Mark Fay Photo: MPVA

Allan Briley Photo: MPVA

John Vestal Photo: MPVA

Deanne Johnson Photo: Stan Liu

The Muskegon event is the third of eight stops on the Association of Volleyball Professionals (AVP) Tour.  The Sunkist Open at Muskegon starts Friday (at 9 a.m. (EDT) on eight sand courts at Pere Marquette Park with Round 3 of the men's competition and Round 2 for the women.

Friday's Qualification Tournament will determine the final four berths in both the 24-team Main Draws for men and women.  The first 72 Main Draw matches (36 matches per gender) will be played Saturday starting at 9 a.m.  Sunday's competition starts at 8 a.m. with the final 20 matches being played (10 matches per gender).

The final matches will begin approximately at 1 p.m. Sunday.  Brighton Entertainment of New York, N. Y., will be taping The Sunkist Open at Muskegon action for replay July 23 on FOX Sports Net.  The 2001 AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tour season opened with a pair of events in Southern California last month with a combined men's and women's event in Hermosa Beach (June 8-10) and a men's tournament in Huntington Beach (June 15-17).

Headlining the 33-team men's Qualification Tournament is Mark Fay, who won a Michigan Professional Volleyball Association (MPVA) event here last weekend.  A residence of Grandville, Mich., Fay will be teamed with Jim VanZwieten of Pompano Beach, Fla., as the 15th-seeded team.

MPVA General Manager Rick Rykse worked with the AVP Management to help seed the tournament that includes 16 teams from the Midwestern pro league.  Allan Briley (Harrison Township, Mich.) and John Vestal (Clinton Township, Mich.), who are seeded 17th, are the top-rated MPVA team in the single-elimination Qualification Tournament.  Deanne Johnson and Barbara Nyland, a pair of pro beach veterans from San Diego, Calif., are the top-seeded team in the women's qualifier.

The men's Main Draw competition will feature Dain Blanton and Eric Fonoimoana, the Gold Medallists at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.  Blanton and Fonoimoana have competed the past four weeks in Europe and will return to Muskegon for their only July domestic event.

Blanton and Fonoimoana placed second in the 2001 AVP season opener in Hermosa.  Other top men's team entered in The Sunkist Open at Muskegon are Canyon Ceman/Mike Whitmarsh, Nick Hannemann/Adam Jewell, Scott Ayakatubby/Eduardo Bacil and Brent Doble/Lee LeGrande.

Ayakatubby, who is returning to the AVP Tour after being sidelined much of the past four seasons with injuries, and Bacil won the Huntington Beach title after upsetting Ceman and Whitmarsh in the finals.  Hannemann and Jewell placed third in Huntington.  Whitmarsh, who captured the Silver Medal with Mike Dodd at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games, is the AVP's reigning "King of the Beach" after winning the crown last October in Las Vegas.

The teams of Lisa Arce/Holly McPeak and Barbra Fontana/Elaine Youngs will be the top two tandems in the women's competition.  Arce and McPeak defeated Fontana and Youngs in the Hermosa Beach finale.  Both teams have spent the last month in Europe where Youngs and Fontana won the Italian Open (June 17 at Cagliari) and placed second in Switzerland (June 23 at Gstaad) and the Canary Islands (July 8 at Gran Canaria).

Arce and McPeak placed fifth in all three FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour events.  McPeak has won more money ($748,805) than any American woman in pro beach history.  McPeak ranks second in career wins (56) among United States women as she has teamed with Arce to win 15 pro beach titles together.

Association of Volleyball Professionals
The Sunkist Open at Muskegon
July 13, 2001 at Pere Marquette Park, Muskegon, Mich., Revised July 12, 2001, 5:59 PM

Men's Qualification Tournament Schedule

Qualifying First-round (losers eliminated, place 53rd)
· John Johnson, not available/Sean Malone, Fishers, Ind. (No. 32-seeded Qualification Tournament Team) vs. Neil Ferreri, Columbus, Ohio/Ben Wendt, Galloway, Ohio (33).

Qualifying Second-round (losers eliminated, place 37th)
· Jacob Elliott, Georgetown, S. C./Brian Soldano, Freehold, N. J. vs. Ferreri/Wendt (32) / Johnson/Malone (33) winner;
· Dale Davis, Austin, Tex./Tim Wooliver, Austin, Tex. (No. 16-seeded Qualification Tournament Team) vs Allan Briley, Harrison Township, Mich./John Vestal, Clinton Township, Mich. (17);
· Mike Daniel, Pleasant Grove, Utah/Jacob Gibb, Salt Lake City, Utah (9) vs. Scott Lauer, Fort Wayne, Ind./Brad Prieditis, Holland, Mich. (24);
· Jack Quinn, Venice, Calif./Matthew Sokolowski, Redondo, Mich. (8) vs. Doug Kluga, Saint John, Ind./Pete Weiand, Lowell, Ind. (25);
· Tom Black, Reseda, Calif./Andrew Vasquez, Manhattan Beach, Calif. (5) vs. Alan Pavlovich, Detroit, Mich./Doug Shaffer, Rossford, Ohio (28);
· Santana Aker, Muskegon, Mich./Gary Barnes, Phoenix, Ariz. (12) vs. David Chapman, Hillard, Ohio/Jayson Oliver, Perrysburg, Ohio (21);
· Brian Duff, Rochester, N. Y./Jeff Smith, San Diego, Calif. (13) vs. Dave Hall, Grand Rapids, Mich./Dana Woodson, Toledo, Ohio (20);
· Sean Burke, Ocean Beach, Calif./Elvis Rodriquez, not available (4) vs. Justin Kellogg, Grand Haven, Mich./Dave Rawles, Grand Haven, Mich. (29);
· Mike Emory, not available/Jim Walls, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (3) vs. Denton Bobeldyk, Wyoming, Mich./John Richter, Cleveland, Ohio (30);
· Christian Flaherty, Strongsville, Ohio/Keith Huber, Mentor, Ohio (14) vs. Mark Gill, Flat Rock, Mich./Jamie Reynolds, Royal Oak, Mich. (19);
· Morgan Mainz, Santa Barbara, Calif./Dancer Styles, Sausalito, Calif. (11) vs. Jeff Jones, Mason, Mich./Gale Wilson, Holt, Mich. (22);
· Scott Hill, Los Angeles, Calif./Tom Slauterbeck, Santa Monica, Calif. (6) vs. Chad Winterhalter, Grandville, Mich./Zach Winterhalter, Grandville, Mich. (27);
· Jason Greenlaw, Torrance, Calif./Anthony Mihalic, Belmar, N. J. (7) vs. Greg Lehman, Galena, Ohio/Michael Schroeder, Fairborn, Ohio (26);
· Shawn Garrus, Colorado Springs, Colo./Chad Turner, Clearwater Beach, Fla. (10) vs. Bryan Marshall, Kettering, Ohio/Jim Vanderwal, Muskegon, Mich. (23);
· Mark Fay, Grandville, Mich./Jim VanZwieten, Pompano Beach, Fla. (15) vs. David Dipierro, Pompano Beach, Fla./Mike Dipierro, Pompano Beach, Fla. (18);
· Anthony Medel, Santa Barbara, Calif./John Moran, Phoenix, Ariz. (2) vs. Gary Freed, Grand Haven, Mich./Marc Schultz, Grand Rapids, Mich. (31).

Qualifying Third-round (losers eliminated, place 29th)
· Elliott/Soldano (1), Ferreri/Wendt (32) or Johnson/Malone (33) winner vs. Davis/Wooliver (16) / D. Dipierro/M. Dipierro (17) winner;
· Daniel/Gibb (9) / Lauer/Prieditis (24) winner vs. J. Quinn/Sokolowski (8) / Kluga/Weiand (25) winner;
· Black/Vasquez (5) / Pavlovich/Shaffer (28) winner vs. Aker/Barnes (12) / Chapman/Oliver (21) winner;
· Duff/J. Smith (13) / Hall/Woodson (20) winner vs. Burke/Rodriquez (4) / Kellogg/Rawles(29) winner;
· Emory/Walls (3) / Bobeldyk/Richter (30) vs. Flaherty/Huber (14) / Gill/Reynolds (19) winner;
· Mainz/Styles (11) v/ Jones/Wilson (22) winner vs. Hill/Slauterbeck (6) / C. Winterhalter/Z. Winterhalter (27) winner;
· Greenlaw/Mihalic (7) / Lehman/Schroeder (26) winner vs. Garrus/Turner (10) / Marshall/Vanderwal (23) winner;
· Fay/VanZwieten (15) / Briley/Vestal (18) winner vs. Medel//Moran (2) / Freed/Schultz (31) winner.

Qualifying Fourth-round (winners advance to Saturday's Main Draw, losers eliminated, place 25th)
· Third-round winners.

Women's Qualification Tournament Schedule

Qualifying First-round (losers eliminated, place 29th)
· Jeanette Simonsen, Chicago, Ill./Stacey Wanshek, Glen Ellyn, Ill. (No. 8-seeded Qualification Tournament Team) vs. Adria Ciraco, New York, N. Y./Beth Kennedy, New York, N. Y. (9);
· Karen Helyer, San Diego, Calif.Karen Reitz, San Diego, Calif. (5) vs. Angie Robbins, Mishawaka, Ind./Lorelee Smith, Mishawaka, Ind. (12);
· Jill Changaris, Woodland Hills, Calif./Alicia Zamparelli, Redondo Beach, Calif. (6) vs. Stephanie Flaherty, Strongville, Ohio/Susan Zimmerman, Amherst, Ohio (11);
· Arcadia Berjonneau, Hermosa Beach, Calif./Rhonda Kottke, Manhattan Beach, Calif. (7) vs. Katherine Fay, Grandville, Mich./Lori Janssen, Hudsonville, Mich. (10).

Qualifying Second-round (losers eliminated, place 25th)
· Deanne Johnson, San Diego, Calif./Barbara Nyland, San Diego, Calif. (1) vs. Simonsen/Wanshek (8) / Ciraco/Kennedy (9) winner;
· April Chapple Zanella, Beverly Hills, Calif./Suzie Turner, San Diego, Calif. (4) vs. Helyer/Reitz (5) / Robbins/Smith (12) winner;
· Kerri Eich, Santa Monica, Calif./Catie Fliesher, Culver City, Calif. (3) vs. Changaris/Zamparelli (6) / Flaherty/Zaimmerman (11) winner;
· Nicole Audette, Valencia, Calif./Lisa Marshall, Londonville, Ohio. (2) vs. Berjonneau/Kottke (7) / Fay/Janssen (10) winner.

Women's Main Draw Entries

· Barbra Fontana, Manhattan Beach, Calif./Elaine Youngs, Encinitas, Calif.
· Lisa Arce, Redondo Beach, Calif./Holly McPeak, Manhattan Beach, Calif
· Linda Hanley, Pacific Palisades, Calif./Sarah Straton, Hermosa Beach, Calif.
· Stephanie Cox, Mission Viejo, Calif./Katy Eldridge, Playa del Rey, Calif.
· Carrie Busch, Hermosa Beach, Calif./Rachel Wacholder, Hermosa Beach, Calif.
· Danalee Bragado, Honolulu, Hi./Ali Wood, Long Beach, Calif.
· Liz Masakayan, San Diego, Calif./Cary Wendell, Menlo Park, Calif.
· Diane DeNecochea, La Jolla, Calif./Wendy Stammer, Portland, Ore.
· Marsha Miller, Santa Monica, Calif./Lia Young, Honolulu, Hi
· Jennifer Meredith, Manhattan Beach, Calif./Jen Pavley, Agoura Hills, Calif.
· Angie Kammer, Westlake Village, Calif./Jennifer Kessy, San Diego, Calif.
· Marla O'Hara, Agoura Hills, Calif./Kristen Schritter, San Diego, Calif.
· Heather Lowe, Redondo Beach, Calif./Carrie Wright, Chula Vista, Calif.
· Daven Casad, Montecito, Calif./Kim Zuffelato, Santa Barbara, Calif.
· Michelle Morse, Redondo Beach, Calif./Liz Pagano, San Diego, Calif.
· Katie Lindquist, Fountain Valley, Calif./Tracy Lindquist, Fountain Valley, Calif.
· Pat Keller, Cardiff, Calif./Lynda Street, Juptier, Fla.
· Mary Baily, Calabasas, Calif./Helen Reale, Los Angeles, Calif.
· Anne McArthur, Los Angeles, Calif./Sarah White, Venice, Calif.
· Erin Galli, San Diego, Calif./Chris Podraza, Hilliard, Ohio

Women's Qualification Tournament Seedings

1. Deanne Johnson, San Diego, Calif./Barbara Nyland, San Diego, Calif.
2. Nicole Audette, Valencia, Calif./Lisa Marshall, Londonville, Ohio.
3. Kerri Eich, Santa Monica, Calif./Catie Fliesher, Culver City, Calif.
4. April Chapple Zanella, Beverly Hills, Calif./Suzie Turner, San Diego, Calif.
5. Karen Helyer, San Diego, Calif.Karen Reitz, San Diego, Calif.
6. Jill Changaris, Woodland Hills, Calif./Alicia Zamparelli, Redondo Beach, Calif.
7. Arcadia Berjonneau, Hermosa Beach, Calif./Rhonda Kottke, Manhattan Beach, Calif.
8. Jeanette Simonsen, Chicago, Ill./Stacey Wanshek, Glen Ellyn, Ill.
9. Adria Ciraco, New York, N. Y./Beth Kennedy, New York, N. Y.
10. Katherine Fay, Grandville, Mich./Lori Janssen, Hudsonville, Mich.
11. Stephanie Flaherty, Strongville, Ohio/Susan Zimmerman, Amherst, Ohio
12. Angie Robbins, Mishawaka, Ind./Lorelee Smith, Mishawaka, Ind.

Men's Main Draw Entires

· Dain Blanton, Laguna Beach, Calif./Eric Fonoimoana, Hermosa Beach, Calif.
· Canyon Ceman, Manhattan Beach, Calif./Mike Whitmarsh, San Diego, Calif.
· Nick Hannemann, Hermosa Beach, Calif./Adam Jewell, San Juan Capistrano, Calif.
· Scott Akayatubby, Hermosa Beach, Calif./ Eduardo Bacil, El Segundo, Calif.
· Brent Doble, St. Paul, Minn./ Lee LeGrande, Honolulu, Hi.
· Albert Hannemann, Torrance, Calif./Sean Scott, Kailua, Hi.
· Aaron Boss, Oak Park, Calif./Collin Smith, Hermosa Beach, Calif.
· Brent Frohoff, Redondo Beach, Calif./David Swatik, Manhattan Beach, Calif.
· Scott Davenport, Redondo Beach, Calif./Jeff Nygaard, Madison, Wis.
· Eddie Stokes, Redondo Beach, Calif./Brad Torsone, Hermosa Beach, Calif.
· John Anselmo, Manhattan Beach, Calif./David Smith, Venice, Caif.
· Paul Baxter, Columbia Heights, Minn./Jason Ring, Bend, Ore.
· Daniel Cardenas, Los Angeles, Calif./Jim Nichols, Encinitas, Calif.
· Casey Jennings, Huntington Beach, Calif./Scott Lane, Las Vegas, Nev.
· Pepe Delahoz, San Diego, Calif./Chad Mowrey, Redondo, Calif.
· David Fischer, Hermosa Beach, Calif./Jerry Graham, Playa del Rey, Calif.
· Adam Roberts, Myrtle Beach, S. C./Colin Wellman, Los Angeles, Calif.
· Mark Paaluhi, Honolulu, Hi./Leland Quinn, Redondo Beach, Calif.
· Matt Fuerbringer, Costa Mesa, Calif./Matt Lyles, Los Gatos, Calif.
· Chris Makos, Costa Mesa, Calif./Alika Williams, Santa Barbara, Calif.

Men's Qualification Tournament Seedings

1. Jacob Elliott, Georgetown, S. C./Brian Soldano, Freehold, N. J.
2. Anthony Medel, Santa Barbara, Calif./John Moran, Phoenix, Ariz.
3. Mike Emory, not available/Jim Walls, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
4. Sean Burke, Ocean Beach, Calif./Elvis Rodriquez, not available
5. Tom Black, Reseda, Calif./Andrew Vasquez, Manhattan Beach, Calif.
6. Scott Hill, Los Angeles, Calif./Tom Slauterbeck, Santa Monica, Calif.
7. Jason Greenlaw, Torrance, Calif./Anthony Mihalic, Belmar, N. J.
8. Jack Quinn, Venice, Calif./Matthew Sokolowski, Redondo, Mich.
9. Mike Daniel, Pleasant Grove, Utah/Jacob Gibb, Salt Lake City, Utah
10. Shawn Garrus, Colorado Springs, Colo./Chad Turner, Clearwater Beach, Fla.
11. Morgan Mainz, Santa Barbara, Calif./Dancer Styles, Sausalito, Calif.
12. Santana Aker, Muskegon, Mich./Gary Barnes, Phoenix, Ariz.
13. Brian Duff, Rochester, N. Y./Jeff Smith, San Diego, Calif.
14. Christian Flaherty, Strongsville, Ohio/Keith Huber, Mentor, Ohio
15. Mark Fay, Grandville, Mich./Jim VanZwieten, Pompano Beach, Fla.
16. Dale Davis, Austin, Tex./Tim Wooliver, Austin, Tex.
17. Allan Briley, Harrison Township, Mich./John Vestal, Clinton Township, Mich.
18. David Dipierro, Pompano Beach, Fla./Mike Dipierro, Pompano Beach, Fla.
19. Mark Gill, Flat Rock, Mich./Jamie Reynolds, Royal Oak, Mich.
20. Dave Hall, Grand Rapids, Mich./Dana Woodson, Toledo, Ohio
21. David Chapman, Hillard, Ohio/Jayson Oliver, Perrysburg, Ohio
22. Jeff Jones, Mason, Mich./Gale Wilson, Holt, Mich.
23. Bryan Marshall, Kettering, Ohio/Jim Vanderwal, Muskegon, Mich.
24. Scott Lauer, Fort Wayne, Ind./Brad Prieditis, Holland, Mich.
25. Doug Kluga, Saint John, Ind./Pete Weiand, Lowell, Ind.
26. Greg Lehman, Galena, Ohio/Michael Schroeder, Fairborn, Ohio
27. Chad Winterhalter, Grandville, Mich./Zach Winterhalter, Grandville, Mich.
28. Alan Pavlovich, Detroit, Mich./Doug Shaffer, Rossford, Ohio
29. Justin Kellogg, Grand Haven, Mich./Dave Rawles, Grand Haven, Mich.
30. Denton Bobeldyk, Wyoming, Mich./John Richter, Cleveland, Ohio
31. Gary Freed, Grand Haven, Mich./Marc Schultz, Grand Rapids, Mich.
32. John Johnson, not available/Sean Malone, Fishers, Ind.
33. Neil Ferreri, Columbus, Ohio/Ben Wendt, Galloway, Ohio

PUBLIC RELATIONS - The Robbins Group handles the public relations' duties for the AVP Tour (Marcia Robbins, Debbie Rubio and Ann Victor, 818/776-1244, drubio@robbinsgrp.com).  PRESS OPERATIONS - Tim Simmons (303/678-8484; e-mail bfishinc@aol.com), Dominic Clark (702/735-7123, dominiccnv@aol.com) and Doug Strauss (303/306-7543, statzman@hotmail.com) are the Press Information Officers for the AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tour.  The AVP Press Operations staff is headquartered at the Best Western Park Plaza in Muskegon (231-733-2651, Room 424).  The on-site telephone number at Pere Marquette Park is 231/759-2532.        

~Tim Simmons