Wacholder, Turner work for AVP tour

The Huntington Beach Open is the third and final leg, following Miami and Dallas, of the Cuervo Gold Crown series. A part of this year's AVP season, the series' prize is an additional $100,000 bonus given to the top men's and women's teams who accumulate the most points in the three tournaments and is in addition to the money won at the three individual tournaments.

The Cuervo Gold Crown champion men's and women's teams will be awarded their hefty paychecks at the conclusion of the Huntington Beach Open on Sunday.

"It's monumental for us, historic," Leonard Armato, commissioner of the AVP said, of paychecks that will be the largest winners' checks ever presented by the AVP. "One men's team and one women's team will be the recipients of a very big payday Sunday."

Top professional beach volleyball athletes on the men's side included in this year's open are Todd Rogers, Phil Dalhausser, Stein Metzger, Mike Lambert and beach volleyball legend Karch Kiraly. The women's side includes Wacholder and Turner, May-Treanor and Walsh, Youngs and Holly McPeak.

Kiraly, who has announced that he will retire at the end of the current season, won his last tournament title at the Huntington Beach Open in 2005.

The Huntington Beach Open, which began Thursday, continues today, Saturday and Sunday with main draw competition, leading up to Sunday's finals.

The men's final is slated to begin at 2:30 p.m. with the women's final to follow 30 minutes following the completion of the men's final.

This year's AVP tour is composed of 18 stops nationwide. Cities new to hosting tournaments on this year's tour are Dallas, Charleston, S.C., Louisville, Ky., Glendale, Ariz., Boston and San Francisco.

The Schedule

TODAY

Men's and Women's Main Draw Competition

Gates: open 9 a.m.

Competition: 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. (approx.)

SATURDAY

Men's and Women's Main Draw Competition

Gates: open 9 a.m.

Competition: 9:30 a.m. to 6:15 p.m. (approx.)

SUNDAY

Men's and Women's Main Draw Competition

Gates: open 9:15 a.m.

Competition: begins at 9:45 a.m.

Men's final: 2:30 p.m.

Women's final: 30 minutes after conclusion of men's final

Ticket Information (Friday through Sunday)

General admission: $20/day

Courtside seating: $40/day

Student/Youth*: $10/day

(*must be 18 or under with valid school ID)

Group prices also available. For tickets go to www.avp.com.