KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Visit Mesa and the GSAC have been selected by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics to host the 2026 and 2027 NAIA Beach Volleyball National Invitationals at Arizona Athletic Grounds, in Mesa, Ariz.
“We’re thrilled to partner with Visit Mesa and the GSAC for our next two Beach Volleyball postseason events, and we’re looking forward to the kind of student-athlete experience that will come from playing at Arizona Athletic Grounds,” said Austin Bennett, NAIA Vice President for Championships. “It was evident from the first conversations with Visit Mesa and the GSAC that the commitment to first-class experience for our member institutions was paramount, and that will continue to show as we draw near this year’s event.”
Arizona Athletic Grounds boasts an impressive 275-acre campus featuring cutting-edge amenities, including over 150 courts and fields, a gymnastics center, dance studio, cheer gym, shaded entertainment district, and over 487,000 square feet of indoor fieldhouse space. The complex is designed to serve as a hub for sports and entertainment.
"Hosting the 2026 NAIA Beach Volleyball Invitational at Arizona Athletic Grounds is an exciting opportunity to showcase the continued momentum of the collegiate beach game,” said E. Ashley Dean-Gulbranson, CEO, p1440, a volleyball organization founded by 5x Olympian Kerri Walsh Jennings and the operator of the beach courts at Arizona Athletic Grounds. “p1440’s mission is to build sustainable pathways for athletes at every level, and we are proud to partner in delivering a championship experience that helps move the sport forward and elevates excellence for student-athletes."
Arizona Athletic Grounds serves as the home facility for one GSAC institution – Park University-Gilbert – as 12 of the Buccaneers’ 18 sports call it home, located 35 miles from downtown Phoenix, in the heart of the East Valley, one of the fastest-growing areas in the United States.
“On behalf of the GSAC, we are happy to welcome the very best in beach volleyball to Arizona,” said Mike Daniels, GSAC Commissioner. “With the help of Visit Mesa, p1440 and AAG, we look forward to providing a memorable experience for the student-athletes, coaches and fans.”
The 2026 event will take place April 23-25.
"We are honored that Mesa has been selected to host the NAIA Women's Beach Volleyball Invitational, which will showcase the nation’s Top 8 teams within the NAIA, in 2026 and 2027," said Lance Fite, vice president, sports at Visit Mesa. "This is a tremendous opportunity to showcase not only Mesa's world-class facilities, like Arizona Athletic Grounds, but also our exciting one-of-a-kind surf and beach venue like Revel Surf Park at Cannon Beach where the Student-Athlete Experience will take place. In partnership with P1440 and the GSAC, hosting a championship of this caliber over multiple years reinforces Mesa's commitment to elite women's collegiate sports that brings valuable visitor spending to our hotels, restaurants and local businesses while elevating our profile as a premier destination for championship-caliber sporting events."
“We’re honored to host the NAIA Beach Volleyball National Invitational and welcome top programs to Arizona Athletic Grounds,” said Austin Andreotti, Director of Strategy at Arizona Athletic Grounds. “These events provide an incredible opportunity to showcase our world-class facilities, operational excellence and ability to serve as a premier destination for elite competition.”
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS (NAIA)
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), headquartered in Kansas City, Mo., is a governing body of small athletics programs dedicated to character-driven intercollegiate athletics. NAIA members provide more than 83,000 student-athletes with opportunities to play college sports, earn $1.3 billion in financial aid from NAIA institutions, and compete in 29 national championships. naia.org | @NAIA
About p1440
p1440, a purpose-driven youth to pro volleyball platform delivering programming and strengthening pathways for athletes to train, compete, and develop at every stage of their game. p1440 is dedicated to growing volleyball through access, competition, and community, ensuring players can play the game, wherever they want, however they want, for as long as they want. Visit p1440.com for more information.
About Arizona Athletic Grounds
AAG is one of the largest youth-oriented sports and entertainment facilities in the U.S. The Mesa, Ariz., facility serves millions of visitors per year, providing athletic and special events programming. More information can be found at http://www.azgrounds.com/. For additional information on rentals, sponsorship, or event programming at AAG, please reach out to the AAG team at info@azgrounds.com.