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Chicago was the lucky host for a huge sports weekend this Labor Day.
North Ave Beach was the location for the AVP Nissan Series Chicago Open
presented by McDonald's. The Nissan series was concluded for 2005 and
thrilled the attending fans and millions that tuned in on TV. Seeing it
live was awesome. If you are unfamiliar with this tournament, here is
some background.
Kerri Walsh
The AVP stands for Association of Volleyball professionals. The AVP
started in 1983 and was bought about 5 years ago by current commissioner
Leonard Armato. Currently the AVP schedules 14 events in 10 different US
states. The 2005 season started in April in Florida and finishes in
Hawaii in October. The Nissan Cup, in which teams accumulate points for
finishes throughout the season ended in Chicago on Labor Day weekend.
The finals were telecast live on NBC sports. This year’s tournament
offered the largest purse for a dual-gender event in domestic history.
The AVP has gathered fan and sponsor momentum in past years and has
increased interest especially after the 2004 Olympic games.
Holly McPeak
The AVP boasts a rich history in Chicago dating back to 1984. Players
enjoy the Chicago tournament and the event is the most important of the
Nissan Cup events. The winner’s share of prize money is decided here and
the players are motivated to bring their best game to Chicago. After a
summer of grueling elimination matches, the endurance and conditioning
of the team is crucial to winning in Chicago.
Thursday was the first round of qualifying rounds. Spread out over 8
different courts, there were 89 men and 57 women players entered. The
qualifiers become the pathway for newer and unproven players to move up
to the main draw. The top seeded players are not required to qualify.
There was no charge for admission to the qualifiers and there was lots
of great volleyball to view. The sponsors were busy setting up their
booths and the main court was open but still getting finishing touches.
The qualifiers are fun to watch. Great new players can start here and
you might be watching a future star in the making.
Kerri Walsh
Friday was the first day of main draw matches. The top players were out
to defend their positions. The winning qualifiers were hoping to gain
entry to spots in the final matches. All teams played at least two
matches lasting between 32-77 minutes each. The fans were out in large
numbers and excitement was building. The beach was jumping with top
players on all courts thrilling fans with excellent play and strategy.
Competition was fierce and although the top seeded players were
consistently winning, they were facing some of the toughest games of
their season. Because there are so many great matches going on at the
same time, fans were stopping by the bracket board to ensure they would
see the players they follow. The sponsor’s booths were open to provide
interactive games and to offer samples or demonstrate their products.
Kerri Walsh
Saturday was the Men’s finals. The winner of Chicago would be decided
and the crowning of the Nissan Cup Men’s team champions was today. The
crowd was thick and full of energy for the day’s events. Along with the
men’s events, the women also battled to determine the semi-final teams
for Sunday’s main event. The men’s finals were a treat for the fans. In
the semis, all time winningest player in volleyball history, Karch
Kiraly and his teammate, 2004 AVP MVP, Mike Lambert battled for 1 hour
and 23 minutes to defeat top-seeded Jake Gibb and Stein Metzger. The
other semi featured Sean Scott and Todd Rogers defeating Matt
Fuerbringer and Casey Jennings. The finals proved that Scott and
Jennings had the right stuff to overcome the veteran legend Kiraly and
Lambert in two games 21-16 and 21-16. Although Scott and Rogers took the
feature, it was not enough to upset Gibb and Metzger's overall season
point total for the Nissan Cup. Along with the men’s events, the women
also battled to determine the semi-final teams for Sunday’s main event.
Semirames Marins
The women’s matches on Sunday also gave the fans the show they came for.
The semis pitted the one and two seeds Kerri Walsh and Misty May against
Elaine Youngs and Rachel Wacholder. With each point the other team
battled back. In the end it was Walsh and May narrowly advancing to the
finals. The other semi dealt Holly McPeak and Jennifer Kessy a tough
loss against the Brazilian stars Tatiana Minello and Semirames Marins.
The finals proved to be too much for Minello and Marins as Walsh and May
took the match 21-16, 21-16. Walsh and May were then awarded the Nissan
Cup trophy and the keys to a new Nissan Xterra..
Misty and Kerri
Beach volleyball is a great event to follow. It’s gaining in popularity
and for good reason. The action is infectious. The athletes are in top
condition. After a lifetime of watching the mainstream sports,
(baseball, football, basketball), I can honestly appreciate the level of
training it takes to play beach volleyball. A baseball player can dive
for a ball to make one great play and it will be on instant replays and
sports highlights. These volleyball players make fantastic digs to keep
a ball in play, than instantly recover and continue to help their
teammate get the next play. They are then able to deliver an equal or
better play on the next point. View a match live if you can. Walk around
the beach in the sand, feel the intense heat and watch the players
perform. It is with great respect that you can admire the conditioning
and attitude of the players. This sport personifies the team player, the
unselfishness and love of the game that can be a distant memory in
modern traditional sports. Another aspect of beach volley is that you
can be a fan or a player for little expense. Admission to the day’s
events was just $15.00 or $5.00 with student ID. Fans under 12 were
admitted free. Playing volleyball takes only the cost of the ball.
Misty May
The AVP event atmosphere is electric. The energy of the fans is
heightened by a great blend of music and commentary by the announcer.
The arena is colorful and viewer friendly. The pace is rapid, yet easy
to follow and enjoy. There are no dull moments at this beach party . The
fans are interested and knowledgeable. Although it might not be the
sport for the "cheeseburger" crowd, any sports fan can find a spot in
their heart for beach volleyball. If you want to pay 5 dollars for a hot
dog and 6 for a beer go to a baseball game
Misty and Kerri
The AVP players are fiercely competitive, yet emphasize teamwork and
camaraderie. Holly McPeak and Karch Kiraly are not only outstanding
superstars, they are unselfish ambassadors of their sport. They are
sincere and energetic about the promoting the future of beach
volleyball. They are fan focused and aware. Holly and Karch provide
excellent veteran leadership and have built the framework for success.
Misty May and Kerri Walsh are the future of women’s sports.
Individually, they are top athletes. Both are college graduates and
great role models. They have charming personalities and really seem to
love their sport. As a team they have set goals and worked hard to
achieve these goals. To watch them play together is amazing. They
compliment each other’s play and seem to work together on a higher
level. Just don’t try to knock them off the top- I think we will see a
lot of Kerri and Misty for quite a while to come.
Keep track of the players on NBC, Fox Sports and OLN network. Visit
AVP’s website at www.avp.com and make plans for next year. The
excitement is sure to be bigger and better. Treat yourself to a weekend
you are sure to remember. |
