TORRANCE, Calif. – The U.S. beach volleyball teams heading for the FIVB World Tour season opener in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, are prepped and ready for the event that will take place Feb. 7-12.

The season opener FIVB World Tour stop, part of the Swatch Major Series, is a five-star event in the new FIVB tournament ranking categorization. In 2017, there are five five-star tournaments, three four-star and 17 one to three star tournaments. This year will also feature the FIVB Beach World Championships as well as the annual World Tour Finals.

In Fort Lauderdale, 18 evening matches will be played under stadium lights. Sunday’s women’s final will be broadcast on NBC2 and RedBullTV will stream both finals on their platform as well.

Complete live streaming for the event as well as behind-the-scenes coverage will be available via the Swatch Major Series BeachStream.

Half of the field in the main draw are new partnerships, but the U.S. does return three teams that have extensive experience together. 2016 Olympic bronze medalists April Ross and Kerri Walsh Jennings (#1 seed), Phil Dalhausser and Nick Lucena (#3 seed), and John Hyden and Tri Bourne (#10 seed).

The FIVB recently updated its sport regulations to allow the Host Country to register six teams, excluding the wild cards, at three to five star tournaments. Previously the wild cards were included in the six team maximum. With the update, a Host Country may have up to eight teams total in the tournament, which includes teams from wild cards and the reserve list.

Fort Lauderdale 5-Star Roster
Athletes    Coach Entry
April RossKerri Walsh JenningsMarcio SicoliMain Draw
Brooke SweatSummer RossTy TramblieMain Draw
Lauren FendrickSara HughesMain Draw
Lane CaricoIrene PollockJason LocheadMain Draw Wild Card
Brittany HochevarEmily DayHector GutierrezQualifier
Kelly ClaesKelly ReevesQualifier Wild Card
Emily StockmanKimberly DiCelloQualifier
Kendra VanzwietenKelley LarsenReserve
Phil DalhausserNick LucenaPaul BaxterMain Draw
John HydenRyan Doherty*Jon DazeMain Draw
Jake GibbTaylor CrabbMain Draw
Casey PattersonTheo BrunnerRich LambourneMain Draw Wild Card
Stafford SlickBilly AllenQualifier
Sean RosenthalTrevor CrabbJeff AlzinaQualifier Wild Card
Ryan DohertyJohn MayerTom BlackReserve
Mark BurikBill KolinskeReserve
Staff 
Phil NoyesUSAV Video Scout
Corinne CalabroUSAV Communications
Giuseppe VinciScout
Tyler WiddisonScout

*Ryan Doherty will play in place of Tri Bourne for this event