Chicago United Volleyball Club, a 501c3 non-profit, seeks to promote Chinese and Asian American history, culture, and values in Chicago Chinatown and the greater Chicagoland area through volleyball.
Chinese nine man volleyball emerged in the 1930s in the back alleys and cramped spaces of North American Chinatowns, born from the Chinese Exclusion Act era when segregation forced communities to create their own gathering places. For over a century, regional tournaments have served as cultural reunions — preserving language, tradition, and identity across generations of Chinese Americans.
The sport is governed by NACIVT—the North American Chinese Invitational Volleyball Tournament—which brings together hundreds of teams each year. Chicago once had a thriving nine man community, but it faded over generations. Chicago United has helped revive that tradition.
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Founded eight years ago to revive a sport that had gone dormant in the city, Chicago United Volleyball Club has grown into one of the most competitive Chinese 9-Man volleyball organizations in North America, participating in the annual NACIVT tournaments.
Learn More →Chicago United is proud to launch its first-ever youth program, dedicated to developing the next generation of nine man players right here in Chicago.
Gau Lung (九龍, "Nine Dragons" in Cantonese) exists to create a sustainable future for nine man volleyball in Chicago. By introducing young players to the sport early, we build the foundation for the next generation of Chicago United athletes.
Players will develop their skills in a supportive environment that celebrates Chinese-American culture, guided by coaches and mentors who have played the game at the highest levels.
Check out our Instagram for tournament action, team moments, and everything in between.
Follow on Instagram →As a fully volunteer-based organization, every hour we invest goes directly toward building opportunities for the next generation of Asian American athletes.
Tony Chan founded Chicago United eight years ago with the mission of reviving nine man volleyball in Chicago. Under his leadership, the program has grown into one of the most competitive Chinese volleyball organizations in the Midwest.
Email Us →Bryan Paliza "BP" serves as Technical Director for Chicago United Volleyball Club, leading training quality and excellence across all programs. His coaching resume spans high school varsity, USAV High Performance, club, and 9-Man. As Boys Director at 630 volleyball since 2024, his teams have achieved top-five national finishes, including a 5th place finish at Nationals and multiple top-three division placements.
Email Us →Eddie Kao has been a fixture in the Chicagoland volleyball scene for many years. A former Boys Director and coach at Drive Volleyball Club, he brings deep experience and a lifelong passion for the game. Eddie has been part of Chicago United since the very beginning, helping shape the program from the ground up.
Email Us →Interested in enrolling a young player in the Gau Lung youth program? Reach out for more information about eligibility, commitment expectations, and the interest form.
Email Us →As a 501(c)(3) non-profit and 100% volunteer organization, we rely on the generosity of donors like you. Every dollar goes directly toward our youth programming and community events throughout the year.
Special thanks to these talented photographers for capturing our team in action: