Sand, Stars And Fun In The Sun Returns To Cincinnati This Week

Pro Beach Volleyball is back at the Lindner Family Tennis Center for the 2006 AVP Crocs Cup Cincinnati Open grand finale championship

CINCINNATI (OH) The sand is poured, the star players are headed to town and a Tour championship title awaits two teams by week’s end.  The only question remaining is: Are you ready for some pro beach volleyball action?

The AVP Tour rolls into town on Aug. 31-Sept. 3 at the Lindner Family Tennis Center as the top pro beach volleyball players in the world vie for the prestigious season-ending Crocs Cup championship. 

The Thursday qualifier begins on Thursday, Aug. 31, with men’s and women’s competitions scheduled from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.  The remaining schedule includes two double session days on both Friday and Saturday with men and women competing with the men’s final on Saturday.  Sunday features the women only culminating in their championship match.  

The men’s final on Saturday and the women’s finals on Sunday will both be televised live nationally on NBC television.

Tickets will be available on site at the tournament beginning Thursday at 8 a.m. at the box office or can be purchased online through mustseeavp.com, Tickets.com and at all Meijer store locations in Cincinnati, Louisville, Lexington, Dayton and Columbus. Prices start at $18 per session for general admission, $28 for a reserved box seat and $75 for VIP tickets.

Star Power: The 2004 Olympic gold medal winning team of Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh arrive in Cincinnati on a tear.  The dynamic duo has already reached several milestones this year on the AVP Crocs Tour including winning their 50th career team title and a women’s record 10 team titles in 2006.  Both also surpassed the million dollar mark in career earnings.  On the men’s side, Mike Lambert and Stein Metzger hold a close lead over the team of Phil Dalhausser/Todd Rogers for the Crocs Cup and both will battle in Cincinnati.

Off-Court Entertainment: While action on the sand will be intense fans can enjoy entertainment off of it with two music acts that have joined the lineup at the 2006 AVP Crocs Cup Cincinnati Open.  The band 10 Foot Big and singer/songwriter Kate Voegele have been selected to perform before, during match breaks and after the matches on Saturday night, Sept. 1.

A little history: The AVP Cincinnati Open was an overwhelming success in its first year of existence in 2005.  An estimated 26,000 fans attended the event according to AVP officials with several sessions a sell-out based on seating capacity.  Rachel Wacholder and Elaine Youngs defeated Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh in the women’s final, snapping their 50-match winning streak.  Mike Lambert and John Hyden defeated the Dax Holdren/Jeff Nygaard team in the men’s final.  All four players return in 2006 but with different playing partners.

2006 AVP Crocs Cup Cincinnati Open Sessions
Thursday Aug. 31 – 8 a.m.-6 p.m. (Qualifiers- free to all)
Friday Sept. 1 - Session 1 - 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. (Men and Women all day playing)
Friday Sept. 1 - Session 2- 7:30 p.m. -10 p.m. (Men and Women playing)
Saturday Sept. 2 - Session 3 - 9:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. (Men and Women playing, but Men's Final live on NBC from 4:30 p.m. - 6 p.m.)
Saturday Sept. 2 - Session 4 - 7:30 p.m. -10 p.m. (Women only playing)
Sunday Sept. 3 - Session 5 - 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. (Women only playing with Women's Final on NBC live from 1:30-3pm)
 

About the AVP

Organized in 1983, the AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tour is the most popular and respected beach volleyball organization in the world. Featuring more than 150 of the top American men and women competitors in the sport, the AVP stages events throughout the United States. All tournaments are televised live (or same day) on either Fox Sports Net or NBC Sports. Pro beach volleyball is one of the most exciting and fastest growing sports on the planet. In 2004, AVP athletes successfully represented the USA during the Olympics in Athens, Greece, by bringing back a gold and bronze medal - the first-ever won by U.S. women.

Contacts:

For ticket inquiries, sponsorships and additional event information:
Mario Cicchinelli (513)794.4174 mario@reachusa.com
Jennifer Frost (513) 794-4172, jcarroll@reachusa.com
Brad McCoy (513)794-4173, bmccoy@reachusa.com

For media inquiries:
Ed Letsinger (513) 794.4177, eletsinger@reachusa.com