CLEVELAND — Sophie Camino, 12, is tuning up her game for the Junior Volleyball Association's Rock N' Rumble volleyball tournament.

“I’ve never been on this high of a level of a team really," Camino said. "I’ve been on like three teams and like not this high level.”

Roughly 620 girls' volleyball teams from around the country and even Canada will participate in the two-weekend tournament. It’s estimated to bring in nearly 10,000 spectators. Sophie said she’s come a long way.


What You Need To Know

  • The Junior Volleyball Association Rock 'N Rumble tournament is taking place in Cleveland over two weekends

  • It's expected to bring in hundreds of teams, thousands of spectators and millions in revenue

  • It points to a growing interest in women's sports

“I’m really excited because it goes from playing the backyard to playing in a giant tournament," Camino said. "And like, I never thought I would make it this far.”

The Greater Cleveland Sports Commission estimates that the event will leave a $6.3 million economic footprint. Coach Mark Ridley said the attendance figures point to an increased interest in the sport.

“The big tournaments in Cleveland have grown," Ridley said. "So that convention center is gonna be filled with tournaments this year. And that’s big for the city."

Ridley said that's especially true after a University of Nebraska volleyball game set a women’s sports attendance world record at just over 92,000 fans in August. A study in the Journal of Emerging Sport Studies found that interest in women’s sports is growing. The study also found that more than half of the 4,000 participants in their survey spent some time watching women’s sports last year.

“The Nebraska game in the fall in the football stadium," said Rob Cline of Rock City Volleyball. "When you can fill a football stadium with 90,000 people, that tells you that the sport is on the map and that it’s getting bigger.”

Camino is just focusing on her game and said she knows she will only get better by playing on a stage this size, against stiff competition.

“Going against them will make me way better," she said. "'Cause you play with people that are worse than you, they’re not gonna make you any better.”

The sports commission said Cleveland will host JVA tournaments through 2027.