The 2026 Boys Midwest Open is a 2-day boys club volleyball tournament hosted at the Kansas City Convention Center October 31st – November 1st, 2026.

The Boys Midwest Open is more than just a tournament. Athletes and families can enjoy collegiate matches, custom event apparel, and Halloween activities.

Our goal is to create a premier boys volleyball event that give boys volleyball teams a competitive way to kick off the club season.

Heart of America Volleyball

Address: 548 S. Coy Street, Kansas City, KS 66105

Phone: (913) 233-0445

Email: info@hoavb.org

Kansas City Convention Center (Bartle Hall) – Enter on the north side of 13th street

Click HERE for parking information in downtown Kansas City.

In conjunction with Boys Midwest Open, Rockhurst University Men’s Volleyball (NCAA DII) will be hosting a collegiate men’s volleyball preseason tournament.

Schools Participating

Hastings

Missouri Valley

Park

Quincy

Rockhurst University

Southwest Baptist

Westminster

With Boys Midwest Open falling on Halloween, we will be doing a costume contest on Saturday, October 31st. Costume contest entries can be submitted individually or as a team.

To enter the contest, post a photo of your costume to your social media and tag @HOAVB.

Divisions

Boys

Divisions: 12, 14, 16, & 18

Tournament Format

18s

• Saturday: Pool play (three pools of five teams).
• Sunday: Challenge round to determine Gold or Silver bracket placement, followed by a single elimination bracket play.

16s

• Saturday: Pool play (three pools of three teams), followed by a second round of pool play with three new pools of three teams.
• Sunday: A third round of pool play with three new pools of three teams. The top two teams from Pools A and B will advance to a single elimination Gold bracket. The third place teams from Pools A and B, along with the first- and second-place teams from Pool C, will advance to a single elimination Silver bracket. The third-place team from Pool C will conclude play after Sunday’s pool play.

14s

• Saturday only: Four-team pool play followed by a four-team, single-elimination bracket.

12s

• Sunday only: Four-team pool play followed by a four-team, single-elimination bracket.

If requested, efforts will be made for traveling teams who are planning on arriving Saturday, to give them a later start time Saturday to prevent the need for a Friday night hotel.

Seeding

Due to this event being so early in the season, seeding is difficult. We seed the Heart of America teams mainly based on last years performance. Out of region teams are spread over the pools. The goal is not to predict the outcome of the tournament, but to have somewhat balanced pools.

No tie-breaking sets will be played, unless all tie-breaking criteria are exhausted:

2 teams tied in match record: Head to head match breaks the tie.

3 or more teams are tied in match record:

1. Head-to-head match result between the tied teams
2. Overall set percentage
3. Overall point percentage
4. Head-to-head set percentage
5. Head-to-head point percentage

This tournament will follow USAV Age definition with the exception that age-waivered athletes will be allowed to play down to match their current school grade level. The player must be no more than one year older than the maximum age defined for that specific division. Teams with players that have an age waiver athlete will need to email info@hoavb.org. Teams must include age-waivered athlete’s birth certificate and proof of grade in the email. Instructions will then be sent for how to roster age-waivered players.

Up (R1) referees will be provided for all matches. Teams will be required to provide down referees (R2), line judges and scorekeepers.  A rostered coach must be an active part of his/her team’s officiating assignment (R2 or active scorer).

VolleyStation will be used as the scoring system in replace of the paper scoresheet. Tablets will be provided at all courts.

Below are some training material resources on how to score a match with VolleyStation.

• Referee YouTube Playlist
• Referee Portal introduction
• Scorer YouTube Playlist
• VolleyStation Score tutorial
• Paper Scoresheet Translator
• Test Match Follow Along

If the work team coach agrees, any Tournament Referee may volunteer to a score a match. The work team coach must remain at the scoring table.

Failure to fulfill officiating assignments will result in the loss of 1 point per minute in your next match.

Teams who are wanting to withdrawal from the tournament must email the HOA Office with their request.

This tournament is hosted and sanctioned by the Heart of America Region – USA Volleyball. All teams and players must be registered with USAV. Teams using illegal players will forfeit all matches and be disqualified from the tournament and the case turned over to the appropriate Regional Commissioner for further action.

USAV playing rules for the 2025-2027 season will be in effect.

All age divisions will start each set at 0-0. If a third set is needed, it will be played to 15 points.

Tournament Game Ball

12s: Molten VBU12

14s, 16s, 18s: Molten Flistatec

In the Gold division, 1st, 2nd, and both 3rd place teams will receive awards. If a Silver division is scheduled, 1st and 2nd place will receive an award.

Due to their disruptive nature, artificial noise makers are prohibited at this event. In addition, teams may not use portable music devices courtside, including during warmups.

Hoverboards and drones are also not allowed at this event.