Team acceptance is processed on a first-come, first-served basis based on when registration requirements have been completed.
To receive final acceptance into the event, teams must:
Submit the entry fee.
Meet the Tournament Advantage Program (TAP) requirements by having the required hotel reservations picked up and attributed to the team in SportWrench (simply reserving a room block does not satisfy this requirement).
If you have any questions regarding your registration status, our staff will be happy to assist or direct you to the appropriate contact.
If you are uncertain whether your team will participate, we recommend waiting to submit payment.
Once divisions reach capacity, teams on the waiting list often seek other events, and we strive to be fair to all clubs interested in participating.
If you know certain teams are attending, we encourage you to submit payment for those teams as soon as possible. Teams do not need to be paid for all at once.
$950.00 per team
Payment Method
The Windy City National Qualifier will accept payment by check or credit card. Please note that all credit card payments are subject to a processing fee.
If paying by check. Please make checks payable to:
Great Lakes Region Volleyball
745 McClintock Dr., Suite 220
Burr Ridge, IL 60527Checks may be sent via USPS, FedEx, or UPS.
Before team acceptance
Full refund.
After acceptance, but before November 13th, 2027, or before the division reaches capacity
$750 refund.
After November 13th, 2027, or once the division has reached capacity
No refund.
Entry fees are non-transferable. If a team withdraws and another team is entered in its place, the original team's entry fee cannot be applied to the replacement team.
Historically, divisions fill well before the refund deadline. Last year, all divisions reached capacity by October 28th, and we anticipate registrations filling even earlier this year.
If you are uncertain whether your team will participate, we recommend waiting to submit payment. Once divisions are full, teams often seek other events, and we strive to provide every interested team with a fair opportunity to register.
For clubs paying online, individual teams can be paid by simply selecting the specific teams you wish to include in your payment.
The Windy City National Qualifier is a USAV-sanctioned event.
All participating teams must meet the following requirements:
All players and coaches must have a valid USAV membership. The Head Coach must have current IMPACT and SafeSport certifications.
Complete rosters must include:
Player names
Jersey numbers
Verified USAV membership numbers
Coach names
Verified IMPACT and SafeSport certifications
Registration is not considered complete until both the entry fee has been received and all hotel requirements have been fulfilled.
Teams may check in during the following times:
Thursday, January 15: 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Friday, January 16: 6:15 AM – 8:15 AM and 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Division Placement
If you are deciding between two divisions, we strongly recommend registering in the lower division, as moving a team up is typically much easier than moving a team down after registration. Once divisions are full, division changes may no longer be possible.
Although it is early in the registration process, we want every team to have the best competitive experience.
The order of competitive strength for the 2027 event is:
Open
USA
Liberty
American
Please note that division sizes may change throughout the registration period based on overall event demand. Some divisions may expand while others may be reduced. Acceptance into the tournament is based on overall event capacity, not solely on individual division capacity.