Host nations announced for 2013 FIVB U-23 World Championships

What’s that? International volleyball news in the midst of the NCAA tournament? Shenanigans!

This is actually sort of a big deal. Volleyball has for long held Youth (U-17) and Junior (U-19) World Championships, but there’s always been a bit of a gap between U-19 play and senior national play. Now if you’re Samantha Bricio, bridging that gap is a piece of cake. But most players don’t have her talent or relatively weak national program to rise through.

So for the first time in 2013, the FIVB will hold U-23 World Championships, the women in July in Mexico and the men in August in Brazil. Exact sites will be determined as the event dates near.

Each of the five continental federations will send two teams (they can choose their own qualifying criteria). The highest ranked senior national team on each side and the host nations will qualify automatically. My guesses would be:

Men

NORCECA – USA, Canada
CSV – Brazil (hosts), Chile, Argentina
CEV – Russia (highest ranked senior team), Italy, Poland
AVC – Iran, China
CAVB – Tunisia, Egypt

Women-

NORCECA – Mexico (hosts), USA (highest ranked senior team), Dominican Republic, Cuba
CSV – Brazil, Argentina
CEV – Italy, Russia
AVC – Japan, Thailand
CAVB – Kenya, Algeria

But that’s just my guess.

Volleyball is one of two Olympic sports I follow year-round. It’s by far the nearer and dearer to my heart (and it’s also the one about which I’m much more knowledgeable), but I also count myself as a big fan of pro cycling. Please, hold the doping cracks. But in cycling, Under-23 World Championships have been a thing since 1996. Those events are greatly anticipated and are known to feature “the stars of tomorrow, today.” Indeed, the winners of those races usually can’t wear the rainbow jersey that is traditionally given to the winner, since they almost without fail sign with senior pro teams afterwards (you can only wear a rainbow jersey in the exact discipline you won it in).

So I expect much the same showcase will come in these volleyball events. If they’re tele- or webcast at all, you know The Net Set will be all over it.