When the Association of Volleyball Professionals’ players come to the Jersey Shore this weekend, the women will be there. The AVP women have not competed in Belmar since 1994 but they are this weekend! The AVP 2002 Belmar Open Presented by Paul Mitchell begins with the Qualifier Tournament on June 28. The Main Draw action kicks off on June 29 and the men’s and women’s Finals will be played on June 30.

The fans in Belmar are likely to look to Whitmarsh and Ceman to win on the New Jersey Shore. Whitmarsh and Ceman started the season off strong with a second in Huntington Beach but they sagged after that with ninth and seventh place finishes. But the Belmar fans remember Whitmarsh won there in 1997-2000. Whitmarsh took the title with Ceman in 2000 and many fans will be looking for a repeat. 

There are three women playing this weekend who placed in the top four of the 1993 and 1994 Belmar Opens - McPeak, Linda Hanley, and Pat Keller. McPeak, with Cammy Ciarelli, won the 1993 event and took fourth in 1994. Linda Hanley, with Rita Crockett Royster, placed fourth in 1993 and Pat Keller placed third with Valinda Hilleary in 1994. Hanley is playing with Lisa Arce and Keller is playing with Marsha Miller now.

This year, the team to beat is clearly McPeak and Youngs. DeNecochea and Fontana have tried in each of the first three finals. Annett Davis and Jenny Johnson Jordan have placed third three times. Their first 2002 AVP Final appearance could happen this weekend. Carrie Busch and Leanne Schuster also appear solid. After beginning the season with a fifth, they have placed third in the last two events. Arce and Hanley remain consistent with a third and two fifth place finishes.

Friday’s Qualifier Tournament has 51 men’s teams and 28 women’s teams. Jim Van Zwieten and his younger brother Steve, could surprise others despite their 43rd seed in the QT. Eight men’s teams and six women’s teams will advance from the QT into Saturday’s Main Draw competition. This brings the total of men’s Main Draw teams to 32 and the women’s to 24 to begin Saturday play.

The AVP 2002 Belmar Open Presented by Paul Mitchell is set for broadcast on both the Oxygen Network and Fox Sports Network with Chris Marlowe and Heather Cox announcing.