VERT Named Title Sponsor of Inaugural Volleyball Showcase

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.-- IMG, a global leader in sports, events, media and fashion, announced today that VERT, a leader in wearable athletic technology, has been named title sponsor of the VERT Challenge, a women's volleyball showcase involving IMG partner schools.

The University of Texas, University of Florida, University of Nebraska, and University of Oregon will compete in the four-year rivalry challenge. The inaugural event is scheduled for >September 4-5 at the Gregory Gym in Austin, TX and will be broadcast on The Longhorn Network. The VERT Challenge will travel to Oregon in 2016, Florida in 2017, and finish in Nebraska during the 2018 season.

As part of the agreement, VERT will provide wearable technology demonstrations and on-site promotions for fans in attendance.  This will be the first time a wearable technology company will be a title sponsor in a showcase among NCAA teams.

"Our commitment to athletic experience just reached another milestone," VERT founder Martin Matak said.  "This is the first title sponsorship for VERT and a first for wearable technology in an event featuring four nationally ranked, powerhouse NCAA schools."

Many college programs have incorporated VERT wearable technology into their practice and work-load analysis for injury prevention and player motivation. 

"The VERT Challenge will be one of the premier collegiate volleyball events," says Mary Wise, head coach of the University of Florida.  "It will create a lot of excitement and attention for women's volleyball."

On August 29, 2014, The Georgia Southern Eagles and the University of Florida made history as the first collegiate teams to use wearable technology that streamed real-time on a Jumbotron during a NCAA event. 

The VERT wearable jump rate monitor is a non-invasive, discrete inertial measurement unit (IMU), which allows athletes to perform in games and practices without discomfort. The device pairs with an iOS app that can be monitored by coaches during use, and instantly provides numerous athletic measurements including jump count and jump height.

About VERT

VERT is headquartered in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. The company is focused on creating better experiences for sports. The VERT wearable device is for all jump sports such as basketball, volleyball, BMX, skateboard and other health and fitness sports. For further information, please visit the company's website at myvert.com

About IMG

IMG is a global leader in sports, events, media and fashion, operating in more than 25 countries. The company represents and manages some of the world's greatest sports figures and fashion icons; stages thousands of live events and branded entertainment experiences annually; and is the world's largest independent producer and distributor of sports media. IMG also specializes in sports training; league development; and marketing, media and licensing for brands, sports organizations and collegiate institutions. In 2014, IMG was acquired by WME, the world's leading entertainment agency, to form WME | IMG.