AVPNext/Wilson Nationals: Results

The AVPNext/Wilson National Championships were held in Clearwater Beach, FL on Oct 20-21. Hosted by East end Volleyball, it was the largest tournament ever in EEVB's 30 year history. Over 240 teams form 20 states and Canada participated in 12 Adult and junior Divisions. Teams were awarded $5,800 in cash prizes plus Wilson Volleyballs, Native Eyewear Sunglasses, Rider Sandals, dinner at Sweet Tomatoes and Spike Volleyball.com gift certificates. Players also earned double points in the $15,000 AVPNext/Wilson Grand Prix.

In the Men's Open Division Florida's Matt Henderson and Joey Cash defeated California's AJ Mihalic and Florida's Dana Camacho. Mike DiPierro, playing with Steve Grotowski from the Great Britain National Beach Volleyball Program, finished third wrapping up the Grand Prix Title and $1,000 1st place prize money for DiPierro. The other 3rd place team was Mark and Steve Van Zwieten.

The Women's Open Division was won by Florida's Tara Kuk and Kim Whitney, the best women's team on the East Coast, defeated Chara Harris and Brooke Langston, also from Florida. Third place went to S. Carolina's Vicki Vega/Lindsay Rust and Ola Wolak (NJ)/Iwona Lodzik (IL).

This tournament was truly a National Championship with players arriving from throughout the US and Canada to compete on the silky white sand of Clearwater Beach. Perusing the results shows that players from 17 states and Canada took prizes home with them at the end of the competitive weekend.

AVPNext, Wilson Sporting Goods and East End Volleyball have contributed $15,000 for a season long Grand Prix competition. Players have earned points all season long with the top players sharing the prize money at the conclusion of the 2007 season. Nine of the top 20 Men's Open players competed in the Nationals. Mike DiPierro was able to fight off Matt Henderson and win the $1,000 1st place prize even though Henderson won the National title. DiPierro's 3rd place finish gave him just enough points to lock up the season-long Grand Prix Championship.

In the Women's Open Grand Prix, 13 of the top 20 players competed in the Nationals. Rebecca smith was able to maintain 1st place ahead of her twin sister Rachel and the hard charging Tara Kuk.

The social highlight of the weekend was the Saturday Evening Bud Light Player's Party held at Shephard's Bach Resort, a very hot spot in the Florida nightlife scene. Close to 200 players came to the party to feast on complimentary Bud Light's and a food buffet supplied by Shephard's. The party went late into the Florida evening resulting in some slower play in the Sunday coed division.

Player's flew and drove out of Clearwater beach Sunday October 21 all looking forward to the 2008 Nationals which are tentatively planned for a return visit to Clearwater. All players should make sure they join AVPNext during the 2008 season to be eligible to compete in 2008 AVPNext/Wilson National Championships and $15,000 Grand Prix. For further info go to www.avp.com and click on Volleyball Nation.

Men's Open
1 Joey Cash/Matt Henderson FL
2 Anthony Mihalic/Dana Camacho CA/FL

3 Steve Grotowski/Michael DiPierro FL

3 Mark Vanzwieten/stephen vanzwieten FL

Men's AA

1
KEVIN LEGG
Jon Sundquist
FL

2
Mark Higginson
Mike Sandeman
FL

3
Peter Kopach
Pavel Nikulin
NY

3
Kevan Enger
Stephen Krohn
FL

Men's A
1
Dan Paynter
Luke Otto
WI
2
Josh Teague
Jason Kolczak
TX
3
Thomas Pucci
Steven Choi
NY
3
Ewan Brand
Bert Gideons
FL

Men's B
1
Chris Lucina
Jonathan Jennings
FL
2
Sara Bullock
BJ Whittington
FL
3
Tina Jichi
Hussein Mourtada
MA
3
Tobias Vigil
Jennifer Paravati
FL

Women's Open
1
Tara Kuk
Kimberly Whitney
FL
2
Chara Harris
Brooke Langston
FL
3
Vicki Vega
Lindsay Rust
SC
3
Aleksandra Wolak
Iwona Lodzik
NJ/IL

Women's AA
1
Lisa Ekmekjian
Linda Capizzi
NJ
2
Joyce Neilan
Terri Stripling
PA/FL
3
Kristen Marshall
Amy Shaker
MA
3
veronique paquin
jennifer dupuis
Can

9
Larissa Lang
Monika Carbochova
MA

Women's A
1
Joanna Jockish
Sharilee Doty
IN/FL
2
JULIE AGUSTIN
KELLY HOEMANN
FL
3
Monica McCoy
Catherine Collins
FL
3
Dena Dahlquist
Erin Harvey
FL

Women's B
1
Atara Oven
Jessica Oven
FL
2
Amanda Evans
Brooke Long
FL
3
Joanivette Negron
Falon Hendrick
FL

Co-ed Open
1
Mike Kuk
Lisa Ekmekjian
FL/NJ
2
Tiffany Snow
Jim O'Brien
FL
3
Rachel Reichard
Mike Floyd
FL
3
Mary Wilson
jeffrey bleitz
FL

Co-ed A
1
Ami Gideons
Bert Gideons
FL
2
Melissa Perkins
Nate Davis
FL
3
KELLY HOEMANN
Steve Hoeman
FL
3
Scott Bragan
Erica Bragan
FL