SoCal Beaches Magazine Blog

Misty May-Treanor and Nicole Branagh
Celebrate Win in May-Treanors Home Turf

Misti May Treanor send a spike over in Hermosa Beach

The womens AVP team of Misti May-Treanor and Nicole
Branagh bounced back from being knocked out in the semi
final round in Hermosa Beach the week before.

The pair secured a win over Annett Davis and Jenny
Johnson Jordan who are ranked third on the womens tour.

Nicole Branagh sends a shot across the net in Hermosa

May-Treanor, who won the NCAA volleyball championship
with Long Beach State in 1998, and Branagh earned their
second tour win of the season. May-Treanor is no stranger
to winning professionally in Long Beach, having won the
Long Beach Open in 2007 and 2008 with partner Kerri Walsh.

Misti May Treanor back on track with partner Nicole Branagh

May-Treanor and Branagh have been working on some
adjustments to their game, and they seemed to pay off this
weekend. May-Treanor moved to the left side, with Branagh
going to the right.

“It feels good. It puts a smile on our faces,” May-Treanor said.
“I went to school here and have a house in the city. I love this
city, the people, the fans. I love playing in front of a home crowd.”

On the mens side Phil Dalhausser and Todd Rogers continued
to dominate the 2010 AVP Mens Tour with a win over Sean Scott
and John Hyden. The 2 volleyball “Super hero’s” lost their first
game and then came back to win the second two  21-17, 15-6.

The Olympic gold medal champs remain unbeaten on the 2010 tour
aside from a tie coming due to weather in Florida at the beginning of
the season.

Check out the AVP website for upcoming tour dates around the
USA including Chicago 8/14-8/15 and the highlight tournament of
the year in Manhattan Beach 8/19-8/22 at www.AVP.com

SoCal Beaches Magazine

AVP Womens Star Rachel Wacholder Scott is Back
Better than Ever with Partner Elaine Youngs as a
Top Team on the Womens 2010 Volleyball Tour

Rachel Wacholder Scott attacks the net in Hermosa Beach

The AVP volleyball tour has its share of partnerships
and break ups and some are for trying new chemistry
and other times it is for starting a family.

Womens AVP star Rachel Wacholder took off a majority
of the 2009 tour to have a baby and start a family.

Rachel Scott is getting back in form on the 2010 AVP Tour

Coming back is always tough especially in one of the toughest
and most competitive volleyball leagues in the world especially
when you have to start with a new partner and establish a
chemistry for winning.

Elaine Youngs and Rachel Scott one of the top womens volleyball teams

Last week in Hermosa Beach Rachel and partner Elaine Youngs
made it to the finals and started showing that they will be one
of the top women teams on the AVP tour in 2010 and beyond.

Rachel Wacholder Scott

Rachel Scott, (formerly Rachel Wacholder) is married to AVP
mans pro Sean Scott and the pair both make sure that in addition
to being pros on the court they also spend a serious amount
of time working out and training off the court.

Rachel Scott - one of the sexiest women on the AVP Tour

Rachel Scott has always been known as one of the sexiest
women and swimsuit models on the AVP Tour and now
her fans and followers can expect to start seeing her on
the courts playing on Sundays as one of the top teams 
competing on the sand courts of Southern California.

Rachel Scott sends a spike over the net in Hermosa Beach

Rachels bio goes as follows:

Rachel Scott and Elaine Youngs having fun on the 2010 AVP tour

Scott and Elaine Youngs won three tournaments during the 2005
season: the Cincinnati Open, the Huntington Beach Open and the
Boulder Open. In winning the AVP Cincinnati Open, Scott and 
Youngs put a halt to the 50-match win streak held by Misty May-Treanor
and Kerri Walsh. The win in Boulder was special as well, as it happened
in her college town and on the same day her then-boyfriend Sean Scott
won the men’s title.

Rachel Scott in Hermosa Beach

 

 

 

 

In 2006, Scott and Youngs claimed two more titles before parting ways.
Playing with Jennifer Kessy, the duo made it to a pair of finals and four
semifinals in total. Scott was chosen by Walsh in the Goddess of the Beach
tournament in September 2006 to be her partner in the finals, helping Walsh
win her first individual title. In 2007, Scott and Tyra Turner paired up to form
the fourth-ranked team on tour.

 

Rachel Wacholder Scott

Scott and Turner advanced to five semifinals in 2008, including winning
the title in San Diego. Internationally the duo won two silver medals on
the FIVB Tour.  Scott missed most of the 2009 season due to her pregnancy.

Rachel Scott back at the top on the AVP tour

Check out more photos and coverage of Rachel Scott on the 2010 AVP Tour
on the SoCal Beaches Magazine website in addition to the AVP website
links below

www.socalbeachmag.net

www.avp.com

Rachel Scott digs a shot on the AVP tour

More Rachel Scott bio information at:
http://www.bvbinfo.com/player.asp?ID=1213 

Rachel Scott sends a serve over in Hermosa Beach

SoCal Beaches Magazine

Covering the Beaches of San Diego and Southern California! 

 

   

 

 

Rachel Scott sends a serve over in Hermosa Beach

SoCal Beaches Magazine

Covering the Beaches of San Diego and Southern California!   

 

 

 

  

2009 UCSD Longboard Luau - 16 Years of Surfing for Cancer Research - The initial count puts the 2009 total funds raised at $380,000

The 2009 UCSD Longboard Luau at Scripps Pier La Jolla

For the past 16 years, beachgoers have been invited to watch respected surfers, business leaders, community members and cancer survivors “surfing for a cure” at the annual Moores UCSD Cancer Center Luau & Longboard Invitational held at UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography. This year members of the general public had the opportunity to participate in the Longboard Invitational portion of the event which took place on Sunday, August 23.

“The Longboard Luau is a one-of-a-kind event that allows everyone to come together to share in the ‘aloha’ spirit and raise money for a good cause,” said event co-chair Jessica Yingling. “It’s one of the most successful surfing fundraisers in the world, and to date has raised more than $3 million for research at the Moores UCSD Cancer Center. By inviting more people to participate, we hope the event can be an even greater success.”

Legends of surfing history pose for a photo

The tournament took place at Scripps Pier in La Jolla beginning at 7:00 a.m. and continued for most of the morning. Teams competed for trophies, but the emphasis was not on skill level but rather participation and support for cancer research. Following the invitational, a ceremonial conch was blown at 11:30 a.m. to signal the beginning of the luau, which featured a sumptuous buffet, live music and traditional Polynesian dance presentations as well as live and silent auctions.

The ceremonial conch shell signaled the beginning of the Laua

Traditional Polynesian dancers from the 2009 UCSD Luau

In previous years, the surf teams were sponsored by companies and comprised of four team members selected by sponsors as well as a randomly selected surf “legend.” New this year, individuals interested in competing in the invitational could also earn a spot on a team—side-by-side with a surf legend—by fundraising through Active.com. Anyone interested in joining a team needed to commit to raising $2,500, which will earn them a coveted spot in the competition as well as two tickets to the Luau.

Surfers and surfing legends from the 2009 UCSD Luau

Surfers and surfing legends from the 2009 UCSD Longboard Luau

For more information on the event and participating in 2010 contact Moores UCSD Cancer Center at (858) 822-0023, or visit the event website at http://www.longboardluau.org or http://giving.ucsd.edu/newsAndEvents/luau.asp

The weather was perfect in La Jolla for the 2009 Longboard Luau event

The sunny La Jolla beaches were full of people and surfers for the event

One of the surfing legends rides a wave in before the photos

Another photo of surfers and surfing legends at the 2009 Longboard Luau

Perfect weather and great waves made for another succesful year

Dalhausser/Rogers Win at AVP Crocs Slam Bud Light Hermosa Beach Open presented by Virgin America

Win marks record fourth consecutive Hermosa Beach title

Todd Rogers Saves a Shot for Partner Phil Dalhausser

HERMOSA BEACH, Calif. (August 9, 2009) – Olympic gold medalists Phil Dalhausser and Todd Rogers won their unprecedented fourth consecutive AVP Crocs Slam Bud Light Hermosa Beach Open presented by Virgin America Sunday.

Top-seeded Dalhausser and Rogers beat second-seeded John Hyden and Sean Scott, 18-21, 21-15, 15-9, in the final. 

Down 7-6 in the third and deciding game, Dalhausser and Rogers went on a 5-0 run to get ahead for good.

Although they’ve now won five of the season’s 10 events, it’s been a relatively mediocre season for the duo, who won 11 of 15 AVP events and an Olympic gold medal last year. They hadn’t won on the AVP Crocs Tour since May. 

“What feels even better (than winning four straight) is getting back on the podium,” Dalhausser said.

Dalhausser/Rogers beat sixth-seeded Brad Keenan and Nick Lucena to make the final, and Hyden/Scott beat third-seeded Jake Gibb and Sean Rosenthal.

See below for more flash quotes on their win and Rogers playing with Shaquille O’Neal against two-time gold medalists Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh Sunday for a taping of “Shaq Vs.”

For more information on the AVP Crocs Tour, please visit www.avp.com.

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Hermosa Beach - Home of great beaches and the 2009 AVP Hermosa Beach Open

About AVP, Inc.:

AVP, Inc. is a leading lifestyle sports entertainment company focused on the production, marketing and distribution of professional beach volleyball events worldwide. One of the fastest growing entities in the sports world, the AVP operates two of the industry’s most prominent national outdoor touring series, the AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tour (1983) and the AVP Hot Winter Nights Indoor Tour (launched in 2008). The AVP is set to stage more than 35 events throughout the United States in 2009 and features more than 150 of the top men and women competitors in the sport. AVP athletes won both the women’s and men’s gold medals at the 2008 Games in Beijing, marking the first gold medal sweep by a single country in the history of Olympic Beach Volleyball. AVP is headquartered in Los Angeles, Calif. For more information, please visit www.avp.com.

LOS ANGELES, Calif. (August 8, 2009) – Elaine Youngs and Nicole Branagh captured the women’s title Saturday at the AVP Crocs Slam Bud Light Hermosa Beach Open presented by Virgin America, securing their seventh victory in 10 tournaments this season on the professional beach volleyball tour.

Youngs and Branagh, the top-seeded team, beat second-seeded Jennifer Kessy and April Ross, 19-21, 23-21, 15-11 in the final to win their second straight tournament. Kessy and Ross are the recently crowned world champions.

“Winning in Manhattan was a huge deal, and also Hermosa,” Branagh said. “This is where we train, so this is our home beach. Huntington, Manhattan and Hermosa – we won all three of those events, and I’m elated.”

Two-time Olympic gold medalist Kerri Walsh and partner Rachel Wacholder finished tied for fifth, both playing in their first tournament this year after sitting out most of the season to start families.

 The top-seeded men’s team of Phil Dalhausser and Todd Rogers moved on unscathed into the semifinals. After winning twice Friday, Dalhausser and Rogers beat eighth-seeded Ty Loomis and Casey Patterson, 21-17, 21-14 on Saturday morning. They toppled fourth-seeded Matt Olson and Kevin Wong, 21-19, 21-14 to advance to the semis. Dalhassuer and Rogers have won four times on tour this season and are aiming for an unprecedented fourth straight Hermosa Beach Open title. 

The men’s semifinals will be broadcast live Sunday on Universal Sports at 10:30 a.m. PDT, while the men’s final will be broadcast live on NBC Sports at 1:30 p.m. PDT.

Walsh’s fifth-place finish in the women’s draw marked the first time in 80 career AVP events that she hadn’t advanced to the semifinals. Walsh’s regular partner, Misty May-Treanor, with whom she’s partnered to win 99 events and two gold medals, is taking the entire 2009 season off from competition after suffering an Achilles’ tendon injury participating on the TV show “Dancing With the Stars.”

The AVP Crocs Slam Bud Light Hermosa Beach Open presented by Virgin America is taking place on the north side of the Hermosa Beach Pier in Hermosa Beach, Calif.

For more information on the AVP Crocs Tour, please visit www.avp.com.

Rachel Wacholder celebrated her fisrt match back with Kerry Walsh since both having babies

AVP on Facebook

Follow the AVP on Twitter

Visit the AVP on MySpace

About AVP, Inc.:

AVP, Inc. is a leading lifestyle sports entertainment company focused on the production, marketing and distribution of professional beach volleyball events worldwide. One of the fastest growing entities in the sports world, the AVP operates two of the industry’s most prominent national outdoor touring series, the AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tour (1983) and the AVP Hot Winter Nights Indoor Tour (launched in 2008). The AVP is set to stage more than 35 events throughout the United States in 2009 and features more than 150 of the top men and women competitors in the sport. AVP athletes won both the women’s and men’s gold medals at the 2008 Games in Beijing, marking the first gold medal sweep by a single country in the history of Olympic Beach Volleyball. AVP is headquartered in Los Angeles, Calif. For more information, please visit www.avp.com.

Branagh/Youngs, Gibb/Rosenthal Win at 53^rd

Manhattan Beach - the home of the AVP Pro Beach Volleyball

 

 

MANHATTAN BEACH, Calif. (July 19, 2009) – Beijing Olympians Nicole Branagh and Elaine Youngs won the AVP Crocs Slam Bud Light Manhattan Beach Open Sunday.

 

Reigning Olympic gold medalists Phil Dalhausser and Todd Rogers were foiled in their attempt to become the first team in nearly 25 years to win four straight Manhattan Beach titles. They lost in the semifinals to Matt Olson and Kevin Wong.

 

Elaine Youngs send a shot by Jenny Johnson-Jordan during the womens final match

 

Branagh/Youngs beat third-seeded Annett Davis and Jenny Johnson Jordan, 21-17, 21-14, to win the title. The win was Branagh and Youngs’ first as a team in Manhattan and sixth in the eight events they’ve played this year. The pair didn’t drop a game all weekend, and they gave up just 15.5 points per game over seven matches.

 

“I would say that in our sport, the Olympics and Manhattan Beach are the biggest wins,” Youngs said. “Getting a gold medal or your name on the pier is the highest you can go.”

 

Elaine Youngs and Nicole Branagh celebrate their victory with a check for $34,000

 

“Everyone wants to win in Manhattan Beach,” said Branagh, a first-time Manhattan Beach Open winner. “I’m so honored to have my name on the pier.”

 

Third seeds and Beijing Olympians Jake Gibb and Sean Rosenthal won the men’s title, 21-17, 23-21, over Olson and Wong, the fifth seed. It was Gibb and Rosenthal’s first Manhattan title as a team, although Gibb won in 2005 with Stein Metzger.

 

“This was the biggest win of our partnership, and my career, hands down,” Gibb said. “To have my name with his on the pier forever is amazing.”

 

Sean Rosenthal sends a shot past Matt Olson in the mens finals

 

“It’s so tough to win this tournament and everyone wants it,” Rosenthal, another first-time Manhattan Beach champion, said. “Jake and I played great today, and it’s great to celebrate with him.”

 

The AVP Crocs Slam Bud Light Manhattan Beach Open, as the world’s oldest continuous beach volleyball tournament, is the most sought-after title on Tour, and the 64-team main draw in this year’s event was the biggest ever on the AVP. Both men’s and women’s finals will be broadcast nationally on VERSUS Monday, July 27 at 7 p.m.

 

 

Jake Gibb and Sean Rosenthal celebrate their victory!

 

The AVP Crocs Tour continues August 6-9 in Hermosa Beach, Calif. For more information about the AVP, please visit www.avp.com.

 

 

Rosies Raiders cheer for their teams win in the mens finals

 See videos and more photos at

www.youtube.com/socalbeachesmagazine

www.socalbeachmag.net

www.myspace.com/socalbeachesmagazine 

 

 

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Rosies Raiders come onto the court to celebrate

 

About AVP, Inc.:

AVP, Inc. is a leading lifestyle sports entertainment company focused on the production, marketing and distribution of professional beach volleyball events worldwide. One of the fastest growing entities in the sports world, the AVP operates two of the industry’s most prominent national outdoor touring series, the AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tour (1983) and the AVP Hot Winter Nights Indoor Tour (launched in 2008). The AVP is set to stage more than 35 events throughout the United States in 2009 and features more than 150 of the top men and women competitors in the sport. AVP athletes won both the women’s and men’s gold medals at the 2008 Games in Beijing, marking the first gold medal sweep by a single country in the history of Olympic Beach Volleyball. AVP is headquartered in Los Angeles, Calif. For more information, please visit www.avp.com.

 

The AVP includes great fans of all ages!

2008 gold medalists Dalhausser/Rogers finish third

Gold Medalists Dalhausser and Rogers Claim Fourth Victory of 2009 at AVP Crocs Tour Huntington Beach Open
Presented by Bud Light

The 2009 AVP Huntington Beach Open

 HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. (May 24, 2009) - Phil Dalhausser and Todd Rogers, reigning beach volleyball gold medalists, won the AVP Crocs Tour Huntington Beach Open Sunday.
 
Dalhausser and Rogers, the top seeds, beat second-seeded Jake Gibb and Sean Rosenthal, 22-20, 21-17, to win their fourth title in five events this season.
 
Facing game point in the first game, down 20-19, the notoriously stoic Dalhausser and Rogers calmly sided out to tie the game at 20, when Dalhausser took over - a block and an ace later, they were up 1-0 in the match.
 
“We were able to get the points and come back,” Rogers said.
 
Dalhausser and Rogers got ahead 5-2 in the second game, and except a short Gibb/Rosenthal rally that momentarily tied the score at 13, they stayed ahead. 

Phil Dalhausser prepares to send down a spike in Huntington Beach

 Top-seeded Nicole Branagh and Elaine Youngs beat second-seeded Jen Kessy and April Ross, 21-19, 21-17, to win the women’s title.

Down 12-10 in game one, they went on a 7-1 run to stay ahead for good. In game two, they forged an early lead and retained it throughout, pulling away on a Branagh ace at 14-12.

This tournament win solidifies the answer to the off-season question of who would replace the team of injured Misty May-Treanor and new mother Kerri Walsh atop the women’s field. Branagh and Youngs have now won four of five tournaments this year and have a match record of 25-1.

Youngs said: “Being the top dog is something I’m enjoying.”

About AVP, Inc.:
AVP, Inc. is a leading lifestyle sports entertainment company focused on the production, marketing and distribution of professional beach volleyball events worldwide. One of the fastest growing entities in the sports world, the AVP operates two of the industry’s most prominent national outdoor touring series, the AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tour (1983) and the AVP Hot Winter Nights Indoor Tour (launched in 2008). The AVP is set to stage more than 35 events throughout the United States in 2009 and features more than 150 of the top men and women competitors in the sport. AVP athletes won both the women’s and men’s gold medals at the 2008 Games in Beijing, marking the first gold medal sweep by a single country in the history of Olympic Beach Volleyball. AVP is headquartered in Los Angeles, Calif. For more information, please visit www.avp.com  

Elaine Youngs send a shot across net and advanced the the finals match

Men’s Main Draw Tournament Results (Sunday, May 24)

Contender’s Bracket, fourth round (losers eliminated, place fifth, split $6,240)

John Hyden, Sherman Oaks, Calif. / Sean Scott, Redondo Beach, Calif. (No. 3-seeded Main Draw team) d. John Mayer, Thousand Oaks, Calif. / Jeff Nygaard, Long Beach, Calif. (4), 21-16, 21-19 (48 minutes);

Matt Olson, Carlsbad, Calif. / Kevin Wong, Honolulu (6) d. Ty Loomis, Corona Del Mar, Calif. / Casey Patterson, Huntington Beach, Calif. (12), 21-17, 21-17 (:49).

Semifinals (losers eliminated, place third, split $10,200)

Phil Dalhausser, Santa Barbara, Calif. / Todd Rogers, Solvang, Calif. (1) d. Hyden / Scott (3), 21-17, 21-14 (:43);

Jake Gibb, Costa Mesa, Calif. / Sean Rosenthal, Corona Del Mar, Calif. (2) d. Olson / Wong (6), 22-24, 21-14, 15-13 (1:09). 

Championship (winners split $24,000; losers place second, split $18,000)

Dalhausser / Rogers (1) d. Gibb / Rosenthal (2), 22-20, 21-17 (:59).

Anthony Medel winds up to send a shot across the net in Huntington Beach

A young AVP Fan

Catch the AVP Events on Live Streaming Video at
www.AVP.com

Super sexy swimsuit model and former AVP Player Kelli Tennant hosts the live streaming video casts

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Huntington Beach California

Beach Volleyball Legend to End Career on the Sand, Effective Immediately

Holly McPeak sends a shot across the net at her last tour event in San Diego at Harrah

LOS ANGELES, May 6, 2009 – Holly McPeak, living beach volleyball legend, is hanging up her bikini…for good. McPeak will retire from AVP Crocs Tour, effective immediately, it was announced today.

McPeak is one of the most celebrated and decorated professional beach volleyball players in history. She represented the United States in three consecutive Olympic Games, competing in beach volleyball in 1996, 2000, and 2004, where she claimed the bronze medal with then-partner Elaine Young, marking the first medal for U.S. women. Domestically, McPeak held the record for most career wins from June 6, 2004 until May 20, 2007 (72), when her record was broken by Misty May-Treanor. She now stands third on the all-time list behind May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh. In 2002, she became the first woman worldwide to surpass $1 million in career earnings on both the domestic and international tours. 

McPeak finished in ninth place last weekend at the AVP Crocs Tour San Diego in what would be her last event, playing with Jenny Kropp. 

Reactions from fellow athletes and the AVP are below: 

“As a beach volleyball player, it doesn’t get much better than having played with Holly. Without Holly taking a chance on a rookie (me) I wouldn’t be in the position I am today,” said Misty May-Treanor, two-time Olympic gold medalist and AVP Crocs Tour star. “I want to thank her for laying the foundation not only for me but for all the young women that will come after. She is a mentor, competitor, and friend who has taught me that with discipline and hard work anything is possible. Thanks, Holly, for all of the tremendous years you gave to the sport of beach volleyball. I enjoyed our journey together.” 

 “I could go on and on about how much I respect and admire Holly,” said Kerri Walsh, two-time Olympic gold medalist and AVP Crocs Tour star. “She’s had an amazing career to say the very least, and helped pioneer the sport for us ladies. She has never ever let anyone or anything stand in the way of her hopes and dreams. Holly will go down in history as one of the world’s best and I am personally very grateful to have had her to help motivate, inspire and push me to be the best I could and can be. She will be missed but she will undoubtedly continue to help shape the future of the sport.” 

Holly McPeak in Huntington Beach

“Holly has had a tremendous influence on beach volleyball, inspiring countless players and fans for so many years, being such a great ambassador for the game,” said Olympic gold medalist Karch Kiraly. “Beach volleyball won’t be the same without this living legend, but her legacy will live long and run deep through the sport.”

“There will never be another Holly McPeak,” said Todd Rogers, 2008 Olympic gold medalist and AVP Crocs Tour star. “Her tenacity on defense is unrivaled and her skill set in the sport is second to none. I will miss watching her play but wish her the best in all her endeavors.” 

“Everyone around here is really going to miss Holly,” said Phil Dalhausser, 2008 Olympic gold medalist and AVP Crocs Tour star. “She’s been a part of the sport for so long and has had such an impact on the game. You can’t replace that sort of influence.”

“Winning the bronze medal in Athens with Holly was a highlight of my career and an overwhelming accomplishment for us, our country, and our sport,” said Elaine Youngs, McPeak’s former partner. “I’m very grateful for the years Holly and I spent playing together.”

 “Coaching Holly and Elaine to their bronze-medal victory in Athens was such a special moment,” said Liz Masakayan, McPeak’s former coach. “Holly has worked so hard to be one of the most successful and well-known players in our sport, and her presence on tour will be greatly missed.”

 “Holly will not only go down as one of the greatest players of all time, but as one of the game’s greatest ambassadors,” said Chris “Geeter” McGee, longtime AVP emcee. “Her passion, competitive fire, work ethic and true love of the game will be missed. It has been an honor watching as a fan, announcing as an emcee and working side-by-side with her as a broadcaster. Holly and Leonard (Armato) together brought a shared vision to help bring this sport to new heights. I will miss my friend on the court but look forward to working with her on the sand calling games for many years. She is a great friend who has been an inspiration and mentor to so many of us. We will all miss watching ‘The Little Engine That Could’.”

 From everyone at the AVP, we will miss one of the great ambassadors for the sport of beach volleyball.   She is irreplaceable on the court and off.  She will be deeply missed and we at the AVP wish her all the best. 

About AVP, Inc.:

AVP, Inc. is a leading lifestyle sports entertainment company focused on the production, marketing and distribution of professional beach volleyball events worldwide. One of the fastest growing entities in the sports world, the AVP operates two of the industry’s most prominent national outdoor touring series, the AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tour (1983) and the AVP Hot Winter Nights Indoor Tour (launched in 2008). The AVP is set to stage more than 35 events throughout the United States in 2009 and features more than 150 of the top men and women competitors in the sport. AVP athletes won both the women’s and men’s gold medals at the 2008 Games in Beijing, marking the first gold medal sweep by a single country in the history of Olympic Beach Volleyball. AVP is headquartered in Los Angeles, Calif. For more information, please visit www.avp.com

2009 San Diego AVP Photos and Video click here 

Pro Beach Volleyball is one of the most popular sports on the beaches of San Diego, Orange County and Los Angeles and Manhattan Beach resident Jenny Kropp has been voted the sexiest swimsuit model on the AVP Tour for 2009

AVP Tour Pro Jenny Kropp in San Diego

Pro Beach Volleyball is one of the most popular sports on the beaches of San Diego, Orange County and Los Angeles and Manhattan Beach resident Jenny Kropp has been voted the sexiest swimsuit model on the AVP Tour for 2009 by the staff of SoCal Beaches Magazine

When it comes to beach volleyball in Southern California there is a lot that comes to mind namely incredibly skilled athletes, great beach venues and of course beautiful women in swimsuits wearing next nothing playing the game.

The AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tour has seen its share of sex symbol players who have graced the courts over the past years including Holly Mc Peak, Suzanne Stonebarger, Rachel Wacholder and a brief stint in Huntington Beach in 2008 with celebrity host Maria Menounos.

As the 2009 AVP Tour hits the beaches of Southern California a new up and coming swimsuit model is showcasing her volleyball skills on the courts of Huntington Beach, Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach and that is a six foot two inch beauty named Jenny Kropp.

The six foot two inch Kropp is a force at the net for opponets

Jenny Kropp has been named “The Sexiest Swimsuit Bikini Model Athlete on the 2009 AVP Tour” by SoCal Beaches Magazine, which covers the AVP Tour events in Southern California.

Kropp played in two qualifiers in 2006, then trained with Jen Pavley and Heather Lowe prior to the 2007 season. She successfully advanced from the first two qualifiers and has been in the main draw ever since.

Kropp was the recipient of the 2007 AVP Crocs Tour Rookie of the Year award. She advanced to her first Final Four in Chicago after she and Pavley upset four top-10 teams en route to a third-place finish. She ended the season ranked third in blocks (1.15 per game).

Kropp was a middle blocker on Nebraska’s undefeated team of 2000, with her coach labeling her the “heart of the team.” She was a second-team All-American in 2001 as a senior, and twice was a first-team all-Region selection. She began playing volleyball when she was in seventh grade. Following graduation from NU, she played professionally in Puerto Rico.

The AVP showcases the sexiness of the sport and for good reason since many of the athletes also make a part time income from modeling as well and large media companies like the AP know that “sex sells”.

So as the 2009 AVP season gets started on its Southern California Tour be ready for large crowds of photographers to start gathering around the courts where Jenny Kropp and veteran partner Holly McPeak are playing. This blonde bikini model is not only sexy but also a great volleyball player who is partner to the third best female player in the history of pro beach volleyball giving her a chance for her best AVP season yet.

With Rachel Wacholder taking the 2009 AVP Tour off for having her first baby there is a new sexy volleyball athlete and bikini model ready to take over the crown as the sexiest female player on the courts and that is Manhattan Beach resident Jenny Kropp.

Jenny Kropp includes grace, athletic talent and beauty on the 2009 AVP Tour

See the 2009 AVP Tour dates on the AVP website at www.avp.com

To see photos swimsuit bikini model and AVP Tour pro Jenny Kropp visit the SoCal Beaches Magazine website at www.SoCalBeachMag.net or visit the link at the bottom of this article to go right to the Jenny Kropp photos page.

For more information:
Check out the hottest swimsuit and bikini models on San Diego and Southern California beaches including more photos of Jenny Kropp visit the SoCal Beaches Magazine website link below: http://www.socalbeachmag.net/swimsuitmodelshoots/avpmodeljennykropp.html

Jenny Kropp, with partner Holly Mc Peak, hopes to have her best AVP Tour yet in 2009

http://www.free-press-release.com/news/200905/1241642950.html