Pro beach volleyball to return to Pacific Northwest for AVP Seattle Open August 6-9

The AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tour (www.avp.com) will make its return to the Seattle area for the first time in a quarter-century for the AVP Seattle Open, the third of seven events on the 2015 AVP Tour. Olympic stars and local standouts will compete for $150,000 in prize money at Lake Sammamish State Park in Issaquah, Wash. The action begins with an open qualifying tournament on Thursday, August 6, followed by main-draw play Friday, August 7-Sunday, August 9.

The event is expected to showcase stars like three-time Olympic gold medalist Kerri Walsh Jennings, gold medalists Phil Dalhausser and Todd Rogers, silver medalists April Ross and Jennifer Kessy, and Olympians Sean Rosenthal, Jake Gibb and Nicole Branagh.

General admission is free, VIP seating packages are available for purchase, and the high-energy atmosphere includes great music, four courts of world-class volleyball action and plenty of interactive activities.

Men’s and women’s semifinals and finals take place Sunday, Aug. 9 from 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Finals will be broadcast live nationally on NBC from 1:30-3 p.m. PT (all times approximate and subject to change. Check www.avp.com for the latest information).

Local hopefuls can earn entry into the competition through an open qualifying tournament, which will be held Thursday, August 6. The women’s open qualifier on Aug. 6 will be held at:
Bottega Beach Training Center
16720 Highway 9
Snohomish, WA 98296

Men’s and women’s beach volleyball stars expected to compete include:
• AVP top-ranked women’s duo Kerri Walsh Jennings (three-time Olympic gold medalist) and partner April Ross (2012 Olympic silver medalist). Walsh Jennings and Ross won all seven tournaments on the AVP’s 2014 schedule.
• Men’s Olympians Phil Dalhausser (2008 Olympic gold medalist) and partner Sean Rosenthal (two-time Olympian).
• Jake Gibb (two-time Olympian) and partner Casey Patterson. The duo won four of the AVP’s seven tournaments last season.
• Todd Rogers (2008 Olympic gold medalist).
• Jennifer Kessy (2012 Olympic silver medalist)
• AVP up-and-comers and 2016 Olympic hopefuls Emily Day, Summer Ross (University of Washington), Lane Carico, Tri Bourne and more.
• Eugene, Ore. native and University of Oregon graduate Derek Olson, a veteran pro beach volleyball player now living in San Diego.
• Eastern Washington University two-sport athlete and four-time Big Sky all-academic selection at Janelle (Ruen) Allen.