The Jose Cuervo Pro Beach Volleyball Series Thursday released its ’12 schedule, which “offers more than twice as many events” as the inaugural season in '11, according to Baxter Holmes of the L.A. TIMES. There will be seven total tournaments, including the Manhattan Beach Open. The '11 season “had a total purse of $500,000,” and it “has increased to $600,000” this year. IMG and Jose Cuervo teamed with USA Volleyball to create the series last year, but a USA Volleyball spokesperson indicated that the NGB will “no longer be a partner; it will just sanction the events, as it does with other domestic pro beach volleyball tournaments.” Baxter noted it is “unclear which top players will be competing in the domestic events,” as many are “overseas to play in the FIVB World Tour trying to secure bids to the 2012 London Olympics.” Still, the expansion of the Jose Cuervo series “bodes well for many domestic players who struggled to make ends meet after the AVP shut down” (LATIMES.com, 4/19).
| JOSE CUERVO PRO BEACH VOLLEYBALL SERIES |
| EVENT | LOCATION | DATE | PURSE |
| Florida Open | Ft. Lauderdale | May 25-27 | $75,000 |
| Belmar Open | Blemar, N.J. | June 22-24 | $75,000 |
| Chicago Open | Chicago | July 13-15 | $100,000 |
| Hermosa Beach Open | Hermosa Beach, Calif. | July 20-22 | $100,000 |
| Milwaukee Shootout | Bradford Beach, Wis. | Aug. 4-5 | $60,000 |
| Manhattan Beach Open | Manhattan Beach, Calif. | Aug. 24-26 | $100,000 |
| Jose Cuervo National Championships | Huntington Beach, Calif. | Sept. 21-22 | $150,000 |
NO HORSING AROUND:
The National Volleyball League is hosting the two-day tournament around next month's Preakness Stakes featuring U.S. Olympic beach volleyball teams Phil Dalhausser and Todd Rodgers and Jen Kessy and April Ross. The $50,000 tournament will begin at Baltimore Beach on Friday, May 18, and the semifinals and the finals will be played in the infield of Pimlico Race Course prior to the Preakness on Saturday, May 19 (
THE DAILY).
