AVP Indianapolis, Indiana - May 31-June 1, 1997

UPSET FILLED TOURNEY ON MILLER LITE/AVP TOUR ENDS AS $100,000 AVP INDIANAPOLIS OPEN DISCONTINUED DUE TO RAIN

Eight teams to share fifth place finish as play is halted in Sunday's Quarterfinal round

Indianapolis (June 1, 1997) - The top-ranked team of Kent Steffes and Jose Loiola, along with seven other teams reaching Sunday's quarterfinal round, all shared a fifth-place finish as play at the $100,000 AVP Indianapolis Open was discontinued due to heavy rain.

After two of the top three teams were eliminated in the constant rain and chilling winds during play on Saturday, the inclement weather continued Sunday, forcing play to be cancelled.

"Conditions were such that the courts became unplayable and the forecast called for continued rain, forcing ourselves to be in the same situation as the Indianapolis 500," said the Association of Volleyball Professionals CEO, Jerry Solomon. "All those at the facility did their best to keep the courts playable, however ultimately we had to give into the weather conditions."

Steffes, who paired with Karch Kiraly to win the 1st Olympic gold medal for beach volleyball at the 1996 Summer Games, and partner Loiola, the 1997 King of the Beach, reached Sunday's quarterfinals after recording an 11-7,11-4 victory over Aaron Boss and Nick Hannemann, and later defeating Lee LeGrand and Matt Unger 11-2, 11-1 on Saturday.

No. 2 seeds Karch Kiraly and Adam Johnson were upset in Saturday's second round by No. 10 seeds Ian clark and David Swatik, 11-5, 6-11, 6-4, in a best two out of three matchup at the single elimination tournament.

In the biggest upset of the tournament, No 19 seeds Brent Doble and Albert Hannemann erased No. 3 seeded team of Olympic silver medalist Mike Whitmarsh and partner Scott Ayakatubby in the opening round on Saturday, 6-11, 12-10, 6-4. Mike Dodd, Whitmarsh's long time partner and fellow Olympic silver medalist, was absent from this weekend's tourney while nursing an ankle injury.

The Miller Lite/AVP Tour resumes at next week's $135,000 Swatch AVP Open in Lake Tahoe, CA (June 6-8), the last of four single elimination tourneys this season. Tickets are still available by calling Telecharge at (800) 432-7470

EIGHT QUARTER-FINALISTS

5th - Kent Steffes/Jose Loiola (1)           $ 5,000
5th - Bill Boullianne/Brian Lewis (4)        $ 5,000
5th - Randy Stoklos/Troy Tanner (5)          $ 5,000
5th - Dain Blanton/Canyon Ceman (6)          $ 5,000
5th - Eric Fonoimoana/Bryan Ivie (7)         $ 5,000
5th - Mark Kerins/Andrew Smith (8)           $ 5,000
5th - Ian Clark/David Swatik (10)            $ 5,000
5th - Brent Doble/Albert Hannemann (19)      $ 5,000

LOSERS- ROUND OF 16

9th - Adam Johnson/Karch Kiraly (2)          $ 2,250
9th - Henry Russell/Eric Wurts (9)           $ 2,250
9th - Lee LeGrand/Matt Unger (13)            $ 2,250
9th - Brian Gatzke/Michael Schlegel (16)     $ 2,250
9th - Mike Garcia/Justin Perlstrom (17)      $ 2,250
9th - Wayne Seligson/Kevin Wong (20)         $ 2,250
9th - James Fellows/Lance Lyons (22)         $ 2,250
9th - Daxton Holdren/Todd Rogers (27)        $ 2,250

LOSERS- ROUND OF 32

17th- Scott Ayakatubby/Mike Whitmarsh (3)    $ 1,000
17th- Ricci Luyties/Jim Nichols (11)         $ 1,000
17th- Scott Friederichsen/Leif Hanson (12)   $ 1,000
17th- Dan Castillo/Jason Ryan Pursley (14)   $ 1,000
17th- Aaron Boss/Nick Hannemann (15)         $ 1,000
17th- Raul Papaleo/Greg Shankle (18)         $ 1,000
17th- Todd Ahmadi/John Brajevic (21)         $ 1,000
17th- Daniel Cardenas/Andre Gomez (23)       $ 1,000
17th- Jason Stimpfig/Bruk Vandeweghe (24)    $ 1,000
17th- Mark Paaluhi/Chris Young (25)          $ 1,000
17th- Matt Lyles/Kevin Martin (26)           $ 1,000
17th- Greg Ryan/Burke Stefko (28)            $ 1,000
17th- Curtis Griffin/Aaron Smith (29)        $ 1,000
17th- Eduardo Garrido/Carlos Loss (30)       $ 1,000
17th- Marcelo Duarte/Leland Quinn (31)       $ 1,000
17th- Jody Holdren/Conrad Leinemann (32)     $ 1,000

PLAYERS

Seedings announced on May 28th:

Kent Steffes/Jose Loiola (1)
Adam Johnson/Karch Kiraly (2)
Scott Ayakatubby/Mike Whitmarsh (3)*
Bill Boullianne/Brian Lewis (4)
Randy Stoklos/Troy Tanner (5)
Dain Blanton/Canyon Ceman (6) 
Eric Fonoimoana/Bryan Ivie (7)
Mark Kerins/Andrew Smith (8)
Henry Russell/Eric Wurts (9)^
Ian Clark/David Swatik (10)
Ricci Luyties/Jim Nichols (11)
Scott Friederichsen/Leif Hanson (12) 
Lee LeGrand/Matt Unger (13)   
Dan Castillo/Jason Ryan Pursley (14)^
Aaron Boss/Nick Hannemann (15)^
Brian Gatzke/Michael Schlegel (16)*
Mike Garcia/Justin Perlstrom (17)
Raul Papaleo/Greg Shankle (18)*
Brent Doble/Albert Hannemann (19)^
Wayne Seligson/Kevin Wong (20)*
Todd Ahmadi/John Brajevic (21)*
James Fellows/Lance Lyons (22)^
Daniel Cardenas/Andre Gomez (23)^
Jason Stimpfig/Bruk Vandeweghe (24)*
Mark Paaluhi/Chris Young (25)*
Matt Lyles/Kevin Martin (26)^
Daxton Holdren/Todd Rogers (27)*
Greg Ryan/Burke Stefko (28)*
Curtis Griffin/Aaron Smith (29)*
Eduardo Garrido/Carlos Loss (30)v
Marcelo Duarte/Leland Quinn (31)*
Jody Holdren/Conrad Leinemann (32)*

NOTES: Number in brackets "(#)" reflects the teams seeding
       * = New Team (from previous week)
       ^ - movement up from last week
       v - movement down from last week

DATE

May 31-June 1, 1997

LOCATION

   Indianapolis Sports Park
   Indianapolis, Indiana

PRIZE MONEY

$100,000

TELEVISION

Fox Sports Net

TICKETS

   Telecharge  800-432-7470

NUMBER OF TEAMS, FORMAT

32 Teams
Single Elimination

PAST CHAMPIONS


YEAR EVENT BEGAN: 1990, 1996 (only previous years in Indianapolis)