National Volleyball League Putting On Tournament As Part of InfieldFest at Pimlico Track
The infield at the Preakness is not like that of the Kentucky Derby, but it’s quite a scene.
And this weekend, it’s going to be even more entertaining at the National Volleyball League (NVL) and 32 of its top teams will be holding a beach volleyball tournament as part of Preakness InfieldFest 2011 at Pimlico Race Course.
Preliminary rounds take place Friday May 20 at Baltimore Beach’s Rash Field before the top men’s and women’s teams move on to compete for $75,000 in the semifinals and finals on Saturday from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. The first serve of the men’s final is at 2 p.m. and the women’s showdown starts at 3:30 p.m.
The tournament is part of a full weekend of infield entertainment. There are bands and a beer garden. Preakness InfieldFest 2011 features performances by Grammy winners Bruno Mars Train and Hotspur on the main stage Saturday.
“The stadium court has quickly become the main attraction during the infield festivities,” said Don Abramson, Corrigoin Sports VP of Development, which worked with the NVL to bring beach volleyball to the infield.
“For the first time at InfieldFest, more than 80,000 fans will witness the NVL’s best players battling for $75,000 and that is a big deal.”
The top seed on the men’s side is Sean Scott and John Hyden, a duo that rivals U.S. Olympic Gold Medalists and the international powerhouse team of Phil Dalhausser and Todd Rogers. Scott and Hyden have defeated Rogers and Dalhausser six times, more than any opponent in history.
“We are thrilled to be playing with the NVL and have the opportunity to play domestically and for the first time in front of an enthusiastic Preakness crowd,” Scott said.
Perhaps the greatest threat for Scott and Hyden is the newly formed team of Casey Patterson and Brad Keenan, who have been competing internationally and are quickly establishing themselves as a top tier tandem.
Ed Ratlidge/Ryan Mariano, Matthew Prosser/Billy Allen, Matt Olson/Kevin Mccolloch, and Russ Marchewka/Eyal Zimet will all fight for the inaugural NVL championship, a symbolic and historic prize for the league and sport.
On the women’s side of the bracket, the team of Lisa Rutledge and 2000 Olympian (5th place in Sydney Olympics) Annett Davis is the number one seed and the pair will be competing together for the first time.
Other teams on the women’s side battling for their share of the $75,000 prize are Jenny Kropp/Whitney Pavlik, Kristen Batt/Brooke Sweat, Jenn Snyder/Erin Gray and Christal Engle/Jess Gysin.
All four courts will be streamed live online at www.thenvl.com.
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