Penn State Fayette to Host 2023 & 2024 Volleyball & Cross Country National Championships
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania – The United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) is excited to announce that the 2023 and 2024 USCAA Volleyball and Cross-Country Small College National Championships will be held in Uniontown, Pennsylvania. The Championships will be administered jointly by the USCAA National Office and Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus.
Penn State Fayette and the Laurel Highlands are no stranger to the USCAA. Long-standing members of the USCAA, Penn State Fayette was the host of the Small College Basketball National Championships from 2009 through 2020 and is just a one-hour drive from the National Office in Pittsburgh. “We are thrilled to be bringing USCAA Championships back to Penn State Fayette”, states USCAA Chief Operating Officer, BJ Bertges. “Their dedication to the growth of our National Championships for over a decade made bringing new championship sports to the area an easy decision”.
"On behalf of the Penn State Fayette Department of Athletics, we're thrilled for the opportunity to once again work with the USCAA in bringing National Championships back to the city of Uniontown”, notes Athletic Director, Stephen Oberly. “It's an honor to be selected as the host site for the 2023 and 2024 USCAA Volleyball and Cross-Country Small College National Championships. We look forward to creating a positive, exciting, and premier tournament for the student athletes and campus community."
The USCAA members in attendance for the Volleyball National Championships will spend the majority of their time in the Community Center Building which houses the main court, seating 1500 spectators, as well as auxiliary warm-up space, a dining area, team meeting space, and an auditorium. The facility also features four team locker rooms, an athletic training facility and will finally provide a center-court experience for the championship contests.
The second site for volleyball, the Athletic Recreation Center (ARC), was recently renovated in 2018 to include expanded spectator seating, resurfaced flooring, and a renovated scoreboard. The venue also features private team locker rooms and is just a short walk from the main arena.
The Cross-Country National Championships will also be held at Penn State Fayette who have a dedicated 6k and 8k course on campus. The beautiful course offers scenic views of the Laurel Highland Mountain ridgeline and the foothills of Fayette County while offering adequate elevation gains.
The two championship events will bring an estimated 350-400 participants to Fayette County. “We are honored to be hosting the 2023 and 2024 Volleyball and Cross-Country National Championships at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus.”, says Campus Chancellor, Dr. Charles Patrick. “Penn State Fayette has a great history of partnership with the USCAA, and we appreciate the opportunities the USCAA provides for our student-athletes, our local businesses, and our community at large—and we’re looking forward to hosting these exciting championships on our campus.”
The USCAA will be utilizing multiple hotels, restaurants, and shops throughout the championship event, increasing its economic impact on the region. Additionally, the FayPenn Economic Council, the Fayette Chamber of Commerce, the Laurel Highlands Visitors Bureau will be making generous contributions to the USCAA Small College National Championships, enhancing the experience of the student-athletes, coaches and fans.
The Penn State Fayette Campus is located just off of the I-70 corridor and I-76 (Pennsylvania Turnpike) in southwestern Pennsylvania. It is a one-hour from downtown Pittsburgh and less than 90 minutes from the Pittsburgh International Airport.
Tournament dates for the USCAA Volleyball and Cross-Country Small College National Championships in Uniontown, PA are November 9th – 13th in 2023 and November 7th – 11th in 2024. The USCAA is a national governing body that exists to provide opportunities for small colleges to compete against like institutions for National Championships and student-athlete recognition. The 70-member association was founded in 2001 as a reformation of the National Small College Athletic Association and is headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.