Volleyball Canada is pleased to announce that Kingston will be the host city of the women’s U19 Pan American Cup, which will take place at Queen’s University’s Athletics & Recreation Centre, June 24 to 29, 2025.
The local organizing committee will include Tourism Kingston, Queen’s University and the Kingston Rock Volleyball Club.
The U19 Pan Am Cup will bring together eight teams (TBA) of top age-class athletes from NORCECA – the North, Central, and Caribbean Volleyball Confederation. Many of these young athletes will go on to represent their country at the senior level at events such as the World Championships and Olympic Games.
The event was last held in Puerto Rico in 2023 and saw the U.S. win gold, followed by Mexico with silver, and host Puerto Rico winning bronze. This year, Team Canada will get to play on home soil, joining its zonal rivals for the five days of competition. Team Canada will host a week-long training camp for 18 athletes prior to competition at Queen’s University. The team will also use this training camp and tournament to prepare for the FIVB Girls’ U19 World Championship to be held in Croatia and Serbia in July.
With an active, growing volleyball community in Kingston and with support from the Ontario Volleyball Association, excitement for this event is expected to be significant. Queen’s Athletics & Recreation Centre offers an excellent host facility, fresh off hosting the 2024 U SPORTS Men’s Volleyball National Championships and with strong, nationally ranked varsity volleyball programs.
Kingston’s successful bid to host the U19 Pan Am Championships was announced to volleyball supporters this past weekend at the Queen’s Gaels men’s & women’s volleyball home playoff games.
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“Kingston Rock Volleyball Club is thrilled to welcome Volleyball Canada and an international competition to our city. With a strong community of athletes, coaches, and supporters, our club continues to grow, providing opportunities for over 400 athletes between the ages of seven and 18 to develop their skills and love for the game. This event is an exciting milestone, and we can’t wait to showcase the energy and talent that make Kingston a fantastic volleyball destination.” says Matt Somerville, Executive Director, Kingston Rock Volleyball Club.
“With excellent venues, a vibrant community, and our active sport system, Kingston is a perfect host city to welcome these Pan American Championships. Athletes and officials will be staying right on the Queen’s campus for easy walkability to the state-of-the-art training and competition facilities. Families and fans who will travel to Kingston for this event will be able to stay across our many wonderful accommodation partners and experience all that our hip and historic city has to offer. We can’t wait to welcome the international volleyball community here in Kingston, while leveraging the opportunity to make a lasting impact for our local athletes.” stated Emma Lambert, Manager ofSport Partnerships, Wellness, Culture for Tourism Kingston.
“The U19 Pan Am Cup offers an exciting opportunity for our rising stars to compete against top opponents from across the region. This event will also serve as excellent preparation for the upcoming FIVB U19 World Championships in Croatia and Serbia following this event. Any time we play in Canada it’s special. Hosting an international tournament on home soil allows us to showcase our country’s commitment to the sport, while giving athletes the chance to gain memorable exposure and experience in front of friends, family, and the wider volleyball community, says Shannon Winzer, Volleyball Canada’s High Performance Director (Women’s indoor).
“Queen’s University Athletics and Recreation, in partnership with Tourism Kingston and Volleyball Canada, is thrilled to host the 2025 U19 Women’s Volleyball Pan Am Championships in an effort to elevate the student-athlete experience while creating an opportunity for meaningful learning and development.” stated Linda Melnick, Executive Director of Queen’s Athletics & Recreation
Media Contact:
Jackie Skender
jskender@volleyball.ca
Mobile: 613-794-7676
Emma Lambert
Manager – Sport Partnerships, Wellness & Culture
emma@tourismkingston.com