The 2025 NMMI Classic volleyball tournament is quickly approaching and this year the GECU has stepped up to the net as the tournament's primary sponsor.

Play by 11 of the top women's junior college teams in the nation is set to begin on Thursday, Aug. 21 – and continues through Saturday, Aug. 23 – with 21 matches ready to be played on the two indoor sport courts at the New Mexico Military Institute campus, including the recently remodeled Cahoon Armory gymnasium.

"GECU is excited to serve as the premier sponsor of the New Mexico Military Institute Volleyball Classic and to collaborate with NMMI on this exciting event," said Gina Lewis, GECU Director of Military and Veterans Affairs. "This tournament brings together talented student athletes from across the Southwest region while highlighting the strong spirit of camaraderie and competition that connects military cadets and the community. We're proud to support NMMI in one of our first events in the Roswell community as a premier sponsor."

GECU got its start in El Paso, TX during the Great Depression and has since grown into one of the largest and strongest credit unions in Texas and New Mexico with more than 436,000 members, more than 25 locations, innovative online services and more than $4.4 billion in assets. They are also well-known in the borderplex region for their 'People Helping People' philosophy, giving back to their communities via a wide array of educational and philanthropic endeavors.

This year marks the17^th year of the NMMI Classic and the tournament has gained fame and a close following by teams in the National Junior College Athletic Association for its early start date. Teams come to play in the Classic for a great competitive start to the season and make their first assessments about their program and players. And typically, if a school fares well here in Roswell, a top NJCAA national ranking is soon to follow.

Last year's tournament previewed five of the 16 teams that made the NJCAA National Championship tournament.

This year, Navarro College – a team that finished 13^th in the NJCAA during the regular season – will start the Classic action with a 5:00 pm match against Jefferson College on Thursday.

Tournament host NMMI will also play on Thursday evening, at 7:00 pm vs. Eastern Arizona College. The Broncos earned a 3^rd-place seeding at nationals last season, with the Gila Monsters selected as 15^th.

"The NMMI Athletic Department is proud to welcome GECU as the premier sponsor of the NMMI Classic," said NMMI Athletic Director Jose Barron. "This tournament has been an early-season tradition for almost two decades and the addition of a partner of this prominence brings it to the next level. We are working with GECU this year to make the tournament exciting for everyone and look forward to our continued association in the future."