Mikasa will serve as the Official Ball of Final Set Events
October 1, 2026
WOBURN, Mass. — October 1, 2026 — Mikasa USA, a subsidiary of Mikasa Corporation, a global leader in volleyball equipment and innovation, today announced a new partnership with 3STEP Sports and Final Set Events focused on growing and elevating boys volleyball across the United States. As part of the partnership, Mikasa will serve as the Official Ball of Final Set Events, with Mikasa game balls used across the national boys volleyball tournament series.
The collaboration brings together organizations with a shared commitment to expanding opportunities for boys to participate in volleyball, while strengthening the competitive landscape and creating greater visibility for the sport. The partnership will focus on creating high-quality competitive experiences, increasing exposure for boys volleyball, and building stronger pathways for young athletes to develop their skills and pursue the sport at the next level. “Mikasa has always believed in the power of volleyball to bring people together and create opportunities for athletes,” said Harry Iizuka, President and CEO of Mikasa USA. “Partnering with Final Set Events allows us to take another important step in supporting the continued growth of boys volleyball. We are excited to invest in the athletes, programs, and events that will shape the future of the sport.”
The partnership comes at a pivotal time for boys volleyball, as participation and interest continue to expand across the youth, high school, club, collegiate, and national levels. Boys volleyball is the fastest-growing high school team sport in the United States, with participation increasing 76% over the past decade and 12% in the most recent year, according to USA Volleyball and NFHS data. By combining Mikasa’s longstanding leadership in volleyball with Final Set Events’ growing platform and 3STEP Sports’ experience and infrastructure in youth sports, the partnership is designed to help accelerate that momentum.
3STEP Sports CEO Chad Gruen, added, “We’re building Final Set around a simple idea: create more opportunities for boys to play and deliver a competitive experience that makes them want to keep playing. Mikasa shares that vision and has a deep history in volleyball. Having Mikasa as our Official Ball helps us raise the standard of the experience while working together to grow the boys’ game.” Mikasa brings more than a century of sports equipment innovation and a deep history in volleyball, including a relationship with the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB) dating back to 1964, when volleyball first joined the Olympic program. Today, Mikasa balls continue to be used at the highest levels of international competition. Final Set events is building a new standard for boys volleyball, with a growing national schedule designed to create high-quality competitive opportunities for athletes, teams and clubs throughout the 2026-2027 season.
Learn more about Mikasa volleyballs and view the complete Final Set Events boys volleyball tournament schedule.
