Qualifier begins run

A volleyball tournament that essentially began through conversations about ways to reduce travel costs for teams has grown beyond the wildest dreams of its founders.

“Basically, in 1997, the region had teams that were starting to become pretty good,” said Evergreen Region Volleyball office manager and tournament coordinator April Stark. “Splash (club teams) and others talked about how expensive it was to get to national qualifiers. What could we do?”

Thus was born the Pacific Northwest Qualifier which begins its 11th two-weekend run today for teams in seven age groups 12U through 18U. In cooperation with the Spokane Regional Sports Commission, it has grown to a record 389 teams from its modest 70-team beginning.

The tournament is one of nine qualifiers throughout the United States that offer volleyball clubs a secondary route to national tournaments beyond regional tournaments in April.

“Every region sends a certain number of teams to nationals,” Stark said. “This becomes another avenue.”

Spokane, through word spread among the USA Volleyball community, has become an attractive locale, she said. Its growth by more than 100 over last year is attributable to its second year with an open division competition.

Teams from throughout the Evergreen (which includes eastern Washington, north Idaho and western Montana) and Puget Sound regions are well represented as well as several states, including Texas and Oklahoma.

This weekend on 14 courts each at the Spokane Convention Center and Eastern Washington University, the younger four ages compete in six tournaments including 16-team 15U and 14U open divisions.

Next weekend the 16-, 17- and 18-year olds arrive for six division tourneys, including an open in each.

Similar to local and regional club tournaments, they have two days of pool play, then advance to single elimination tournaments on Sunday. Teams are assured seven matches.

“What’s great about the PNQ is they come for the experience,” Stark said. “They play three days, see national teams and it’s a fun tournament. It’s not just about volleyball, but being with team and friends and what you do in your off time.”

Stark was a Shadle Park volleyball player, graduating in 1991, whose father and PNQ tournament director Russ Poage started the first select volleyball youth program, Spokane Juniors, with Pam Parks and Irene Matlock in 1985. The Evergreen Region, of which Poage is assistant commissioner, and club volleyball at all levels has grown astronomically since.

This weekend’s PNQ became the logical extension for the heavily volleyball-involved family.