BIG CROWDS AT THE ‘LODE!

The 37^th Annual MotherLode Volleyball Classic, held over Labor Day Weekend in Aspen, Colorado, drew some of its biggest spectator crowds of the 21^st Century.  And, the competition didn’t disappoint them, either.  Although most of the top finishers in the Men’s and Women’s Open were from the AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tour, the rest of the competitors in this highly regarded Pro-Am beach doubles volleyball Event put on a quite a show as many of the top seeded teams, in both Divisions, found themselves in the ‘Losers Bracket’ early in the Tournament.  The Championship Courts, located at Koch Lumber Park, in Aspen, gave the spectators everything they wanted, and more, as 523 teams from 36 States of the Union, and, even, British Columbia, competed at five different playing sites, in 18 Divisions, all over the resort town of Aspen, Colorado.

When all was said and done, “Top Guns” from the AVP Tour were the big winners as Paige Davis (Hermosa Beach, Ca.), playing with Jenelle Koester (Redondo Beach, Ca.) bested Christina Hinds (Los Angeles, Ca.)/Christal Morrison (Newport Beach, Ca.) to take home their second straight MotherLode Women’s Open Title (they won the 2008 Tourney, as well) while AVP Pros Jesse Rambis (Manhattan Beach, Ca.) and John Moran (Redondo Beach, Ca.) downed fellow Californians Evan Engle (Dana Point, Ca.) and Dane Jensen (Hermosa Beach, Ca.) for the Men’s Open Title.

However, the other 16 divisions were hotly contested and produced winners from a variety of geographical locations including Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Texas, Nebraska, Kansas City, New Mexico, and Colorado.  With Coloradans finishing 1^st in six of the 18 Divisions contested.