(August 21, 2002)                                                                                             Hot News Main Page

AVP Tour Returns To Chicago
McPeak & Youngs Search To Regain Winning Form

CHICAGO IL (August 21, 2002) A total of 125 teams have entered this week's Association of Volleyball Professionals (AVP) Tour event as the men's and women's Qualification Tournaments launches competition here Thursday (August 22) as pro beach volleyball action returns to the "Windy City."

The sixth of seven events on the AVP Tour starts with Thursday's Qualification Tournaments Thursday (August 22) followed by three days of Main Draw competition Friday through Sunday on the North Avenue Beach sand. The
event is set for a live NBC broadcast featuring both the men's and women's finals Sunday from 2-4 p.m. (EDT).

The finals of the 24-team women's Main Draw bracket is set for 1 p.m. (CDT) Saturday as Holly McPeak and Elaine Youngs chase their fifth AVP tour title this season. The men's championship match will be staged Sunday at 1 p.m. as
NBC will air the finale "live" while showing the "taped" women's title match at the end of the broadcast.

With Chicago hosting the 20th men's and 11th women's pro beach volleyball event, the weekend's storylines will feature Karch Kiraly seeking to become a $3-million career winner while the women's tandem of Holly McPeak and Elaine
Youngs trying to stop their August drought.

While Kiraly (San Clemente, Calif.) and Doble (Capistrano Valley, Calif.) compete against a 32-team men's draw field, the top-ranked McPeak (Manhattan Beach, Calif.) and Youngs (Durango, Colo.) are looking to break an August
drought. Winners of seven titles in nine May, June and July events, McPeak and Youngs are winless in August stops in Austria, California and China.

After placing third in Austria where they dropped an August 3 semifinal match to Misty May (Costa Mesa, Calif.) and Kerri Walsh (Saratoga, Calif.), McPeak and Youngs returned to California to see their four-event, 25-match domestic
winning streak snapped in the finals of the Manhattan Beach Open.

Annett Davis (Tarzana, Calif.) and Jenny Johnson Jordan (Tarzana, Calif.), who placed fifth for the United States at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, scored a 13-21, 23-21 and 15-9 in the 59-minute Manhattan Beach title win
(August 11) over the top-seeded McPeak and Youngs.

While Davis and Johnson Jordan placed third in the first three AVP Tour events this season, Dianne DeNecochea (San Diego, Calif.) and Barbra Fontana (Manhattan Beach, Calif.) were losing California title matches to McPeak and
Youngs in Huntington Beach (May 26), Hermosa Beach (June 9) and Santa Barbara (June 16).

Winners of 21 of 27 matches this season with $48,390 in earnings, Davis and Johnson Jordan dropped an AVP Tour finale to McPeak and Youngs June 30 in Belmar, N. J. Davis and Johnson Jordan have now posted a 211-67 match mark
in 46 career events together. The pair has shared $469,185 in earnings to rank second domestically and fifth overall. In pro beach title matches, Davis and Johnson have posted a 7-10 mark.

After defeating Natalie Cook and Kerri Pottharst of Australia, the Sydney 2000 Olympic Gold Medallists in the semifinals of last Sunday's Chinese Open, McPeak and Youngs were defeated by May and Walsh in the 51-minute Gold Medal
match 12-21, 21-15 and 19-17. May and Walsh have a 3-1 mark this season against McPeak and Youngs, who defeated their American rivals in the French Grand Slam event Gold Medal Match.

McPeak and Youngs sport the best match winning percentage (43-4, .915) on the 2002 FIVB Tour enroute to winning $124,515 internationally. Overall, McPeak and Youngs are 68-5 this season with $199,415 in shared earnings. The pair
also captured FIVB Gold Medals in Norway and Greece.

The Chicago event will also determine the top eight men's and women's teams for the AVP Tour's season finale at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nev. (September 5-7). The 2002 women's FIVB Beach Volleyball World
Tour concludes in September with events in Spain (Mallorca, 3-7) and Brazil (Vitoria, 17-22). The men's FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour concludes with stops in Spain (September 4-8 in Mallorca) and Brazil (October 1-6 in
Fortaleza).

Chicago Women's Entries (Revised 08/21/2002 12:00 PM)
(Main Draw seeds to be determined after Qualification Tournament)

Women's Main Draw Entries (subject to change)
· Holly McPeak, Manhattan Beach, Calif./Elaine Youngs, Durango, Colo.
· Annett Davis, Tarzana, Calif./Jennifer Johnson Jordan, Tarzana, Calif.
· Carrie Busch, Hermosa Beach, Calif./Leanne Schuster, Manhattan Beach, Calif.
· Dianne Denecochea, San Diego, Caif./Barbra Fontana, Manhattan Beach, Calif.
· Lisa Arce, Redondo Beach, Calif./Linda Hanley, Pacific Palisades, Calif.
· Nancy Mason, Hermosa Beach, Calif./Rachel Wacholder, El Segundo, Calif.
· Katy Eldridge, Los Gatos, Calif./Jennifer Meredith, Manhattan Beach, Calif.
· Angie Akers, Long Beach, Calif./Jen Pavley, Agoura Hills, Calif.
· Stephanie Cox, Mission Viejo, Calif./Jen Holdren, Santa Barbara, Calif.
· Gracie Santana-Baeni, Basel, Switzerland/Lia Young, Honolulu, Hi.
· Jen Kessy, San Diego/Cary Wendell, San Clemente, Calif.
· Danalee Bragada, Manhattan Beach, Calif./Ali Wood, Hermosa Beach, Calif.
· Katie Lindquist, Fountain Valley, Calif./Heather Lowe, Redondo Beach, Calif.
· Pat Keller, Lake Forest, Calif./Marsha Miller, Santa Monica, Calif.
· Tanya Fuamatu, Waipahu, Hi./Heidi Ilustre, Honolulu, Hi.
· Ashley Bowles, Manhattan Beach, Calif./Monique Oliver, Malibu, Calif.
· Anne McArthur, Los Angeles/Barbara Nyland, San Diego, Calif.
· Michelle Morse, Redondo Beach, Calif./Liz Pagano, San Diego, Calif.

· Eight (6) Qualification Tournament Teams

Women's Qualifying Entries (subject to change)
· Erin Galli/Valinda Hileary
· Daven Allison/Kim Zuffelato
· Kerri Eich/Sarah White
· Nicole Audette/Alicia Zamparelli
· Rhonda Kottke/Marla O'Hara
· Catie Fleisher/Kristin Schritter
· Kimberly Coleman/Alicia Scott
· Valerie Duringer/Helen Reale
· Jill Changaris/Lisa Marshall
· Jeanette Simenson/Julie Sprague
· Jessica Alvarado/Danielle Shinn
· Karen Helyer/Teri Van Dyke
· Barbara Birnbaum/Saralyn Smith
· Sharman Mitchell/Alicia Polzin
· Mary Baily/Jenelle Koester
· Kirsten Niedung/Kelly Rowe
· Julie McGarr/Samantha Meador
· Natalie Sime/Dawn Tischauser
· Deanna Johnson/Karen Reitz
· Jeannette Hecker/Dawn Steinhauser
· Maggie Philgence/Ashanti Taylor
· Makalani Hovey/Suzanne McReynolds
· Sarah Clark/Debbie Lambert
· Katherine Fay/Lori Janssen
· Michelle Taulbee/Mary Wilson
· Renee Nash/Kelly Price
· Marnie Adams/Leanne Haarbauer
· Laura Ames/Sherry Jackson
· Kim Berrington/Sara Schaub
· Erin Borske/Abby Georgy

Past Chicago Beach Women's Champions (10 events)

1984, Linda Hanley/Dale Keough
1985, Nancy Cothron/Donna Townsend
1986, Linda Hanley/Nina Matthies
1987, Linda Chisholm/Jackie Silva
1993, Holly McPeak/Linda Chisholm
1994, Holly McPeak/Cammy Ciarelli
1996, Holly McPeak/Nancy Reno
1997, Liz Masakayan/Elaine Youngs
1999, Liz Masakayan/Elaine Youngs
2000, Misty May/Holly McPeak (FIVB)

2002 AVP Tour Points (Through August 11, 2002)

Here's are the women point leaders for the Association of Volleyball
Professionals (AVP) after the fifth of seven stops on the 2002 tour. The AVP
Pro Beach Volleyball Tour next event is August 23-25 in Chicago, Ill.

Women, residence (titles), Points
1. Holly McPeak, Manhattan Beach, Calif. (4), 970
Elaine Youngs, Durango, Colo. (4), 970
3. Annett Davis, Tarzana, Calif. (1), 832
Jenny Johnson Jordan, Tarzana, Calif. (1), 832
5. Carrie Busch, Hermosa Beach, Calif., 718
Leanne Schuster, Manhattan Beach, Calif., 718
7. Dianne DeNecochea, San Diego, Calif., 697
Barbra Fontana, Manhattan Beach, Calif., 697
9. Lisa Arce, Redondo Beach, Calif., 659
Linda Hanley, Pacific Palisades, Calif., 659
11. Rachel Wacholder, El Segundo, Calif., 566
Nancy Mason, Hermosa Beach, Calif., 541

2002 AVP Earnings (Through August 11, 2002)

Women, residence (titles), Earnings
1. Holly McPeak, Manhattan Beach, Calif. (4), $37,450.00
Elaine Youngs, Durango, Colo. (4), $37,450.00
3. Annett Davis, Tarzana, Calif. (1), $24,195.00
Jennifer Johnson Jordan, Tarzana, Calif. (1), $24,195.00
5. Dianne DeNecochea, San Diego, Calif., $18,300.00
Barbra Fontana, Manhattan Beach, Calif., $18,300.00
7. Carrie Busch, Hermosa Beach, Calif., $15,135.00
Leanne Schuster, Manhattan Beach, Calif., $15,135.00
9. Lisa Arce, Redondo Beach, Calif., $12,577.50
Linda Hanley, Pacific Palisades, Calif., $12,577.50
11. Rachel Wacholder, El Segundo, Calif., $9,362.50
12. Nancy Mason, Hermosa Beach, Calif., $8,992.50

2002 Top AVP Main Draw Match Records

Women's Team, W-L, Pct., matches played
1. Elaine Youngs/Holly McPeak, 25-1, 0.962, 26
2. Annett Davis/Jenny Johnson Jordan, 21-6, 0.778, 27
3. Barbra Fontana/Dianne DeNecochea, 16-8, 0.667, 24
4. Carrie Busch/Leanne Schuster, 18-10, 0.643, 28
5. Nancy Mason/Rachel Wacholder, 10-6, 0.625, 16
6. Linda Hanley/Lisa Arce, 16-10, 0.615, 26
7. Danalee Bragado/Monique Oliver, 6-4, 0.600, 10
8. Jenny Pavley/Angie Akers, 9-8, 0.529, 17
9. Stephanie Cox/Jennifer Holdren, 10-10, 0.500, 20
Lia Young/Gracie Santana-Baeni, 10-10, 0.500, 20
Katy Eldridge/Jennifer Meredith, 10-10, 0.500, 20
12. Liz Masakayan/Ashley Bowles, 7-8, 0.467, 15
Katie Lindquist/Tracy Lindquist, 7-8, 0.467, 15
Ali Wood/Cary Wendell, 7-8, 0.467, 15
15. Tanya Fuamatu/Heide Ilustre, 8-10, 0.444, 18
16. Marsha Miller/Rhonda Kottke, 4-6, 0.400, 10
17. Heather Lowe/Jennifer Kessy, 5-8, 0.385, 13
18. Michelle Morse/Liz Pagano, 5-10, 0.333, 15
19. Erin Galli/Barbara Nyland, 3-8, 0.273, 11
20. Kim Zuffelato/Daven Casad-Allison, 2-10, 0.167, 12

WOMEN'S AVP TOUR FINAL FOURS

Huntington Beach, Calif. (May 24-26)
1. Holly McPeak/Elaine Youngs
2. Dianne DeNecochea/Barbra Fontana
3. Annett Davis/Jenny Johnson Jordan
3. Lisa Arce/Linda Hanley
Title Match (winners split $14,500; losers split $9,750) - McPeak/Youngs (No.
1-seeded main Draw Team) def. DeNecochea/Fontana (2), 21-18, 20-22 and 15-9
(69 minutes).

Hermosa Beach, Calif. (June 7-9)
1. McPeak/Youngs
2. DeNecochea/Fontana
3. Davis/Johnson Jordan
3. Carrie Busch/Leanne Schuster
Title Match (winners split $17,400; losers split $11,700) - McPeak/Youngs (1)
def. DeNecochea/Fontana (2), 21-15 and 21-14 (38).

Santa Barbara, Calif. (June 14-16)
1. McPeak/Youngs
2. DeNecochea/Fontana
3. Davis/Johnson Jordan
3. Busch/Schuster
Title Match (winners split $14,500; losers split $9,750) - McPeak/Youngs (1)
def. DeNecochea/Fontana (2), 21-15 and 21-13 (45).

Belmar, N. J. (June 28-30)
1. McPeak/Youngs
2. Davis/Johnson Jordan
3. Nancy Mason/Rachel Wacholder
3. Busch/Schuster
Title Match (winners split $14,500; losers split $9,750) - McPeak/Youngs (1)
def. Davis/Johnson Jordan (3) 16-21, 21-14 and 15-12 (60).

Manhattan Beach, Calif. (August 8-11)
1. Davis/Johnson Jordan
2. McPeak/Youngs
3, Arce/Hanley
3. Busch/Schuster
Title Match (winners split $20,000; losers split $14,000) - Davis/Johnson
Jordan (2) def. McPeak/Youngs (1), 13-21, 23-21 and 15-9 (59).

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