Spalding Volley America National Championship

The Spalding Volley America will return to Clearwater Beach, Florida on October 18-19, co-sponsored by Rider Sandals. The tournament will be the largest amateur tournament ever held in Clearwater Beach and may be outgrowing this site for future years. The tournament will be the National Championship tournament for Volley America, the largest grass roots program in the country. It will attract players from throughout the United States plus teams from Canada and Sweden to the white sand beaches across from the Magnuson Hotel near Pier 60. The tournaments will be the National Championship Tournament in the series promoted by East End Volleyball throughout the East Coast. The series has awarded over $75,000 cash prizes throughout the season that started March 1 on Singer Island, FL. Top male players competing include top Florida players Adrian Carambula and Olympian Steve Gratowski, who just played in the 2012 London Olympics for Great Britain. Shane Donohue and Kris Fraser, top players from New Jersey, will be partnering to compete in the Florida tournament. Other competitors playing for the top spot will be Derek Buschman and Jeff Bittman from Milwaukee, IL, Chase and Shane Holderby from Virginia Beach, VA and Jake Elliot from Charleston, SC. Top female players will include Dana Fiume and Hilary Pavels from New York. Fiume and Pavels recently finished 17th in the AVP Atlantic City Open. From Milwaukee, IL, partners Cheri Stoffa and Candice McNally will be competing along with Janis Dixon and partner Jen Albrecht from Virginia Beach for the first place title. Players of all skill levels will be eligible for play in the tournament sponsored by Rider Sandals. Intermediate and novice level players will be competing in the A and B divisions for merchandise prizes from 4C Totally light 2Go, Spalding, Rider Sandals, Reflekt Polarized, Sports Authority, Bally-s Casino, ZEMgear, Sprout Watches, Karch Kourt net systems, SOB Volleyball Vacations, Dig Magazine, Sportime, Horry County, Spike Key, Volley America and South Shore Outdoors. Tournament play will start at 9 am on Saturday and 10 am on Sunday. Player check in is one hour prior to start time. Men's and Women's Open, AA, A, and B Divisions will play on Saturday. Coed Open, A, and B teams will play on Sunday. Admission is free for all spectators who are encouraged to come early for a front row seat. A players- party open to the public, will be held Saturday evening at the Shephard-s in Clearwater. For further information and applications contact East End Volleyball at 631-728-0397 or www.eevb.net.