Hurricane Helene recovery forces SoCon Volleyball Championship venue change

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The 2024 Ingles Southern Conference Volleyball Championship, originally slated for Asheville, North Carolina, will be contested on Nov. 21-24 at Wofford College in Spartanburg, South Carolina.

"We heard very clearly from some of our closest partners – Ingles Markets, Explore Asheville, Harrah's Cherokee Center - Asheville, and the Asheville Buncombe Regional Sports Commission - that it is in everyone's best interest to move this year's Ingles SoCon Volleyball Championship to allow Asheville time to recover from the effects of Hurricane Helene” said SoCon Commissioner Michael Cross. “Asheville has been an outstanding host for many SoCon championships and we look forward to playing at the Harrah's Cherokee Center – Asheville next year. We extend prayers and support to everyone who has been effected by this tragic and heartbreaking situation. We appreciate Wofford College's willingness to host the Championship on short notice and are looking forward to providing an outstanding championship experience for our student-athletes, coaches and fans."

The tournament will begin on Thursday, Nov. 21, with the No. 9 seed facing the No. 8 seed. Quarterfinal matches will take place at 11:30 a.m., 2 p.m., 4:30 p.m., and 7 p.m. on Friday. The semifinals will begin at 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, with the championship match slated for 4 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 24. All times are eastern.

The Southern Conference is helping with the recovery efforts in Asheville by partnering with World Central Kitchen to help provide meals. Donations can be made here.

All pre-sale tickets that were purchased for the tournament in Asheville will be honored at Wofford. Ticketmaster has reached out to those who purchased seats for the event and have offered refunds if fans who are unable to attend in Spartanburg.

Samford leads all current members in tournament titles with seven, the most recent victory coming in 2022. ETSU, Furman and Western Carolina each boast three tournament wins. The 2023 champion Wofford, who won the first women’s tournament title in school history last November, will be looking to repeat this season and return to the NCAA Tournament.

ABOUT THE SOUTHERN CONFERENCE

The Southern Conference is headquartered in Spartanburg, South Carolina, consisting of 10 full member schools across six states in 20 sponsored sports. Nine other institutions serve as affiliate members in the SoCon-sponsored sports of wrestling and rifle. The SoCon is celebrating its 103rd anniversary in 2024. The fifth-oldest NCAA Division I college athletic association, the SoCon contested the first-ever collegiate conference basketball tournament in 1921, tackled freshman eligibility in 1922, became the first conference to adopt the 3-point field goal in basketball in 1980 and developed women’s championships in 1984.

ABOUT ASHEVILLE BUNCOMBE REGIONAL SPORTS COMMISSION

The Asheville Buncombe Regional Sports Commission was formed in the fall of 2010 by a handful of civic-minded leaders who had a vision to impact the local economy by bringing more sporting events to the region. The Sports Commission attracts sports events and related meetings to enhance the health, wellness, and quality of life for area residents and sports enthusiasts and will generate a positive economic impact by promoting our region as a recognized sporting destination.

ABOUT HARRAH’S CHEROKEE CENTER - ASHEVILLE (HCCA)

Harrah’s Cherokee Center – Asheville (HCCA), which features the ExploreAsheville.com Arena and Thomas Wolfe Auditorium, has hosted a diverse variety of events that reflect the creativity, uniqueness, and artistry that Asheville, N.C., and Western North Carolina is known for primarily. In recent years, the facility has hosted world-class sporting events such as NBA Preseason Games, three Billie Jean King Cups by BNP Paribas ties, the annual Ingles Southern Conference Basketball Championships, Asheville Championship, and the Camping World Maui Invitational as well as music and performances by Noah Kahan, Bob Dylan, The Lumineers, Dave Chappelle, John Prine, Old Dominion, Sturgill Simpson, Kacey Musgraves, Widespread Panic, Billy Strings, Warren Haynes’ Christmas Jam, and more.

ABOUT EXPLORE ASHEVILLE AND THE BUNCOMBE COUNTY TOURISM DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY

Explore Asheville is the official destination marketing and management organization for one of the most vibrant destinations in the southeast. Explore Asheville is powered by the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority, a public authority that has been investing in and building community since 1983. The authority has committed $96 million to more than 50 community capital projects including many sports venues.