(August 20, 2002)                                                                                             Hot News Main Page

Wilson Sporting Goods Joins Motherlode Sponsor List
North America's Premiere Doubles Event Will Attract Nearly 1,400 Volleyball Players

ASPEN CO (August 20, 2002) Wilson Sporting Goods Co, one of the world's leading manufacturers of sports equipment with a focus on technologically-advanced products, joins the growing list of official brand sponsors for the 30th annual MotherLode Volleyball Classic.

The "Official Synthetic Leather Volleyball of the Association of Volleyball Professionals (AVP™)," the "Wilson" will make its Motherlode Volleyball Classic debut August 29 through September 2 in North American's premiere doubles tournament at various sites throughout Aspen. The "Wilson" is a Microfiber composite leather volleyball designed for the serious beach
volleyball player or frequent recreational player. The "Wilson" also made its movie debut in the 20th Century Fox hit movie "Castaway."

Other official brand sponsors for the 30th Motherlode include Motherlode Restaurant, Evian, Vehix.com, Volleyball Magazine, Volleyball Colorado, Paul Mitchell, ATT Broadband, Coca-Cola, Alpine Bank, Coors Light, United/United
Express, Park n' Sun Sports, Spike Nashbar and Powerade.

The deadline for pre-registration for the 30th MotherLode Volleyball Classic was Friday (August 16) as event organizers expect more than 1,400 volleyball players. Late registration ($75 for entries after August 17) will be accepted on a space available basis the day of the event. The registration desk will open at 8 a.m. (MDT) each day of the MotherLode Volleyball Classic.

Featuring both sand and grass court competition, the 30th annual Motherlode Volleyball Classic will be held here over five "glorious late summer days" (August 29-September 2) at various sites throughout one of the United States' premier resort playgrounds.

Rated the No. 1 Pro-Am tournament in North America, the 30th MotherLode Volleyball Classic will attract over 700 teams from all over the nation to compete in what has been called the "toughest amateur tournament in the United States" and "the most exciting 'non-tour' professional event going."

With 17 total divisions of play in men's (8 classes), women's (5) and co-ed (4) divisions, the Motherlode Volleyball Classic is the "most comprehensive" beach volleyball tournament in North America with some of the best beach volleyball east of the Pacific Coast Highway.

The Motherlode Volleyball Classic's "open" classes for both men and women feature the United States' top pro beach volleyball players competing on the main championship sand courts at Koch Lumber Park. In addition to the 1,400
participants, the Motherlode Volleyball Classic attracts thousands of spectators that flock to the Aspen-area every Labor Day Weekend to attend "the best volleyball party in the country."

The 2001 "open" champions were Canyon Ceman/Adam Jewell (men) and Daven Casad-Allison/Alicia Scott (women). Ceman is currently teamed with Mike Whitmarsh, the Silver Medallists from the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games, and
Jewell is playing with Ian Clark, a 2000 Motherlode Champion. Casad-Allison, who went to high school in Paonia, Colo., and Scott, who lives in Evergreen, Colo., are currently playing on the AVP Pro Beach Tour.

The Motherlode Volleyball Classic divisions are:

· Women's Masters (Over 35) - Sand
· Women's Open - Sand
· Women's A - Grass
· Women's BB - Grass
· Women's B - Grass
· Men's Seniors (Over 45) - Sand
· Men's Seniors (Over 50) - Sand
· Men's Masters (37-Over) - Sand
· Men's Open - Sand
· Men's AA - Grass
· Men's A - Grass
· Men's BB - Grass
· Men's B - Grass
· Co-Ed Open - Grass
· Co-Ed A - Grass
· Co-Ed BB - Grass
· Co-Ed B - Grass

Produced by MotherLode Volleyball Productions of Aspen, "The 'Lode" incorporates the best of traditional beach volleyball creating the "old time" sense of joy and excitement for the sport. It is a "must attend" event for the serious volleyball aficionado - providing an exciting, competitive end-of-the-season volleyball event surrounded by the beauty and excitement of Aspen.

For additional information about this highly successful and hugely popular beach doubles volleyball event at the premier summer/winter resort, please telephone 720/851-7953 or visit the Motherlode Volleyball Classic website at www.motherlodevolleyball.com. For information regarding activities in the Aspen/Snowmass-area during the Labor Day weekend, please telephone the Aspen Chamber Resort Association (800/262-7736) or visit www.aspenchamber.com.

[Source: Tim Simmons, 303/678-8484; 303/678-7474 (FAX)]