The Southern Conference has declared a change of venue for its volleyball tournament championship, relocating it from Asheville, North Carolina, due to the extensive damage inflicted by Hurricane Helene.

As the region continues its recovery efforts, the tournament will now take place at Wofford College in Spartanburg. Scheduled for November 21-24, the victorious team will secure an automatic spot in the NCAA Tournament.

Michael Cross, the league commissioner, shared insights from Asheville officials and organizers, noting that hosting the event in Spartanburg is a necessary move to give Asheville the chance to recover fully from the disaster.

Hurricane Helene struck Florida’s Gulf Coast last month, adversely affecting multiple Southeastern states and causing severe devastation along its path. The National Hurricane Center has reported at least 246 fatalities, marking this hurricane as the deadliest to impact the U.S. mainland since Hurricane Katrina.

The Southern Conference confirmed that tickets previously purchased for the Asheville location will still be valid at Wofford College, ensuring fans can still attend the championship.