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Battle For a Spot on the Pro EVP Volleyball Tour

4/27/2009

GULF SHORES and ORANGE BEACH, Ala. – Bring your “A” game to the Alabama Gulf Coast, and the Extreme Volleyball Professionals (EVP) Tour might serve up an invitation into a compete in an upcoming event. On May 16th and 17th, Gulf Shores Public Beach will be packed as the Alabama Gulf Coast Sports Commission hosts two EVP Tour events in one exciting weekend.

After watching the veteran tour players like Mark Paaluhi, Carrie Wright, Kelly Hickam and Player of the Year Mike Dauernheim compete on Saturday, the budding stars of tomorrow will take to the sugar white beaches for the EVP Amateur and Coed Tour. Play kicks off at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday at the main public beach in Gulf Shores and should conclude around 6:00 p.m.

This EVP regional series is open to all athletes ages 12 and up. Individuals may compete in women’s and men’s beach doubles Gold/Open, AA (advanced), A (intermediate), B (beginner) divisions, 18U, 16U and 14U divisions. In addition to representing their hometown, winners in the Gold/Open divisions will earn entry to play in a future EVP Pro Event.

“The EVP Tour is excited to come back to Gulf Shores,” said Ross Balling, EVP tour commissioner. “Our players voted Gulf Shores as the number one tour stop last year because of the white sand, The Hangout and the convenient lodging. The Gulf Shores community has opened up their arms to our players and staff.”

On a similar note, Beth Gendler of the Alabama Gulf Coast Sports Commission recognizes the importance of this event.

“Avid volleyball players should know that this regional event will be the only time that the EVP Amateur and Coed Tour stops in the Southeast,” Gendler said. “The 14 other stops occur in distant parts of the nation. This regional in Gulf Shores will be best chance and most convenient stop for amateur volleyball players living in the Southeast.”

The events in the Second Annual EVP Gulf Shores Pro AM Beach Festival kick off on Friday at 8:00 p.m. with a meet the players/welcome party at The Hangout. Saturday’s professional action starts at 9:00 a.m. and continues throughout the day until the women’s finals at 4:00 p.m. followed by the men’s finals at 5:00 p.m. A post-party and awards ceremony will be held at The Hangout and will follow the conclusion of the men’s finals. Then, the amateurs take to the court on Sunday at 10:00 a.m.

Best of all, all EVP tour events are free to the public. However, a $29.00 VIP ticket includes an hour long clinic with the professionals (starting at 11:00 am), a lunch of chicken and steak tacos (at noon), volleyball games with a professional as the coach (from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.) priority courtside seating for the finals (3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.), a picture with the championship team (5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.) and an official EVP Tour T-shirt. VIP tickets are limited to 300 per event and may be purchased online at www.evptour.com.

Sports Commission sponsors represented at this event include The Hangout. Additional details and online amateur registration are available at www.evptour.com.

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