Kicking off the 2009 season

The outdoor volleyball season starts in earnest this weekend, April 17 and 18. The inaugural Season Opener at Wasatch Beach begins on Friday at 6:00 P.M. with A Divison pool play. On Saturday, Open Division play begins at 8:00 A.M. We're keeping an eye on Friday's weather so watch the Welcome page of the Web site for our latest message in that regard.

We've extended early registration through Friday to accommodate everyone who wants to play. You can fax your registration form to us if you are out of the area, or drop it off at the front desk at The Sports Mall. Details in the Tournaments area of our Web site.

Over at the Cottonwood Complex, UOVA kicks off the grass season on Saturday. We teamed with UOVA not only to create the combined opener but a coordinated season of great volleyball. Players now have the option of playing grass or sand at great facilities throughout the season. UOVA members benefit from discounted registrations for events at Wasatch Beach.

We couldn't present the schedule of events that we are offering without the support of our facility partner, The Sports Mall. Check my earlier post on The Sports Mall.

Mike and I had lunch awhile back at the Bajio Mexican Grill location directly across the street from Wasatch Beach. The food was really great, made-to-order Mexican food in the Bajio tradition. (Try the shrimp tacos if you haven't already.) A day or two after our lunch, Mike connected with Brad Woodward, the owner, who immediately saw the great synergy of Bajio's food and the Wasatch Beach lifestyle. So, if you see Brad or his son Sanford at the Beach this summer, please make a point to say thanks for their support for beach volleyball.

We'll have more news on the sponsor front in the next week or so. Also coming up - the King and Queen of Wasatch Beach tournament on April 24 and 25. You'll find more about this event in the Tournament section of the Web site.

See you on the sand!

Wild Weather Abbreviates Panama City Beach AVP Tour Opener

Perhaps I shouldn't have said anything about the weather in my earlier post about the AVP Tour stop at Panama City Beach. Wind, rain and thunder prevailed, forcing the cancellation of play on Saturday and the use of a single elimination format on Sunday.

Here's how they finished on the women's side along with prize money and points earned:

1st - Nicole Branagh and Elaine Youngs ($24,000 and 750 points)
2nd - Jennifer Kessy and April Ross ($18,000 and 640 points)
3rd - Annett Davis and Jenny Johnson Jordan ($10,200 and 540 points)
3rd - Angie Akers and Tyra Turner ($10,200 and 540 points)

Three of the top four women played at the Hot Winter Nights stop in Salt Lake in February.

On the men's side, Todd Rogers and Phil Dalhausser kept up their winning ways, besting Jake Gibb and Sean Rosenthal in the finals:

1st - Todd Rogers and Phil Dalhausser ($24,000 and 750 points)
2nd - Jake Gibb and Sean Rosenthal ($18,000 and 640 points)
3rd - Brad Keenan and Nick Lucena ($10,200 and 540 points)
3rd - Matt Olson and Kevin Wong ($10,200 and 540 points)

Once again, three of the top four men were in Salt Lake for Hot Winter Nights. How lucky were we?

For the complete wrap on the first Tour stop of the season, go to http://www.avp.com/News/2009/03/PCB-Sunday.aspx

New this year, and used for the first time at Panama City Beach, the AVP is streaming both live video and audio directly from Tour stops. It is available on AVP TV at AVP.com.

Next up on the Tour is Riverside, California April 17-19. I'm sure the weather will be beautiful!