AVP DASHBOARD

Moscow Grand Slam Marks Milestone for Dynamic AVP Duo

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It’s no secret that Casey Patterson & Jake Gibb are one of the most dynamic and popular teams on the AVP. Incredible offense with a Suavehawk, infamous celebration pop-and-lock moves mixed with one of the best blockers in the world … what’s not to love. Equally impressive is what these two athletes have been able to accomplish on the beaches of other continents. Patterson/Gibb had a strong finish just days ago at the FIVB Moscow Grand Slam – grabbing a 4th place in arguably the most competitive World Tour event in 2016 thus far. With this finish they reached a significant milestone they’ve been working toward for two years.

 

Part of being an AVP athlete is also balancing the call of duty as an American beach pro and taking your talents to the world tour to face off against the best athletes in the world. Of course, this comes to a pinnacle every four years in the Summer Olympic games – where we all sit on the edge of our seats and pull for red, white and blue with patriotic fever. Casey & Jake secured their spot this past weekend as the 2nd men’s team (alongside Phil Dalhausser & Nick Lucena) to represent the USA in the 2016 Rio Summer Olympic Games. For Jake, it will be his third straight Olympic appearance – for Casey, it will be his first.

 

“To say I am excited is an understatement.” Patterson said after Olympic qualification numbers came in this past week. “Jake and I have been grinding on both the AVP Tour and the World Tour for a few years together now – we’ve put it all out there every season. Stoked to be where we are now. Representing the USA in RIO in the Summer Olympic Games this year is a dream come true for me … it’s an amazing feeling.”

 

Patterson and Gibb fly home from Russia today but only have a day or two to rest and prepare for their next tournament on domestic soil, the AVP Seattle Open June 2-5 at Lake Sammamish State Park. “Qualifying for the Olympics is a major step in our goal of winning a medal in Rio,” Gibb stated before boarding his plane in Moscow. “ … what so many people may not realize is that this a professional sport, not just an Olympic sport. Casey and I have a lot more to do this season on the AVP Tour. The focus is to keep competing and to get better as a team. [Our] desire to win has never been greater.”

 
2016 AVP Seattle Open Tournament Info

Category: Events

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