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In the Game
Set, Spike and Dig
by Kelley Sullivan
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 THE TOUR HITS AUSTIN
Since its inception in 1983, the Association for Volleyball Professionals (A.V.P.) tour has featured more than 150 top athletes. Austinites enjoyed a real treat when the A.V.P. stopped at Auditorium Shores last month, giving competitors and spectators a chance to enjoy the heated competition and bask in the beach-like surroundings. Jam-packed with serious players, volleyball fans and fitness enthusiasts, it was a weekend full of sand, high-fives and toned bodies. And fortunately there is more to come, as the A.V.P. will send two men’s and women’s teams to the summer Olympic games in Athens, Greece this year.
For the women, Misty May and Kerri Walsh, currently the No. 1-ranked team in the world, faced off against Annett Davis and Jenny Johnson Jordan in the final. The competition was fierce, but May and Walsh dominated the match. May, 26, has won 25 titles in her career and was a three-time All-American champion at California State. Walsh, 25, has won 20 titles in her career, competed with the indoor volleyball team at the Olympic Games in 2000 and is now enjoying a successful second year as a professional player.
On the men’s side, some of the top contenders were Eric Fonoimoana, Dain Blanton and three-time Olympic gold medalist Karch Kiraly. However, Jake Gibb and Adam Jewell came out on top, defeating Todd Rogers and Sean Scott in a heated final.
SIGN UP TO PLAY THIS SUMMER
Looking for a place to work on your sand volleyball skills and have a great time doing it? Look no further than Aussie’s Bar and Grill located at 306 Barton Springs Road. The next round of summer leagues will begin on July 1, lasting for a total of seven weeks. Matches are played every night of the week, except for Saturdays, starting at 6:15 p.m., 7:30 p.m., 8:45 p.m. and 10 p.m. Jeremy Schoeps, a manager at Aussie’s, has an idea why the restaurant is so popular among athletes and sports enthusiasts:
“The restaurant is divided into three different areas — from the televised games to the league players you’ll find a little bit of everything here, and you’re not going to find better courts in Austin,” he says.
To register, simply head down to Aussie’s after you’ve assembled your team and assigned a captain. Currently, early bird fees are $150 per team for a team of six ($175 per team if registered in June) and $100 per team for a team of four ($125 per team if registered in June). However, availability is dwindling fast, so if you’re seriously interested, make sure to go by or call soon. For more information, call 480-0952.
Photo:
Sean Scott bumping the ball at Auditorium Shores.
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