Mafinejad, Hilberg Earn USA Volleyball Junior National Referee Rating
BEAVERTON, OR (7/16/2026) – The Columbia Empire Volleyball Association (CEVA) is proud to recognize Hossein Mafinejad and Evan Hilberg for earning their USA Volleyball Junior National Referee rating during the 2026 USA Volleyball Girls Junior National Championship in Indianapolis.
The Junior National rating is a significant achievement for volleyball officials and reflects a high level of rules knowledge, match management, professionalism, and consistency. Candidates are evaluated while officiating some of the top junior volleyball teams in the country.
Mafinejad, who lives in the Portland area, has long been an active member of the CEVA community as both a club coach and official. In addition to his on-court contributions, he serves on CEVA’s Officials’ Committee, helping support the recruitment, development, and advancement of officials throughout the region.
Hilberg, who lives in Philomath, also serves the sport in multiple capacities as a club coach, volleyball official, and member of CEVA’s Board Development Committee, where he helps identify and cultivate future volunteer leaders for the organization.
“One of the things that makes Hossein and Evan exceptional is that their commitment to volleyball extends far beyond the matches they officiate,” said Cody March, Executive Director of CEVA. “They volunteer their time to coach athletes, serve on CEVA committees, and continually invest in making our region stronger. Earning a Junior National rating is a tremendous accomplishment and a reflection of the leadership and professionalism they bring to everything they do.”
The accomplishment also reflects CEVA’s continued commitment to developing high-quality officials across Oregon and Southwest Washington. Through education, mentorship, and volunteer leadership, CEVA strives to build a strong pipeline of officials who provide fair, safe, and competitive experiences for athletes at every level.
CEVA congratulates Hossein and Evan on this outstanding achievement and thanks them for their continued service to the volleyball community.
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Home Page: www.cevaregion.org
About CEVA: Serving nearly 11,000 members, the Columbia Empire Volleyball Association (CEVA) is one of forty regional associations of USA Volleyball. Our mission is to promote, foster and teach life-long lessons through volleyball in Oregon and SW Washington. CEVA is dedicated to providing volleyball opportunities through high caliber programs, member services and community involvement.
Contact: region@cevaregion.org
