Alums to compete in beach tourney

By Daniel Miller
DAILY BRUIN SENIOR STAFF
[email protected]

Not far from the campus where they won championships and
attained national accolades, several former UCLA volleyball players
will sweat it out in the sand with the hopes of further solidifying
their position in the professional tour at the Association of
Volleyball Professionals Manhattan Beach Open on Aug. 8.

In this 43rd playing of the tournament, former Bruins, like
three-time Olympic gold medal winner Karch Kiraly (with partner
Brent Doble) and the top-ranked women’s team of Holly McPeak
and Elaine Youngs will compete for $150,000 in prize money and for
national exposure as the men’s final will be broadcast live
on NBC Aug. 11 at 1 p.m.

“We are looking forward to Manhattan Beach as the AVP
players return to Southern California where they will continue to
showcase their skills and prove that the AVP is the premiere locale
for professional beach volleyball surrounded by a must see beach
party, all live on NBC,” AVP Commissioner Leonard Armato
said.

The No. 6 men’s pair of Albert Hannemann and Jeff Nygaard
is another UCLA pair with an impressive resume.

In 2002, Nygaard was a volunteer assistant coach for the UCLA
men’s volleyball team. As a player, he led the Bruins to NCAA
Championships in 1993 and 1995. Hannemann lettered for UCLA in
1990.

This year 48 men’s and 32 women’s teams
compete for the title. Yet, one former Bruin playing in the
tournament stands out ““ Karch Kiraly ““ considered the
greatest volleyball player ever. Kiraly will be competing for his
eighth Manhattan Beach Open title and looks to become the first
player to amass $3 million in career winnings.

The No. 1 McPeak-Youngs duo, who began teaming this season, has
yet to be defeated, and is favored to win its fifth consecutive
2002 AVP tournament at Manhattan Beach.

At UCLA, McPeak and Youngs racked up many impressive
achievements. In 1990 McPeak made the All-Pac-10 team and the NCAA
All-Tournament team. Youngs played from 1988 to 1992 and was an
American Volleyball Coaches Association All-American all four
years.

Qualifying matches begin at 8 a.m. Aug. 8, with the men’s
and women’s main draw competition beginning at 8 a.m. on Aug.
9. The tournament concludes with the televised men’s final on
Aug. 11.