U.S. Open returns to area

Following a one year hiatus, the Association of Volleyball

Professionals (AVP) returns to Seal Beach for the Paul Mitchell AVP U.S.

Open on Aug. 18-20.

The double elimination tournament is the 10th event of a 12-stop AVP

tour.

Competition begins daily at 9 a.m., with beach volleyball’s top

athletes competing for a prize purse of $75,000, and a spot in Sunday’s

final, scheduled for 4 p.m. Admission is free.

Headlining the competitors are AVP veterans Karch Kiraly, Adam

Johnson, and Huntington Beach’s own, Brian Lewis. Also featured are

rising AVP stars Canyon Ceman, champion of the 2000 Huntington Beach

Open, and Stein Metzger, a two-time All-American at UCLA.

In addition, the Sunkist AVP Youth Tour will take place right next to

the pro event on Sunday, Aug. 20.

The AVP, in a continuing effort to promote the sport of beach

volleyball, has also organized a free instructional clinic for all you

participants Friday, Aug. 18. AVP stars David Swatik (1999 King of the Beach), Lee LeGrande (2000 Sunkist AVP Tournament of Champions winner),

and Albert Hannemann, will lead the clinic, which will be held at center

court near the Seal Beach Pier.