Valentine’s Day weekend brought more than 600 youth volleyball teams to the Kansas City area in one of the sport’s biggest events, the Triple Crown National Invitational Tournament.
Some 70 courts were in play for the massive weekend event that annually draws tens of thousands of people to the metro area — including actor Vince Vaughn, former NBA star and Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd and former NFL star and broadcaster Rodney Harrison.
But most Kansas Citians might not be keenly aware of the NIT’s size or importance to the athletes involved, other than to see them wandering around downtown with gym bags and blankets.
The Star’s Tammy Ljungblad was on hand to capture the scene and some of the key players at the competition.