From Posing On The Beach To Spiking On The Beach: Molly Sims To Compete In AVP Cuervo Gold Crown Huntington Beach Open
Actress/Model Looks to Qualify for Main Draw of the AVP Professional Beach Volleyball Tournament this Weekend
LOS ANGELES, May 25 /PRNewswire/ - Actress and supermodel Molly Sims, who graced the pages of the 2006 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition, may soon find herself on the sports pages for another reason. The Association of Volleyball Professionals (AVP) announced today that Sims will attempt to qualify for the AVP Cuervo Gold Crown Huntington Beach Open, May 26-29, in Los Angeles. She will be partnering with Amber Willey, a rising star on the 2006 AVP Tour.
Sims, who stars on NBC's hit series Las Vegas, is no stranger to professional sports competition; she once competed as a professional swimmer before pursuing a successful career in modeling. She hopes that athleticism coupled with her 5'9 stature will enable her to experience the same success on the beach volleyball court that she's had in front of the camera.
"I've always considered myself an athletic woman and I thought it would be fun to come out to spend the day with the AVP," said Sims. "What better tournament to play in then the Cuervo Gold Crown Open. It's one of the most exciting tournaments on the beach and always brings out the best in the players and the fans."
The AVP Cuervo Gold Crown Huntington Beach Open is the second of three Cuervo Gold Crown events, and offers more first-place prize money than any other events on the AVP Tour. In addition to the increased purse at each Cuervo Gold Crown event, there will be a $25,000 bonus for the top men's and women's teams based on cumulative performances in the three events.
The Huntington tournament will feature top professional beach volleyball athletes including 2004 Olympic gold medalists Misty May and Kerri Walsh, 2004 Olympic bronze medal winners Holly McPeak and Elaine Youngs, and Rachel Wacholder. On the men's side, three-time Olympic gold medal winner Karch Kiraly, Olympian Stein Metzger and 2004 AVP MVP Mike Lambert and 2000 Olympic Gold Medalists Dain Blanton and Eric Fonoimoana.
The Cuervo Gold Crown Boulder Open, the third event of the AVP's triple crown, will take place in Colorado, August 27-29, 2006. Both of the remaining Cuervo Gold Crown events will air on FOX Sports Net.
About the AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tour, Inc.
AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tour, Inc. is a leading lifestyle sports entertainment company focused on the production, marketing and distribution of professional beach volleyball events worldwide. AVP operates the industry's most prominent national touring series, the AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tour, which was organized in 1983. Featuring more than 150 of the top American men and women competitors in the sport, AVP staged 14 events throughout the United States in 2005. In 2004, AVP athletes successfully represented the United States during the Olympics in Athens, Greece, winning gold and bronze medals, the first medals won by U.S. women in professional beach volleyball. For more information, please visit avp.com .
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