Sarasota Ford Sponsors Beach Volleyball Tournament

[eevb]

For immediate use October 8, 2007
Contact: Rich Heiles
631-728-0397 or 631-355-1293
eevb@i-2000.com
Fact Sheet:
Event: $50,000 Bud Light Big Shot Volleyball Series
Schedule:
October 13-14 Bud Light Big Shot Volleyball, Siesta Key, FL
October 20-21 AVPNext/Wilson National Championships, Clearwater Beach, FL
November 3-4 Caribbean Beach Volleyball Championships, Isla Verde, Puerto Rico
Time:
8 am to 6 pm Saturday for Men's & Women's Open, A, & B Divisions
9 am to 6 pm Sunday for Coed Open, A, & B, & Men's AA & B Divisions
Playoffs 4-6 pm each day

Cost: Free for spectators, $55/team

Prizes:
Siesta Key: $1500
Clearwater Beach: $6,000
Isla Verde: $2,500
$50,000 during the 2006 season
Additional prizes from Sarasota Ford, Rider Sandals, Caribbean Tourism Organization, Native Eyewear Sunglasses, Venus USA, Spike Nashbar, Vincere Sports, Iron Horse Bicycles, Dig Magazine, Sweet Tomatoes, Volleyball Magazine, Atlantic City Convention & Visitor’s Authority and Park and Sun Sports will be awarded in the A and B Divisions.

The $60,000 Bud Light Big shot Volleyball Series will come to Siesta Key October 13-14. The tournament is the 33rd of 35 tournaments on the 2007 beach volleyball season. The Siesta Key event is sponsored locally by Sarasota Ford and Gold Coast Eagle Distributing. The tournament, which always draws a big crown to the sugar white sand at Siesta Key, will give away $1,500 in cash prizes.

Top players from throughout East Coast will be playing in Siesta Key starting at 9 am Saturday morning including Clearwater Beach star Justin Phipps, Tampa’s Matt Henderson, and Pompano Beach brothers Steve and Mark Van Zwieten. Mark Van Zwieten was the youngest player to earn a pay check on the AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tour in 2007.

Top female players will include local star player Chara Harris who finished as high as 13th on the AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tour this summer and the top Florida player Tara Kuk from Clearwater.

The tournaments are sanctioned by AVPNext, the grass roots program of the AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tour. AVPNext offers tournaments to give playing opportunities for players of all levels to improve their game. Players who really excel can qualify for the AVP Pro Tour through EEVB’s top events. All of the top players have competed on the AVP Tour and will use this tournament as a warm-up for the AVP Season Opener April 13-15 in Miami.

Players of all skill levels will be eligible for play in the tournament sponsored by Bud Light. There will be divisions for intermediate and novice level events with players competing for merchandise prizes from Wilson volleyballs, Venus Swimwear, Native Eyewear, Spike Nashbar, Vincere Sand Socks, Rider Sandals, VolleyChick, Park & Sun net Systems, and Iron Horse Bicycles.

Tournament play will start at 9 am on Saturday and 10 am on Sunday. Player check in is one hour prior to start time. Men's and Women's Open, A, and B Divisions will play on Saturday. Coed Open, A, and B, 4-player, and Men's A and B teams will play on Sunday. Admission is free for all spectators who are encouraged to come early for a front row seat. A player’s party open to the public, will be held Saturday evening at Speakeasy in Siesta Key. For further information and applications contact East End Volleyball at 631-728-0397 or East End Volleyball.