Membership
USAV Beach Volleyball Contact:
B.J. Hoeptner Evans
Manager, Communications
Phone: (719) 228-6800
E-Mail: bj.evans@usav.org
Release courtesy of the NVL
BALTIMORE, Md. (May 14, 2012) – The National Volleyball League (The NVL) will host its first event of the season, a two-day $50,000 tournament on May 18-19 in Baltimore, Md. where 2008 Olympic gold medalists Phil Dalhausser (Ormond Beach, Fla.) and Todd Rogers (Santa Barbara, Calif.) will make their 2012 domestic debut.
London Olympic contenders Kessy (San Juan Capistrano, Calif.) and April Ross (Costa Mesa, Calif.) will also be participating.
“Phil and I are very excited at the opportunity to compete on U.S. soil in the National Volleyball League’s season-opening event,” Rogers said. “Last year’s event at the Preakness was a huge success with thousands of people watching and we wanted to be a part of it this year. We’re happy that we’re able to play with the NVL and support their goals for the future of beach volleyball while also showcasing our talents domestically before going to London to defend our gold medals.”
The tournament will take place in Baltimore Beach and the Pimlico Race Course infield on Preakness Day. The Main Draw will begin at 8:00 a.m. on Friday, May 18th at Baltimore Beach and will run all day. Athletes will battle in two featured evening matches at 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. with the winners moving into the semifinals. The men's and women's semifinals and finals will be played during Preakness InfieldFest at Pimlico on Saturday, May 19 with the men's final at 2 p.m. and the women's final at 3:30 p.m.
“Last year was a huge success and we look forward to building on this momentum leading into the Olympic games,” said Albert Hannemann, CEO and Founder of The NVL. “The NVL was created by players for the players and we’re thrilled at the level of competition, including gold medalists and Olympians, who will be competing at the NVL Baltimore Preakness event. We are dedicated to growing this sport and introducing it to a broader audience while featuring the best players in the world.”
Partnering with The NVL through Corrigan Sports for a second year at the Preakness, Maryland Jockey Club President Tom Chukas says the new dynamic in the Infield is paying off. “The proof is in the pudding this year with the Olympic teams competing at Pimlico on Preakness Day,” he says. “This just illustrates how far we have come since changing the landscape in the Infield in 2009. What a big coup for us to have Phil Dalhausser and Todd Rogers here just two months prior to the London Games.”
The NVL played its first pro season in 2011, creating a new model for the sport by producing tournaments in conjunction with large scale consumer lifestyle events like the Preakness. This year, the NVL is scheduled to host six professional tournaments and 25 collegiate events in partnership with “King of the Beach” Sinjin Smith and his National Collegiate Sand Volleyball Association. NVL events are sanctioned by USA Volleyball and players who compete will receive a USA Volleyball national ranking.
“The National Volleyball League provides an important domestic platform for our experienced professional stars, and our elite development beach volleyball athletes,” said Dave Williams, USAV managing director for beach volleyball. “We are excited to see world-class athletes and compelling lifestyle events showcasing our sport.”