ECBVB has always welcomed every tour on the block, in fact promoted free of charge all of the many tours. We have even gone as far as worked on a point system, rankings, etc. all for the good of the volleyball community. It is not a secret the East End and Dig the Beach (the 2 biggest tours on the East Coast) do not have much love for one another. Who is to blame?? I find it very disturbing that the 2 biggest tours cannot even come to terms on scheduling. Realistically, do volleyball players really want to pay to play every single weekend? Look at the schedule on ECBVB, there are tournaments every week and if there is an open date, check one of the tours websites and I am sure you will find a TBD.

Would love to hear some comments on the email a lot of you may have received about the upcoming South Florida tournaments. I mean what is the best solution for the players beyond voting for who gets our money???

email below:

Players in Florida have a chance to decide how many future tournaments there will be in South Florida. As you probably already know, East End Volleyball last fall scheduled a tournament in Hollywood for April 9-10 and announced it in early January. Dig the Beach decided to run  a competing tournament in Ft Lauderdale 8 miles away. Both tournaments will be comparative in prize money and prizes. Players will be able to vote for what they want in the future by which tournament they decide to attend.

Here is what you are voting for:

1.       If you attend EEVB’s Hollywood tournament you are choosing to have more events in south Florida. You are asking Dig the Beach and EEVB to work out a cooperative schedule in future years so that events do not fall on the same weekend so that players can compete in both of these events. If you want EEVB to keep coming back to South Florida (Hollywood, Delray Beach, Singer Island), giving you more chances to earn Volley America Grand Prix points (39 players won $9,950 total in 2010), Saturday night after play parties with complimentary beer and food for players (spaghetti and meatballs and 2 Corona lights per player at Nick’s on the Hollywood Broadwalk this week) you will play in Hollywood this weekend.

2.       If you play in Ft. Lauderdale you are telling EEVB that you do not like the tournaments that we have been bringing to South Florida since 1992 and that you only want Dig the Beach tournaments. You are saying that you only want EEVB to come as far south at Clearwater and Siesta Key. If you want to limit the # of events to the amount that Dig the Beach chooses to run you will play in Ft. Lauderdale this weekend.

South Florida is one of the best places in the country for beach volleyball players. There is a deeper player base here than any place else in the county. And you can play more days here than anywhere else.

Dig the Beach runs a nice series which is obviously well received by players as is shown by the # of teams in their tournaments. And it has improved and grown well since Chris took it over a few years ago. EEVB runs a well received tournament as is shown by how long we have been running events throughout the East Coast and the over 4,000 players who competed in one of our events in 2010. It seems like it would make sense for these 2 tours to not schedule events on the same weekend when EEVB only does 8 FL events every year and Dig the beach only has 10 events scheduled for this season.

So it looks like we are leaving it up to the players.

It seems like it should not be that hard for a cooperative schedule to be worked out. I am officially voting for a cooperative schedule which will benefit all involved parties. I have had problems situations like this elsewhere in the past and found that whenever promoters cooperate, everyone wins. The players have more events to join and the promoters end up with more players. Hope to see all of you in Hollywood. You can register online at www.eevb.net/reg (Open players need to register at www.active.com/volleyball-tournament/hollywood-fl/hollywood-fl-2011)

What have we learned in the first full month of Beach Volleyball in 2011?? That Adrian Carambula does not know what it feels like to place anywhere other than 1st.  Let's break down his victories below:

2/27: Carambula & Steve Grotowski defeat Matt Henderson & JD Christie @ Clearwater EEVB (YOUTUBE)

3/6: Carambula & Grotoski def Henderson & Christie @ Siesta Key DTB (Results)

3/12: Carambula & Grotowski split with Mark & Steve VanZweiten @ Ft Lauderdale DTG (Results)

3/13: Carambula & Grotowski def Rafu Rodriguez & Chris Underwood @ Singer Island EEVB (YOUTUBE)

3/20: Carambula & Diogo Sousa def Henderson & Christie @ Siesta Key EEVB

So the ? remains, who will be the first team to knock off the Carambula streak. Whether he plays with Steve G or another big block, does it matter? Apparently not as we saw this weekend, but let us know who will be the first to do if it happens at all???

What have we learned in the first full month of Beach Volleyball in 2011?? That Adrian Carambula does not know what it feels like to place anywhere other than 1st.  Let's break down his victories below:

2/27: Carambula & Steve Grotowski defeat Matt Henderson & JD Christie @ Clearwater EEVB (YOUTUBE)

3/6: Carambula & Grotoski def Henderson & Christie @ Siesta Key DTB (Results)

3/12: Carambula & Grotowski split with Mark & Steve VanZweiten @ Ft Lauderdale DTG (Results)

3/13: Carambula & Grotowski def Rafu Rodriguez & Chris Underwood @ Singer Island EEVB (YOUTUBE)

3/20: Carambula & Diogo Sousa def Henderson & Christie @ Siesta Key EEVB

So the ? remains, who will be the first team to knock off the Carambula streak. Whether he plays with Steve G or another big block, does it matter? Apparently not as we saw this weekend, but let us know who will be the first to do if it happens at all???

ECBVB.com released the 2011 beach volleyball schedule today. With the AVP bankrupt, the game continues to grow over here on the East Coast. Reviewing the schedules of the participating tours their is no shortage of events with more events to be released in the coming weeks. Be sure and check in for the most up-to-date tournament event information.

In Clearwater, SSOVA hosted a great tournament taking down some great team due to the HEAT index kicking over 105. In the finals, JD Christie and Matt Henderson knocked off the Orlando duo of Billy Chenoweth and Roger Corbitt. 

Up in Chicago at the Corona Wide Open Floridians Adrian Carambula and Steve Grotowski lost a close one in the finals to Ty Loomis and Casey Paterson. Kevin Wong and Matty Olson took home third. 

Adrian has broken into the AVP ranks and will now be teaming up with Russ Marchewka. Big things to come from another up and comer from the East Coast. Another East Coaster, Adam Roberts will team up with Scotty Lane looking to improve on his season. Then we have team steady, Dipierro and Grotowski poised to break into the season best of 7th.

This weekend we have a big Dig the Beach tournament in Siesta Key, a Young Guns up in Milwaukee, EEVB and GAV up in NY. 

OHH YEA did I mention that Miami Heat = Best team on the PLANET, good night KOBE.

Lets start with the Siesta Key Corona Wide Open results. JD Christie and Tyler Lesneski ruled the big court taking out the little guys, Neil Mayo and Jason Aucoin. Joey Cash and Jeff Soler pulled down a 3rd along with the Lunardi brothers. In the womens final Carla and Heidi Ford won a decisive final over Chantel and Amy. More on the corona site at: http://www.coronalightwideopen.com/fromthesand.php

On to the AVP. Florida Boy Nick Lucena took advantage of ex-partner Phil's absence winning gold in the FIVB. Grotosksi and Dipierro made it to Sunday and roll with a 7th. Adrian pulled down another 13th, while Phipps introduced Corbitt to the AVP with a 17th.

On the womens side, Tara Kuk reunited with Kim Whitney to grab a 9th, while Batt and Sweat battled for a 13th and Munson / Flarity settled for a 17th. More of the results at: http://www.bvbinfo.com/Tournament.asp?ID=2281

Let's start at Clearwater Beach where Joey $$$ Cash and Jacksonville's very own Kent Ammons knocked off Matt Henderson and Shady Shane Childress in the finals. 

Down south in Ft Laudy, Dig the Beach hosted a great turnout as always with Adrian Carambula and 1/2 of the Brazilian Rodrigo taking down Florida's #1 team Mike Dipierro and Steve Grotowski. Team lil men, Neil Mayo and Jason Aucoin turned things around this week and finished 3rd along with Gaston Macau and Andreas Oleson.

Lausanne, Switzerland, February 1, 2010 – Beach Volleyball fans around the world will have the opportunity to play at the SWATCH FIVB World Tour’s inspirational venues and learn from the stars following the signing of a partnership agreement between the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) and Beach Volley Around the World (BVAW) on Wednesday.

The new initiative will see BVAW feature at SWATCH FIVB World Tour events in the form of a three-day amateur Beach Volleyball tournament using the same facilities as the SWATCH FIVB World Tour, allowing Beach Volleyball fans of all ages, sizes and expertise to play in an amateur tournament at the venues of the world famous SWATCH FIVB World Tour events.

In addition to a fun-filled tournament, BVAW will also offer free clinics - led by SWATCH FIVB World Tour professionals - concerts and tourism opportunities.

“This is an exciting new initiative which will create a strong link on the SWATCH FIVB World Tour and further open the Beach Volleyball door to the public, not only to play but also to experience the Tour alongside some of their heroes in the sport,” FIVB Executive Vice-President and Beach Volleyball Commission President Dr. Ary Graça said. “Not only will this be a great opportunity for Beach Volleyball aficionados to play in some of the most impressive Beach Volleyball venues around the world but to also have the chance to rub shoulders with some of their role models is a once in a life time opportunity.”

“BVAW is a revolutionary system of public participation for Beach Volleyball,” BVAW President Mr. Otello Vizzino said. “We believe our partnership with the FIVB will help develop Beach Volleyball around the world significantly and we are looking forward to giving people the chance to play in the same environment as the pros, putting smiles on the faces of Beach Volleyball fans of all ages and giving tourism opportunities to hosting cities.”

“This agreement represents a great opportunity for thousands of Beach Volleyball fans who had never had the chance to be part of an event of this magnitude,” BVAW Vice-President Mr. Jose Salema said.

The “Great Movement for a Great Sport” will feature at every stop of the 2010 SWATCH FIVB World Tour, starting with the opening event in Brazilia, Brazil, which runs from April 19-24.