COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – This week on the beach, youth teams compete in the World University Championships and the Beach High Performance Championships. Pro athletes will play in Cuba for the NORCECA Tour and the AVP hosts the Manhattan Beach Open.

State side, beach volleyball ramps up this weekend with the High Performance Championships in Hermosa Beach and the AVP Manhattan Beach Open just down the coast. From Estonia, four pairs will compete in the World University Championships and in Cuba, the NORCECA Tour continues to roll through its schedule.

Last week in Gstaad, Switzerland, all four Olympic-bound teams finished in the top five in their final international tournament before the Olympic Games. Both American men’s and women’s top seeds brought home silver after falling to Brazil in the gold medal matches. Phil Dalhausser and Nick Lucena earned their

Jake Gibb and Casey Patterson finished fifth, as did Lauren Fendrick and Brooke Sweat. In total, nine American teams placed in the Top 25 at the Gstaad Major.

2016 OLYMPIC POOLS ANNOUNCED
From Gstaad, Switzerland, the FIVB made the official announcement of pools for the 2016 Olympic Games.

On the women’s side, third-seeded April Ross/Kerri Walsh Jennings are in a pool with Switzerland, China and Australia. Fifteen seed Lauren Fendrick/Brooke Sweat are in the pool with No. 1 Brazil, Poland and Russia.

Third seed Phil Dalhausser/Nick Lucena will face Italy, Mexico and Tunisia in the opening round. Jake Gibb/Casey Patterson, the sixth seed, will play Spain, Austria and Qatar.

BEACH HIGH PERFORMANCE CHAMPIONSHIPS
The 2016 Beach HP Championships will be played July 13-17 in Hermosa Beach, Calif., from the south side of the pier. Age groups from 13-23 will compete in the annual event with winners joining from the A1 and A2 Junior National Team programs.

WORLD UNIVERSITY CHAMPIONSHIPS
In Parnu, Estonia, four American teams, two of each gender, will play in the World University Championships from July 13-17.

The main draw is made up of 32 teams, eight pools of four teams in the round robin format – 24 teams will advance to the single elimination bracket. Visit the FISU World University Championship website, here.

NORCECA GOES TO CUBA
The NORCECA Continental Tour continues with its eighth stop of the year, in Varadero, Cuba, July 15-17. In 2016, the U.S. has had 10 podium finishes by the men (three gold) and 12 podium finishes for the women (five gold).

AVP MANHATTAN BEACH OPEN
The Manhattan Beach Open begins on July 14 with qualification and the opening rounds. Elimination rounds will be played on July 16 followed by the semifinals and finals on Sunday the 17th.

Olympic bound team Phil Dalhausser/Nick Lucena and Jake Gibb/Casey Patterson are scheduled to compete at the tournament.

Live streaming of the matches are available on the AVP website, and the finals will air on Sunday, July 17, starting at 3 p.m. ET on NBC.

WORLD TOUR RETURNS TO USA IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE OLYMPICS
Following the Olympics in August, the FIVB World Tour will return to the United States for the Long Beach Grand Slam (World Series of Beach Volleyball) starting Aug. 23. It is expected to draw the four American Olympic teams, as well as a large contingent from other countries.

Learn more about the next World Tour event in the U.S., here.

WEEK IN REVIEW
FIVB Gstaad Major
– Phil Dalhausser/Nick Lucena won silver, their seventh medal of 2016
– April Ross/Kerri Walsh Jennings won silver, their seventh medal of 2016; Ross surpassed 500 career FIVB wins
– Jake Gibb/Casey Patterson finished fifth, eighth Top 5 finish in 2016
– Lauren Fendrick/Brooke Sweat finished fifth, their third quarterfinal finish in 2016
– Tied for 9th: Trevor Crabb/Taylor Crabb; Lane Carico/Summer Ross
– Tied for 17th: John Hyden/Tri Bourne
– Tied for 25th: Sean Rosenthal/Jeremy Casebeer; Kimberly DiCello/Kendra Vanzwieten
– Lost in qualification: Ryan Doherty/John Mayer; Irene Pollock/Caitlin Ledoux

UPCOMING EVENTS
July 14-16 NVL Columbus
July 14-17 AVP Manhattan Beach Open
July 15-17 NORCECA Varadero
Aug. 6-18 Olympic Games beach volleyball matches
Aug. 5-7 NORCECA Boqueron
Aug. 11-13 NVL Hermosa Beach
Aug. 23-28 Long Beach Grand Slam
Aug. 26-28 NVL Virginia Beach

Related Links
Team USA Ready for Rio, beach volleyball players Dalhausser and Lucena win silver in Gstaad

FIVB Evandro and Pedro claim gold, net cowbells and anchor Brazilian sweep

FIVB Brazil vs United States match for Gstaad Major gold

FIVB Swiss-born Dalhausser makes successful Gstaad return

FIVB Olympic draw completed for Rio 2016 Beach Volleyball competition

FIVB Rio 2016 Olympic beach volleyball Drawing of Lots Saturday in Gstaad

FIVB Hours before Rio 2016 Olympic draw, Brazilians Talita and Larissa make a “major” statement in Gstaad

NBC Sports Kerri Walsh Jennings, April Ross Rio underdogs after another loss to Brazilians

FIVB American comeback nets Gstaad golden berth versus Brazil
Red Bull Content Pool Kerri Walsh Jennings: Gstaad injury in top five moments of my career

FIVB Experience on display Saturday at women’s Gstaad Major
The New York Times Kerri Walsh Jennings seeks Olympic success with a new partner

FIVB Ross achieves 500th win as Americans joins Brazilians, Dutch & Germans in Gstaad golden chase
ABC News It’s the beach that makes beach volleyball so difficult
News4JAX Local duo to represent USA at World Beach Volleyball Championships

FIVB Knockout rounds Friday for women’s Gstaad Major
FIVB Lucky losers continue winning way
FIVB Men’s Gstaad Majors Main Draw features 15 Olympic-bound pairs
FIVB American and Brazilian “Lucky Losers” Gstaad qualifying winners

FIVB Successes and failures for Rio-bound women’s teams in Gstaad
FIVB Wacky day of men’s qualifying at Gstaad Major
FIVB Longest continuous FIVB World Tour event opens in Gstaad Tuesday
ESPN The Magazine Rio-bound April Ross on body image and training for the Olympics

FIVB 2016 FIVB World Tour update after SWATCH FIVB Porec Major in Croatia
FIVB Gstaad set to host Rio draw