Key Takeaways
- More than 550 boys volleyball teams competed across six age divisions at SoCal Cup’s Winter Formal event in Los Angeles
- The three-day tournament drew 19,000 daily attendees despite ongoing construction at the LA Convention Center
- A College Combine the day before attracted 350+ athletes and coaches from 25+ universities nationwide
- AIM Sports Group added a 16-team Junior College tournament to expand recruitment pathways
- Next SoCal Cup event takes place January 17-19 in Salt Lake City
Tournament Brings National Draw to Downtown LA
AIM Sports Group’s SoCal Cup hosted its Winter Formal tournament at the Los Angeles Convention Center last weekend, drawing more than 550 boys volleyball teams from across the country. The event covered age groups from 12U through 18U and attracted approximately 19,000 daily attendees, including athletes, coaches, families, and spectators.
The tournament proceeded despite ongoing construction at the venue. AIM Sports Group converted the convention center floor into a multi-court volleyball setup designed to accommodate the field size and spectator volume.
College Combine Expands Recruitment Access
The day before the tournament, AIM Sports Group ran a College Combine that brought together more than 350 athletes and approximately 50 coaches representing 25+ universities. The combine offered high school players a structured opportunity to demonstrate skills in front of college recruiting staff.
A separate Junior College tournament ran concurrently, featuring 16 programs. Many coaches and athletes from the JC tournament also participated in the Combine, creating overlapping recruitment opportunities across competition levels.
“The College Combine we had at this year’s SoCal Cup Winter Formal event was an added bonus to what was already an amazing event,” said AIM Sports Group Founder John Gallegos. “The Combine exceeded expectations and further demonstrated our commitment to the development of the sport at all levels.”
AIM Sports Group Continues Circuit Expansion
Founded by John Gallegos, AIM Sports Group operates the SoCal Cup series as part of a broader youth sports portfolio that includes facilities, leagues, events, and technology platforms. The company has grown the SoCal Cup into one of the largest youth volleyball event series in the country over the past five years.
Balboa Bay emerged as the overall tournament-winning club, capturing titles in three separate divisions. MB Surf, Coast, Indoor, Bay to Bay, and Aspire also won divisions across the Open and Club brackets.
Looking Ahead
The SoCal Cup Open Championship is scheduled for January 17-19 in Salt Lake City. The event represents the next stop in AIM Sports Group’s national circuit for boys volleyball competition.
Gallegos framed the Winter Formal results as part of a longer-term investment in boys volleyball infrastructure. “It all ties in with our overarching mission to advance sports performance and enjoyment for youth athletes. AIM Sports Group is all-in on the growth of boys volleyball for generations to come.”
via: SoCal Cup VB | MS
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