Leaders Emerge After First Day of Beach IDQ

B.J. Hoeptner Evans
Manager, Media Relations and Publications
Phone: (719) 228-6800
E-Mail: bj.evans@usav.org

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (March 19, 2011) – Eight women’s beach volleyball teams have reached the quarterfinals of the USA Volleyball International Development Qualifier (IDQ) at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, Calif.

The teams are competing for prize money, USAV Beach National Ranking points and bids to upcoming NORCECA Beach Circuit events in Dominican Republic and Mexico.

Four teams emerged from pool play undefeated on Saturday: top-seeds Tealle Hunkus (Girard, Ohio) and Heather Lowe (Cypress, Calif.); Jenny Kropp (Grand Island, Neb.) and Whitney Pavlik (Laguna Beach, Calif.); Kim DiCello (San Diego, Calif.) and Meri-de Boyer (Poway, Calif.) along with Johanna Schatz (Honeoye, N.Y.) and Anne McArthur (Los Angeles, Calif.).

In Sunday’s quarterfinals, Hunkus and Lowe, who did not lose a set in pool play, will play Lynne Brinkman Galli (San Diego, Calif.) and Briana Hinga (San Diego, Calif.).

Kropp and Pavlik will face Kelly Schumacher (Miami Beach, Fla.) and Angela McHenry Bryan (Covina, Calif.). DiCello and Boyer will play Kathryn Babcock (Kalamazoo, Mich.) and Erin Gray (Orland Park, Ill.). Schatz and McArthur will go up against Jennifer Snyder (Glendale, Ariz.) and Tracy Jones (Fountain Valley, Calif.).

The semifinals and finals will also be played on Sunday.

“The level of play at this first event of the season has been extremely high,” said Ali Wood Lamberson, USA Volleyball director of beach programs. “Tomorrow’s playoff matches are sure to be very competitive. This speaks well for the level of women’s beach volleyball in the U.S."

The athletes have been pleased with competing at the Olympic Training Center.

“I love playing this level here at the OTC because the atmosphere is great with all of the other Olympic hopefuls from various sports training and competing at the same time,“ Snyder said.

“This facility is awesome,” Boosin said. “The courts are great and the view of the lake is spectacular.”

To view complete tournament results, click here.

Tags: Beach, Beach Volleyball, International Development Qualifiers