Registration Opens on October 1st at Midnight EST

MEQ Weekend #1 St. Louis (3/13-3/15)

Start Times for day 1 of MEQ #1 in St. Louis. These are tentative, but we will do our best to stay within the general guidelines.

8 AM:
All Open
15 USA
15 Liberty

230 PM
14 USA
15 Select
16 Liberty
16 Select

8 AM or 230 PM  (depending on seeding):
15 American (about half of the pools will be at the Beal Center)
16 American 
 

MEQ Weekend #2 St. Louis (3/20-3/22)

Start Times for day 1 of MEQ #2 in St. Louis. These are tentative, but we will do our best to stay within the general guidelines.

8 AM:
All Open
11 National, 12 National
13 Liberty, 14 Liberty
13 USA

230 PM
14 American
14 Select
12 USA

8 AM or 230 PM  (depending on seeding):
13 American
12 American
 

MEQ Indy (3/20-3/22)

Start Times for day 1 of MEQ in Indianapolis. These are tentative, but we will do our best to stay within the general guidelines.

8 AM:
All Open
16 USA
18 Liberty

230 PM
17 Select
17 Liberty
17 USA, 18 USA

8 AM or 230 PM  (depending on seeding):
16 Select
17 American (some pools will be at Academy)
18 American

If you have any questions regarding this tournament, please contact Scott McQueen.

MEQ will be using Advanced Event Systems for its registration process. AES will be the website that is the choice of USA JNC Girls Championship, many other qualifiers (including MEQ) and regional tournaments around the nation for registering teams.

1. Go to Advanced Event Systems to register your team and club.
2. Click on Add Club if you are a new user. If you already have a password and username, skip to step 4. If not, fill out the club info and hit the submit button.
3. Next, fill out the Club Director info, creating a username and password and making sure to keep your username and password in an accessible spot for future use.
4. Enter your username and password and login.
5. Click on Staff, then "Add New Staff." Enter the information, and hit the submit button.
6. Click on Players, then "Add New Players." Enter the information, and hit the submit button. Repeat for all players.
7. Click on Teams from the list on the left.
8. Click on Add New Teams, enter info, and submit information.
9. Click on your new team, and then on "Add/Update Staff." Click on "Add New Staff" and choose from the pull down list the available names and hit submit.
10. Go back to "Teams," click on the selected team, and then on "Add/Update Team Players." Choose from the pull down list of available names and hit submit. Continue until all team players are added.
11. Click on "Enter Events." Hit the "Register" button for the weekend of MEQ that you are wanting to play.
12. Select the division from the pull down list that you wish to enter your team and click on "Register Teams."
13. Make sure you update your results under the results section!
14. Contact AES Housing at 1-800-476-0060 x118 for rooms to ensure that you meet the Stay to Play requirement of 15 room nights per team.
15. The Capitol Sports Center staff will send out broadcast emails to inform you of other information and steps as they come available. The checks and registration form can be sent to Capitol Sports Center, 1915 Gladden Road, Plainfield, Indiana, 46168.

Fact Sheet

Tournaments Offered 

Entry Fees

Entry Deadline

Team Selection

Bid Refusal and Notification

Competition Format

Competition General Info/Rules/Regulations

Coaches Meeting

Referees

Coaches Certification

Admission

Manuals

Fact Sheet

Within the MEQ there are numerous tournaments. These tournaments are the following divisions: Open, National (12& Under Only), USA, Liberty & American. These divisions are then divided into tournaments by age group (18, 17, 16, 15, 14, 13, 12). All tournaments are for girl's teams.

Tournaments Offered

OPEN DIVISION TOURNAMENT
(18 & UNDER AGE GROUP)

This tournament is limited to 48 teams. Up to 3 bids per tournament are available to this Open Division of the 2026 Mideast Qualifier provided 8 teams enter this tournament. The actual number of bids is contingent on the number of entries per tournament:

New this year for the open division will be the addition of team strength to the criteria for acceptance.  First criteria will still be date of entry (payment and registration), but anyone who enters in the open division will be considered until the end of business on October 1st.  If a team qualified in the age below (16s in 2025 for 17s in 2026) in the open or USA division (from a qualifier) or finished in the top 20 percent of an open qualifier in 2025 in the age below, and fulfill the payment and date of entry requirements, they will be accepted into the event.  The exception to this rule is if MEQ ends up with more than 48 teams that fulfill this requirement and then we will go by the date of entry (payment and registration). 

Open Teams (18 & Under Age Group)

• 16 to 48 teams entered = 3 bids
• 12 to 15 teams entered = 2 bids
• 8 to 11 teams entered = 1 bid
• Less than 8 teams entered = 0 bids

OPEN DIVISION TOURNAMENTS
(17, 16, 15, 14 & UNDER AGE GROUPS)

These tournaments are limited to 48 teams per each age group. Up to 3 bids per tournament are available to the Open Division of the 2026 Mideast Qualifier provided 8 teams enter this tournament. The actual number of bids is contingent on the number of entries per tournament:

New this year for the open division will be the addition of team strength to the criteria for acceptance.  First criteria will still be date of entry (payment and registration), but anyone who enters in the open division will be considered until the end of business on October 1st.  If a team qualified in the age below (16s in 2025 for 17s in 2026) in the open or USA division (from a qualifier) or finished in the top 20 percent of an open qualifier in 2025 in the age below, and fulfill the payment and date of entry requirements, they will be accepted into the event.  The exception to this rule is if MEQ ends up with more than 48 teams that fulfill this requirement and then we will go by the date of entry (payment and registration). 

Open Teams (17, 16, 15, 14 & Under Age Groups)

• 24 to 48 teams entered = 3 bids
• 16 to 23 teams entered = 2 bids
• 8 to 15 teams entered = 1 bid
• Less than 8 teams entered = 0 bids

OPEN DIVISION TOURNAMENT
(13 & UNDER AGE GROUP)

This tournament is limited to 48 teams. Up to 2 bids per tournament are available to this 13 Open Division of the 2026 Mideast Qualifier provided 6 teams enter this tournament. The actual number of bids is contingent on the number of entries per tournament:

New this year for the open division will be the addition of team strength to the criteria for acceptance.  First criteria will still be date of entry (payment and registration), but anyone who enters in the open division will be considered until the end of business on October 1st.  If a team qualified in the age below (16s in 2025 for 17s in 2026) in the open or USA division (from a qualifier) or finished in the top 20 percent of an open qualifier in 2025 in the age below, and fulfill the payment and date of entry requirements, they will be accepted into the event.  The exception to this rule is if MEQ ends up with more than 48 teams that fulfill this requirement and then we will go by the date of entry (payment and registration). 

Open Teams (13 & Under Age Group)

• 12 to 48 teams entered = 2 bids
• 6 to 11 teams entered = 1 bid
• Less than 6 teams entered = 0 bids

NATIONAL DIVISION TOURNAMENT
(11, 12 & UNDER AGE GROUPS)

This tournament is limited to 128 teams. One bid is available to the National Division of the 2026 Mideast Qualifier provided 8 teams enter this tournament.

USA DIVISION TOURNAMENTS
(18 & UNDER AGE GROUP)

This tournament is limited to 48 teams. Up to 3 bids per tournament are available to the USA Divisions of the 2026 Mideast Qualifier provided 8 teams enter each tournament. The actual number of bids is contingent on the number of entries per tournament:

USA Teams (18 & Under Age Group)

• 24 to 128 teams entered = 3 bids
• 16 to 23 teams entered = 2 bids
• 8 to 15 teams entered = 1 bid
• Less than 8 teams entered = 0 bids

USA DIVISION TOURNAMENTS
(17, 16, 15, 14, 13 & UNDER AGE GROUPS)

These tournaments are limited to 128 teams per group. Up to 2 bids per tournament are available to the USA Divisions of the 2026 Mideast Qualifier provided 8 teams enter each tournament. The actual number of bids is contingent on the number of entries per tournament:

USA Teams (13 & Under Age Group)

• 24 to 128 teams entered = 3 bids
• 16 to 23 teams entered = 2 bids
• 8 to 15 teams = 1 bid
• Less than 8 teams = 0

USA Teams (17, 16, 15, 14 & Under Age Groups)

• 24 to 128 teams entered = 3 bids
• 16 to 23 teams entered = 2 bids
• 8 to 15 teams entered = 1 bid
• Less than 8 teams entered = 0 bids

Liberty Division (13-18's) 

• less than 8 teams = 0 bids
• 8-15 teams = 1 bid
• 15-128 = 2 bids

AMERICAN DIVISION TOURNAMENTS
(18, 17, 16, 15, 14, 13, 12 & UNDER AGE GROUPS)

These tournaments are limited to 128 teams per group. One bid per tournament is available to the American Division of the 2026 Mideast Qualifier provided 8 teams enter each tournament.

If either field size of the 12 & under National and American Divisions does not meet the above minimums then the divisions will be combined and called the National Division. If this combined National Division has 16 or more teams, then it will retain both bids with the first bid going to the National Division at GJNC and 2nd bid going to the American division at GJNC. IF the combined National Division has less than 16 teams, then it will receive one bid for the National Divsion at GJNC provided 8 teams are entered in the combined National Division.

SELECT DIVISION TOURNAMENTS
(17, 16, 15, 14, 11, 10 & UNDER AGE GROUPS)

Select Divisions are NON-bid divisions and are comparable to the American level of play. The Select Division does, however, allow for foreign teams as well as waivered players.

Entry Fees

• $915

NOTE - A cash deposit is no longer necessary to enter in Open tournaments at Qualifiers. In the case of an open team obtaining a bid to the JNC but does not use the bid, the team's club, director and coach(es) will not be allowed participation in any Qualifier for the following season.

Entry Deadline

 ABSOLUTELY NO REFUNDS will be given after January 1st or after a division fills, which ever comes first.

Team Selection, Bid Refusal & Notification

Immediately after the deadline, all teams will be notified of their acceptance to the event.  It is strongly advised that each team submit any and all results to date, by the entry deadline. Teams with results on file are considered first. The following criteria will be used by the Competition Committee of the Youth & Junior Division of USA Volleyball to determine the field:

OPEN, NATIONAL, USA, & AMERICAN TEAMS

• Date that the completed entry application is received by the Qualifier. This includes being registered on AES, payment being received by Capitol Sports Center, and the housing requirement being fulfilled on AES (This INCLUDES having individual rooms picked up within the block and attributed to appropriate teams).

Teams are cautioned about making non-refundable travel plans prior to the acceptance date. Teams are, however, encouraged to make housing plans early.

Competition Format / Coaches Meeting

All teams should be prepared to play at 8 am local time on Friday, March 13th or 20th. Actual start times will be communicated after the entry deadline. All competition is projected to be completed by 4:00 PM on the final day. Required team check-in will run from 3-9:00 PM local time on the Thursday, March 12th or Thursday, March 19th . Rosters are due online Wednesday, March 11th for Week 1 teams and Wednesday, March 18th for Week 2 teams.  Sites of the meetings will be at the Americas Center (St. Louis)/Indiana Convention Center(Indy). All formats and seeding will be as designated by the YJND Competition Committee.

Competition General Info/Rules/Regulations

• No outside food, coolers, noise makers, music amplifiers, chairs, or unapproved signs are allowed in the facility.
• Tickets are TBA for a 3 day pass and daily passes.  
• No ball handling is allowed in the halls or on the concrete.
• Bags should not be left unattended in the hallways as security will confiscate them.

Referees

Up referees will be supplied for all matches. Teams will be required to supply down referees, line judges and scorekeepers.  Down officials for all ages need to be rostered adults.

Coaches Certification

As in the case with the Junior National Championships, everyone listed on a roster as a coach is required to be IMPACT level and SafeSport certified. To obtain information on becoming properly certified, contact the junior rep of your region.

Admission - 2026

Indianapolis

Coaches / Parents / Spectators –

St. Louis

Weekend #1: March 13th-15th
Weekend #2: March 20th-22nd

Coaches / Parents / Spectators –

MEQ Indy (16 Open, USA, Select; 17-18s) - Check in is between 3 PM and 9 PM on Thursday night, March 19th, 2026 at the convention center in Hall F. This is mandatory for all teams. Please make sure that your rosters are correct as written in corrections will not be accepted. Any parent or coach can do this. This is however when arm bands will be passed out for coaches on the roster and it is the responsibility of the check in person to get the right amount of arm bands. Arm bands will not be passed out at any other time than at check in. If a coach loses or forgets to grab one at check in, it is their responsibility and will have to purchase one to get in. Only head coaches and assistant coaches will get wrist bands. Wristbands do need to be on your wrist to get entry. Medical release forms will NOT be checked. Please however make sure a coach has access to the medical release forms for all athletes during the event. 

MEQ STL (11-13's; 14 American/Liberty/Select)- Check in will take place at the America Center (convention center) on Thursday, March 19th from 3-9pm.

MEQ STL (14 Open/USA, 15s, 16 American/Liberty/Select)- Check in will take place at the America Center (convention center) on Thursday, March 12th from 3-9pm. 

All teams MUST be checked in before playing and there will be no check-in the morning that play begins. PLEASE PLAN YOUR TRAVEL AROUND THE CHECK-IN TIMES! THIS IS MANDATORY FOR ALL TEAMS! THERE IS NO AM CHECK-IN!

The Mid•East Qualifier this year is happy to announce its implementation of the Stay to Play and Save policy. Although, this policy has been highly controversial in the volleyball community, it has become necessary to help combat hotels driving prices higher and higher. Over the years, we have had anywhere between 80 and 90 percent of our participants using rooms from the AES list. Unfortunately, as our tournament has grown, rates for downtown hotels have risen to astronomical prices. The best defense we have against these high prices, is to go to the Stay to Play and Save Policy.

What does this mean for you?

In order to participate in the Mideast Qualifier, each out of town team must get rooms from the AES Approved hotel Block. There are two easy ways to do this:

1. Call us at 1-800-476-0060 ext 118 and we will help you with our personable and helpful staff.  If you have any questions, please send Faith an email and she will gladly help you out!
2. Go online to www.advancedeventsystems.com/hotels and click on the appropriate event.
   • Click on the appropriate hotel.
   • Click on club/team/parents – book here
   • Select state and check box of appropriate club, and then appropriate teams.
   • Continue making reservation. It WILL be important that each room in the block attribute their room to the appropriate team.

Housing will open on Tuesday, September 2nd at 9 AM Eastern time. You will be able to go online and book on www.advancedeventsystems.com or call us at 800-476-0060 ext. 118.  Please be patient as our call volume is expected to be high.  Please leave us a voicemail or send an e-mail for assistance and we will respond at our earliest convenience. 

Teams can make room blocks or make individual reservations, it is up to what each club’s preference is and what is the easiest process for those groups. We are here to help and to make this process as easy as possible.

How does Stay to Play and Save benefit you?

1. Hotel Prices
   First and foremost, hotel prices have been driven down. We have seen dramatic decreases for our downtown hotels as well.
2. Coupons and discounts at local restaurants and shopping attractions
   With an increased commitment to the city and its hotels, we have been able to receive more opportunities for savings at various shops, restaurants, and local attractions that before would not have been available.

Indianapolis:

INDIANA CONVENTION CENTER

100 South Capitol Avenue
Indianapolis, IN 46225

Transportation    Dining     Things To Do

345 West McCarty St. Indianapolis, IN 46225

Indianapolis Event Parking is 100 ft. South of Lucas Oil Stadium. Our prime parking location and events facility is in the “Heart” of the Indianapolis Action. We have space for over 3,000 vehicles and offer a FLAT RATE* daily parking fee, with entry and exit privileges and overnight parking is included in daily rate.

To purchase parking passes,

Click HERE 

St. Louis

America's Center Convention Center

701 Convention Plaza
St. Louis, MO 63101 

The Beal Center (Formerly Chesterfield Sports Complex)

150 N. Eatherton Rd.
Chesterfield, MO 63005 

Parking information link : https://explorestlouis.com/meetings-conventions/americas-center/parking-information/

• Brian Klimaski, 636-288-9347, brian@stlouistrolley.com, https://stlcrewshuttle.com/ 
•  
  • 6 passenger Cadillac Escalade SUV 
  • 8-10 passenger Stretch Hummer 
  • 11 passenger Transit Van 
  • 28 passenger Shuttle Bus 
  • (7) 30 passenger perimeter seated trolleys
  • (3) 36 passenger forward seated trolleys
  • 40 passenger Grech Mini Coach with a restroom on board.
  • 56 passenger motor coach with a restroom on board
  • 57 passenger motor coach with a restroom on board.  

Indianapolis Convention Center, Indianapolis, IN

March 19th - 6:30-8pm EST

Indianapolis Convention Center

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1975153958660?aff=oddtdtcreator

Questions? info@vbcombines.com

MEQ Elite Potential Recruiting Combine

March 12th - 6:30-8pm CST

St. Louis, MO- America Center (convention center)

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1975152716946?aff=oddtdtcreator

Questions? info@vbcombines.com

Please email Bryan at events@sequencesports.com or call 317-498-5299 if you are interested in receiving exhibitor/sponsorship information.