Best of the Midwest Tournament Recap: Cedar Rapids Makes History

Sandlot Sports and Social
Sep 9
3 min read

The Midwest volleyball community showed up and threw down in Cedar Rapids this past weekend as Sandlot Sports CR hosted the first annual Best of the Midwest Volleyball Tournament — and it was nothing short of legendary.

Over three unforgettable days, 63 teams from across the Midwest battled it out on 18 courts, chasing down $10,000 in cash prizes and AVP points. From Open divisions to Rec divisions, the energy was off the charts as athletes dove, spiked, and swung for glory while fans brought the noise all weekend long.

A Tradition Begins

For us at Sandlot Sports, this wasn’t just another tournament with a fancy name. It was the start of a tradition that puts Iowa sand volleyball on the map. We wanted something bigger than just competition — something that builds community, memories, and relationships. This weekend proved we’re on the right path.

Highlights of the Weekend

63 teams battling non-stop across every level of play.
$10,000 in cash prizes going straight into the hands of champions.
Courts packed from morning to night — Friday’s Co-Ed 6’s, Saturday’s Men’s and Women’s Doubles, and Sunday’s Co-Ed Doubles and Co-Ed 4’s.
Cold drinks, tasty cocktails, and protein smoothies that kept players fueled and fans vibing all weekend long.
The food truck went next-level — rolling out a custom breakfast menu with fruit cups, wraps, salads, parfaits, breakfast sandwiches, and biscuits and gravy that would put Grandma’s recipe to shame — all fresh and made-to-order to keep athletes performing at their best.
Post-game eats that stole the show — the smash burger, Iowa Nacho Fries, top-rated cheese curds, and what players called the best food they’ve ever seen at a volleyball tournament.
Teams repping all over the Midwest: Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Chicago, Kansas City, Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Waterloo, Cedar Falls, Burlington, Ames, the Quad Cities, Dubuque, and St. Paul.
Sandlot vibes went viral — with over 250,000 online impressions spreading the energy far beyond Cedar Rapids.

Thank You

To every player, fan, sponsor, and volunteer — you’re the reason this weekend was a win. You helped us turn a crazy idea into a reality, and we couldn’t be more grateful.

Shoutout to Our Sponsors

This tournament wouldn’t have been possible without our incredible partners:

Midwest Sand Volleyball — for teaming up with us to ensure our Doubles players earned AVP Points and got the recognition they deserve.
Midwest Marketing — for building hype and grabbing the attention of fans across the entire region.
Josh Boyce with American Family Insurance — a true Championship Partner, keeping our players protected with Auto, Home, and Life coverage.
Stack Wellness — helping players stay at the top of their game with quality supplements at unbeatable prices.
House of Iron — Cedar Rapids’ #1 gym, setting new standards for training and recovery, with unlimited cold plunges and an elite facility.
Athletico — for being onsite to stretch out athletes and provide free assessments to keep everyone playing strong.
Iowa Custom T’s — onsite and ready with same-day custom orders so players and fans could leave with one-of-a-kind gear.
Prime IV — making sure players were hydrated to play their best and fans had an instant cure if they partied a little too hard the night before.
Eastern Iowa Pet Resort — taking care of the fur babies of players, staff, and ownership while we were busy getting sandy.
KJ Haul Away — for coming through big on setup and teardown with their fleet of trucks and trailers, ready to handle any need.
Ramm Woodworks — showcasing craftsmanship with top-tier custom cornhole boards that doubled as art pieces and conversation starters.

We are beyond grateful for each of you — your support turned this from just an idea into one of the premier volleyball events in the Midwest.

What’s Next

This was just the beginning. The Best of the Midwest is coming back in 2026 — bigger, louder, and even more competitive. Keep your eyes out for updates, photos, and highlight reels from this year’s event, because trust us, you’ll want to relive it.

From the Bottom of Our Hearts

From the bottom of our hearts, we are extremely grateful for everybody who made history with us. Your participation is allowing us to chase our dreams and deliver a true one-of-a-kind experience that will be talked about for decades to come. The Sandlot family is strong — and we’re just getting started.