The Southern California Volleyball Association (SCVA) and the Association of Volleyball Professionals (AVP) announced the launch of a strategic partnership to establish new event opportunities on Los Angeles area beaches starting in 2015, during a press conference at the 2014 SCVA Junior National Volleyball Qualifiers at the Los Angeles Convention Center.“This new beach volleyball programming will create a connection between professional volleyball and the Southern California community to create opportunities for youth and adults in the community to have access to healthy, fun sporting activities and get them excited about competitive volleyball,” said Ann Davenport, Regional Commissioner of the SCVA.The SCVA and AVP will form a joint task force dedicated to examining several ways to increase participation among the SCVA’s 20,000 members, and to attract new players to the game. The task force will consider all areas of development from coaching education, parent education and event opportunities.
Davenport was joined by AVP Managing Partner Donald Sun for the announcement at the 2014 SCVA Junior National Volleyball Qualifier, which brought 10,000 young athletes from around the country to compete in 6,000 matches on 78 courts, taking over the
entire Los Angeles Convention Center the weekends of March 22-24 and March 28-30.
Also on hand were AVP pro beach volleyball stars April Ross, Lauren Fendrick and 2013 AVP Rookie of the Year Tri Bourne. Ross, the 2012 Olympic beach volleyball silver medalist, played her club volleyball in the SCVA region and has recently started a beach
club called OC Sand Volleyball Club in Newport Beach with husband and fellow AVP pro Brad Keenan.
About SCVA
The SCVA is a non-profit charitable corporation whose mission is to create opportunities for volleyball players to participate in an organized schedule of tournament play. Since its founding in 1975, more than 10,000 young men and women have earned college scholarships or financial support through their participation in the SCVA events and programs. The SCVA is the regional governing body for volleyball and beach volleyball in the Southern California area, and one of 40 regional volleyball associations sanctioned by USA Volleyball (National Governing Body) and the United States Olympic Committee (National Olympic Committee). SCVA hosts more than 100 regional volleyball tournaments annually in Southern California, and hosts 6 major national events, including a USA Volleyball Junior National Qualification tournament held in Los Angeles.
About the AVP
Established in 1983, the AVP (Association of Volleyball Professionals) produces, markets and distributes volleyball events worldwide, including the popular AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tour. While promoting family-oriented events and supporting a healthy lifestyle, the AVP is best known for its world-class athletes, who have won numerous Gold, Silver and Bronze medals in the Olympic games. The AVP headquarters are in Costa Mesa, California, USA
Photo credit: Jason Hall/SCVA. Honored by the City of Los Angeles at the SCVA Junior National Qualifier are AVP Managing Partner Donald Sun (left) and SCVA Regional Commissioner Ann Davenport (right).
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MEDIA CONTACTS:
Lori Okimura for SCVA
Creative Sports Strategies
Cell (310) 597-1970
lori@creativesportsstrategies.com
Crystal Fukumoto for AVP
Brener Zwikel & Associates
Phone: (310) 709-8690
Crystal@bzapr.com
Greg Ball for AVP
Brener Zwikel & Associates
Phone: (760) 271-9183
gregb@bzapr.com