com/sports/womens-volleyball.
Seton Hall University is looking forward to a promising 2026 season with junior OH Hanna Labanowska, junior setter Gwen Adler, and sophomore OH/RS Daria Safian returning to the court and new additions junior OH Alondra Villanueva, freshman OH Sam Shelton, and redshirt freshman Kennedy Horn. “Our athletes are hungry for this upcoming season; they have a chip on their shoulder to come in and compete at a high level. Unfortunately, we had an unsuccessful season with many season-ending injuries, said Head Coach Shannon Thompson. “The athletes have worked hard in this off-season and want to prove themselves early in the preseason to set a high standard for Big East conference play. We are looking forward to competing in a neutral-site event that is very promising to become a premier event for the mid-major programs.” Learn more at https://shupirates.com/sports/womens-volleyball.
Bellarmine University, led by head coach Rick Nold and returning seniors Outside Hitter Natalie Blend and Middle Blocker Erika Smith, is looking forward to big movement in the upcoming Atlantic Sun season. “We are really excited to compete in the Blue Ridge Volleyball Classic,” said Coach Nold. “We’ve had a great spring season and look forward to challenging ourselves against quality opponents in this unique event. We can’t wait to get the season started!” Learn more at https://athletics.bellarmine.edu/sports/womens-volleyball.
"Our program, and the student athletes we train, take a lot of pride in the high standards they have set for themselves and each other,” said Danielle Marante, head coach of the UNC Asheville women’s volleyball team. “The accountability is what makes this group special. They continue to push one another to be their very best on and off the court.” Big South Conference member UNC Asheville returns a deep squad of players that made a strong 2025 campaign, including an upset of the #1 seed in the conference tournament. The Bulldogs look to capitalize on their first conference championship appearance with a strong 2026 season. Learn more at https://uncabulldogs.com/sports/womens-volleyball.
Tickets for the championship tournament are on sale now for $15-$80 for general admission and Courtside options. Get your tickets and learn more at BlueRidgeVolleyballClassic.com today.
ABOUT ASHEVILLE BUNCOMBE REGIONAL SPORTS COMMISSION
Since 2010, the Asheville Buncombe Regional Sports Commission has worked to identify and attract sporting events and related meetings to enhance the health, wellness, and quality of life for Asheville residents and sports enthusiasts in Western North Carolina. By generating a positive economic impact while promoting our region as a recognized top-tier sporting destination, the Asheville Buncombe Regional Sports Commission team works with event organizers, both locally and nationally, to showcase the Asheville community and its sports venues as the ideal location for their next event. Asheville Buncombe County Sports Commission is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit with the mission to host memorable sporting events while enriching the lives of sports organizations and the community served.
ABOUT HARRAH’S CHEROKEE CENTER - ASHEVILLE
Harrah’s Cherokee Center – Asheville (HCCA), which features the ExploreAsheville.com Arena and Thomas Wolfe Auditorium, annually hosts a diverse variety of events that reflect the creativity, uniqueness, and artistry that Asheville, N.C., and Western North Carolina are known for. In recent years, the facility has hosted world-class sporting events such as NBA Preseason Games, two Billie Jean King Cups Ties, the Ingles Southern Conference Basketball & Volleyball Championships, Blue Ridge Volleyball Championship, Asheville Championship, and the Camping World Maui Invitational as well as music and performances by Bob Dylan, The Lumineers, Dave Chappelle, John Prine, Old Dominion, Sturgill Simpson, Kacey Musgraves, Widespread Panic, Billy Strings, Warren Haynes’ Christmas Jam, and more. For more information, visit HarrahsCherokeeCenterAsheville.com.