2001 USA Junior Olympic Beach Volleyball Championships

2001 USA JUNIOR OLYMPIC BEACH VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS

Clearwater Beach, Fla. (July 29, 2001) - With temperatures exceeding the century mark, teams from across the country embarked on Clearwater Beach's Pier 60 for the second day of competition in the 2001 USA Junior Olympic Beach Volleyball Championships. The event, sanctioned by USA Volleyball, is part of the Olympic development program for the sport of beach volleyball in the United States. Pier 60 in Clearwater was the site for championship rounds of the event. In a tournament field that included representation from the most number of states in Junior Olympic beach volleyball history, 13 divisions of Junior Olympic competitors began play promptly at 8 a.m. using the newly adopted FIVB rules of the game, including Rally Point Scoring (RPS), the "let" serve and a smaller court size of 8-meters by 8-meters per side. Over 80 gold, silver and bronze Junior Olympic medals were hanging around the necks of the USA's future beach volleyball stars by sunset.

The event was marked by storied rivalries, dramatic upsets and in what can best be described as a "family affair," the 2001 event included nine sets of siblings, including 3 sets of twins. "This was my first beach tournament," said 10-year-old Casey Cothron, who won the Silver Medal in the Boys' 12-and-under division with twin brother Joshua. "It was fun, but sometimes it's hard to play with my brother."

Highlighting the day's competition was the storied rivalry in the Boys' 18-and-under division, matching the team of Jared Godinez (Ventura, Calif.)/Jeff Urton (Santa Ynez, Calif.) against one of Florida's top boys teams, Kent Ammons (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)/Steve VanZwieten (Pompano Beach, Fla.). Ammons and VanZwieten, who's older brother Jim competes on the FIVB World Tour, started strong winning game one in a best of three Olympic Crossover Gold Medal Final. However, tenacity and ball control turned the momentum for Godinez/Urton, resulting in a 2-1 match victory (15-21, 21-19, 15-11), and their first-ever Junior Olympic Gold Medal. Godinez, who will join the men's indoor volleyball team at the University of California, Santa Barbara this Fall, Ammons and VanZwieten all have international experience, as they competed at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Youth Festival as part of the USA Junior National Beach Team program.

In the girls' division, Kelly Haan of Fort Lauderdale, Fla. and Danielle Teisch of Cooper City, Fla., outlasted the challenge from team Texas, Tausha Kelly and Caley Smith of Alvin, Texas. Haan, who is a regular competitor in adult tournaments throughout Florida and Teisch remained undefeated through bracket play, and claimed the Girls' 18-and-under Gold Medal with a 21-15, 21-15 win over Kelly/Smith.

Championship Results:

Girls 12-and-under

1. Brianna Blakely (Houston, Texas)/Lizzy Ignac (Largo, Fla.)
2. Katie Ignac (Largo, Fla.)/Kim Newton (St. Petersburg, Fla.)

Girls 13-and-under

1. Lauren Richardson (Dunnellon, Fla.)/Sarah West (Eustis, Fla.)
2. Allison Moye (Worthington, Ohio)/Brooke Pflieger (Placerville, Calif.)
3. Jessica Breyman (Naples, Fla.)/Samantha Dahl (Naples, Fla.)

Girls 14-and-under

1. Sarah Hillier (San Luis Obispo, CA)/Shawna Roberts (Atascadero, CA)
2. Ashley Martin (St. Petersburg, Fla.)/Amanda McGowan (St. Petersburg, Fla.)

Girls 15-and-under

1. Amy Gregory (Naples, Fla.)/Arielle Le Boulch (Naples, Fla.)
2. Courtney Haas (Naples, Fla.)/Morgan Liebert (Naples, Fla.)

Girls 16-and-under

1. Kristin Karlik (Colorado Springs, Colo.)/Brittney Ray (Colorado Springs, Colo.) 

2. Erin Beck (Carlsbad, Calif.)/Megan Worley (Encinitas, Calif.) 

3. Erin Dunne (Palmetto, Fla.)/Eniko Luckacs (Bradenton, Fla.)

Girls 17-and-under

1. Tiffany Davison (Lincoln, Neb.)/Christina Johnson (Lincoln, Neb.)
2. Alyson Lumley (Cameron Park, Calif.)/Cassy Pflieger (Placerville, Calif.)
3. Kelsey Baby (Clearwater, Fla.)/Laura Manovil (Dunedin, Fla.)

Girls 18-and-under

1. Kelly Haan (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)/Danielle Teisch (Cooper City, Fla.)

2. Tausha Kelly (Alvin, TX)/Caley Smith (Alvin, TX)

3. Tanya Jarvis (Orlando, Fla.)/Hannah Roberts (Orlando, Fla.)

Boys 12-and-under

1. Jose Ruiz de Val (Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico)/Pablo Vazquez (Carolina, Puerto Rico)

2. Joshua Cothron (Tampa, Fla.)/Casey Cothron (Tampa, Fla.)

Boys 13-and-under

1. Jose Ramon Lopez (Rio Piedras, PR)/Jaime Menendez

2. Mario Perez (San Juan, PR)/Vicente Vazquez (San Juan, PR)

Boys 15-and-under

1. Keauwe Adolpho (Coconut Creek, Fla.)/Mark VanZwieten (Pompano Beach, Fla.)

2. Mario Perez (San Juan, P.R.)/Vicente Vazquez (San Juan, P.R.)

3. Eric Dickson (San Clemente, CA)/Dan Wolf (Sullivans Island, SC)

Boys 16-and-under

1. Chris Sweat (Naples, Fla.)/Nick Sweat (Naples, Fla.)

2. Dan O'Neil (Naples, Fla.)/Robby Baker (Naples, Fla.)

Boys 17-and-under

1. Danny McGowan (Orlando, Fla.)/Robert Tarr (Rockledge, Fla.)

2. Chris Sweat (Naples, Fla.)/Nick Sweat (Naples, Fla.)

3. Deran Bergren (Placerville, Calif.)/Reed Fraga (Placerville, Calif.)

Boys 18-and-under

1. Jared Godinez (Ventura, Calif.)/Jeff Urton (Santa Ynez, Calif.)

2. Kent Ammons (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)/Steve VanZwieten (Pompano Beach, Fla.)

3. Steven Przydzial (Winter Springs, Fla.)/Sam Wolf (Sullivans Island, S.C.)