TOURNAMENT SITES - The TSSAA Division I Girls Volleyball State Championships will be held at Blackman High School, Siegel High School, and Rockvale High School in Murfreesboro, October 20-22, 2026. The Division I Finals will be held at MTSU on Friday, October 23, 2026. The Division II Girls Volleyball State Championships will be held at Middle Tennessee Christian School and Providence Christian Academy in Murfreesboro, October 20-21, 2026. The Division II Finals will be held at MTSU on Thursday, October 22, 2026.

TEAM LODGING - Click here for a list of available hotels and rates. Call the hotels directly to book your rooms. If you need further help, you may contact the Rutherford County Convention and Visitors Bureau in Murfreesboro at (615) 893-6565 or (800) 716-7560 or info@rutherfordchamber.org.

Others wishing to make reservations need to visit Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce's web site at ReadySetRutherford.com.

COACHES' PACKETS - The coach of participating teams may pick up their team packet at their first session site on Tuesday.

DIVISION I TOURNAMENT FORMAT - In Division I, there are three classifications: Class A, Class AA, and Class AAA. In all three classifications, the state tournament format will be a single elimination tournament with a consolation bracket. The draw for the state tournament will be released following the completion of all sectional matches. Teams that qualify for the state tournament who placed in the top two in the previous year’s tournament shall be drawn to opposite sides of the bracket. The remaining teams shall be separated so that no team from the same region will be in the same side of the bracket.

DIVISION II TOURNAMENT FORMAT - In Division II, there are two classifications: Class A and Class AA. The state tournament format will be a four-team double-elimination tournament with no "if" matches.

OFFICIALS - The officials (referees, line judges, score keeper/libero tracker) will be assigned by the state office.

TRAINER - Athletic trainers will be provided for the tournament. Teams should note that trainers will only be on site 30 minutes prior to the first game. Those wishing to be taped should provide their own tape.

CONCESSIONS - Concession stands will be open for the event. Coolers will not be allowed inside any facility.

TEAM ENTRY - No physical credentials will be issued to participants. Each participating team may bring in 20 individuals free of charge as part of their team party. Each registered TSSAA volleyball coach will receive a Coach Credential in their team packet, and those wearing this credential do not count as part of the 20 admitted in the team party. The head coach will be required to sign in their team upon arrival. A participating school will be charged the daily ticket fee per person per day for individuals in excess of 20. This charge will appear on your TSSAA Portal account the week after the tournament.

ONLY PARTICIPATING TEAM PERSONNEL, CHEERLEADERS IN UNIFORM, OFFICIALS, WORKERS AND PRESS PASSES WILL BE ADMITTED IN THE PLAYING AREA.

MATCH INFORMATION - A tournament squad shall be limited to 14 girls. A total of 14 chairs will be allowed and a team is limited to 14 people on its bench, including the coach. A team may not have additional players dressed in uniforms and have them wear T-shirts or warm-ups over the uniform. A total of 20 people are allowed which includes six players on the court and 14 people (coaches, managers, remaining players) in chairs. For the purpose of coin toss and scoreboard designation, the top team or first team listed in each bracket will be the home team. In addition, the home team will select their team bench first and teams will not switch sides after each set. There shall be no practice at the state tournament site for teams entering the state tournament.

In order to coach during the match, the coach must be a registered coach and must wear the coaching credential they received in the team packet.

PRE-MATCH PROTOCOL - Prior to the first match of the day, teams will be allowed on the floor one hour prior to the match. During this time teams may stretch and are allowed to have volleyballs out. For the rest of the day, teams will be guaranteed 30 minutes on the court, which includes the 16 minute warm-up protocol, to stretch and prepare for their match (Note: If the previously scheduled match finishes early, teams for the next match may be allowed on the floor no earlier than one hour prior to the scheduled match time.).

16 MINUTE WARM-UP PROTOCOL - Teams must provide their own warm-up volleyballs. The following timed warm-up schedule will be followed (Players shall not wear any audio or video devices during the timed warm-up protocol.):

3 Minutes - General Passing (Both Teams on their Side. Players may not intentionally or cause balls to intentionally enter their opponent’s court. Pre-Match Conference is held with Officials, Coaches, & Captains. )
6 Minutes - Serving Teams Court (All players’ uniform numbers must be fully visible.)
6 Minutes - Receiving Teams Court (All players’ uniform numbers must be fully visible.)
1 Minute - Volleyballs are collected and the court is cleared.

THERE SHALL BE NO SHARED SERVING OR HITTING. When one team has exclusive use of the court the other team should be at their bench or off the playable area. An exception to this is that teams are allowed to shag balls for one another if mutually agreed upon by the coaches. Teams are not allowed to use the area behind the hitting team to pass.

3-BALL ROTATION - The 3-Ball Rotation system will be used in order to keep the matches flowing. If needed, we may ask your team to provide one shagger to help with facilitate the rotation.

CLEAR BAG POLICY - For spectators, there will be a clear bag policy in place at all Rutherford Co. Schools and MTSU. In addition, all spectators will have to pass through the weapons detection system prior to entering the gym. Policies can be found below.
Rutherford Co. Schools Clear Bag Policy
MTSU Clear Bag and Weapons Detector Policy

CHEERLEADERS - Cheerleaders in uniform will be admitted to any session and should enter at the participating team pass gate. They should be prepared to cheer from the bleachers. Each team is limited to 12 cheerleaders.

PEP BUSES/GROUP TICKETS - If your school is bringing a pep bus of students or fans and would like to pay for tickets via your TSSAA Portal account, please contact Shonnie Speicher to make arrangements (volleyball@tssaa.org).

PEP BANDS - Pep bands are permitted. Each member of the band must purchase a ticket and a faculty representative must be present with the band. Electrical instruments may not be used. Rule 1-8 of the NFHS Volleyball Rulebook states the following: The playing of music/sound effects shall only be permitted prior to the start of the set during warmups, during time-outs, between sets and following the competition. The use of artificial noisemakers shall be prohibited.

VIDEO RECORDING - Videotaping, filming, or streaming of postseason contests must be in accordance with the TSSAA Media Regulations and must be approved by the Site Director.

PRESS - There will be an area set up for statisticians and press at each venue. For credentials, please e-mail your request to Matthew Gillespie (mgillespie@tssaa.org).

GUIDELINES PERTAINING TO BLACKMAN, MTCS, PCA, ROCKVALE, & SIEGEL

PARKING - There is no longer a charge for spectator parking.

At Blackman High School, Siegel High School, and Rockvale High School, teams and officials will park each day in front of the gym.

At Middle Tennessee Christian School, teams, officials, and spectators will enter the campus on MTCS Drive from Memorial Blvd (See Map). Teams and officials will park each day in the front of the gym. Buses will be able to drop off at the front door and bus parking will behind the Kingwood Church across adjacent to campus.

At Providence Christian Academy, teams, officials, and spectators will enter the campus using the entry closest to the school's marquee and park in the farthest parking lot, which is by the gym/high school building.

GENERAL ADMISSION - General Admission will be located at the main gate of each gymnasium. Admission is $13 per person per day if purchased in advance on GoFan and $15 per person per day if purchased with cash at the gate. Everyone school-age and older must purchase a ticket. TACA cards will be honored when presented with a matching photo ID, but the TSSAA ID Card will NOT be accepted for admission. The GoFan Administrators Pass will be honored when presented at the admission gate.

The Clear Bag Policy will be in effect at Rutherford Co. Schools.

Gates for spectators and teams will open one hour prior to the first scheduled match each day.

PRESS PASS GATE - At all high school sites, the press pass gate will be located at the main entrance of the gymnasium.

NON-PARTICIPATING TEAMS - At Blackman High School, Middle Tennessee Christian School, Providence Christian Academy, Rockvale High School, and Siegel High School, non-participating teams will be admitted at the entrance gate of each site for $7 per person, provided the team arrives together as a group with a school representative and a roster printed from the TSSAA Portal. This charge will be added to the school's Portal account the week after the tournament. No payment will be accepted on site.

GUIDELINES PERTAINING TO CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHES AT MTSU

PARKING - Smaller team buses and officials will park in Lot A in the Greenland Drive Parking lot. Larger buses may unload in the parking lot, but then should move to the Livestock Lot in the map link below.

There is no longer a charge for spectator parking. Spectators will be able to park in the Greenland Drive Parking lot next to the Hayes Track & Soccer Stadium. Additional parking will be available at the Livestock Lot, which is on Greenland Drive past Champion Way when coming to Murphy Center from Middle Tennessee Blvd. (See Map).

TEAM ENTRY - Participating teams will enter Murphy Center at the bottom of the loading dock ramp on the east side of Murphy Center.

LOCKER ROOMS - Locker rooms will be available to use prior to your match at Murphy Center. Teams will need to remove all belongings from the locker room when they move to the gym floor to start warming up for their respective match.

GENERAL ADMISSION - General Admission will be located at Gate E-3. Admission is $15 per person per day if purchased in advance on GoFan and $20 per person per day if purchased with cash at the gate. Everyone school-age and older must purchase a ticket. TACA cards will be honored when presented with a matching photo ID, but the TSSAA ID Card will NOT be accepted for admission. The GoFan Administrators Pass will be honored when presented at the admission gate.

The Clear Bag and Weapons Detector Policy will be in effect at MTSU.

PRESS PASS GATE - At MTSU, the press pass gate will be located at the bottom of the loading dock ramp on the east side of Murphy Center.

NON-PARTICIPATING TEAMS - Non-participating teams will be admitted at Gate E-3 for $7 per person, provided the team arrives together as a group with a school representative and a roster printed from the TSSAA Portal. This charge will appear on your TSSAA Portal account the week after the tournament. No payment will be accepted on site.

Teams that qualified for the state championships that desire to watch the championship matches will need to arrive as a group at Gate E-3 where the head coach will sign in their team party of up to 20 individuals (Head coaches wearing their coaching credential will not count as part of the 20 admitted in the team party.).