USA Volleyball Beach - 2010 International Development Qualifier - A great oportunity

Traci Weamer (Source Photos: Mark Rigney)

USA Volleyball is hosting the Second 2010 International Development Qualifier (IDQ), to identify elite beach athletes for entry to select FIVB and NORCECA events and other USAV High Performance Beach Programs. Teams that finish IDQ events among the top teams will get the opportunity to compete in international events representing the USA.

Top finishers in order of IDQ ranking will choose from a list of available events.

“Last year’s two IDQ events were highly successful. With the rapid expansion of the NORCECA tour and the demand for high-level events that meet the needs of developing elite athletes, USAV feels that this is the perfect time to expand the IDQ schedule,” said Ali Wood Lamberson, USA Volleyball’s Director of Beach Programs.

IDQ events are open to all beach athletes who are not ranked among the top 16 AVP teams (pending an AVP final decision). The AVP will grant dispensation to athletes in good standing individually ranked below a certain mark in order to compete in conflicting FIVB and NORCECA events.

Three IDQs will take place at Marina Green Park, 700 East Shoreline Drive in Long Beach, Calif., with the fourth event being held in Florida at a site to be determined.

Calendar and Informations
Dates: March 6-7, March 27-28, and June 26-27
Location: Marina Green Park, 700 E Shoreline Drive, Long Beach, Calif.

Date: Aug. 14-15
Location: Florida, site TBC

Cost: $70 per team USAV members, $80 per team non-members
Ball: Molten BV5000 (NORCECA ball)
Level: Open to all beach athletes, (contracted AVP athletes must confirm eligibility based on rank with the AVP prior to competition. AVP rank is at date of registration.) Seeding: USAV/IDQ, NORCECA, AVP, FIVB and CBVA points will be considered
Format: Two days. Full match play (2 out of 3 to 21, 3rd to 15). Pool play with single elimination playoffs
Registration: Registration is online ONLY (www.regonline.com/usavbeach2010) and closes the Wednesday before each event at 11:59 p.m.

Results of the 1st event - 6/7 march 2010
With entries into three NORCECA Beach Circuit events on the line, Erin Gray (Sugar Grove, Ill.) and Kathryn Babcock (Grand Rapids, Mich.) won the first of four women’s USA Volleyball beach volleyball International Development Qualifier (IDQ) events held March 6-7 at Long Beach, Calif., while Jason Wight (San Diego, Calif.) and Reuben Danley (San Diego, Calif.) teamed to win the men’s event.

Women’s IDQ 1 Final Standings
1st-Erin Gray (Sugar Grove, Ill.)/Kathryn Babcock (Grand Rapids, Mich.)
2nd-Michelle Moriarity (Hermosa Beach, Calif.)/Dana Kabashima (Santa Monica, Calif.)
3rd-Aurora Skarra-Gallagher (Santa Cruz, Calif.)/Jennifer Corral (Thousand Oaks, Calif.)
Men’s IDQ 1 Final Standings
1st-Jason Wight (San Diego, Calif.)/Reuben Danley (San Diego, Calif.)
2nd-Michael Bruning (San Diego, Calif.)/Dana Camacho (San Diego, Calif.)
3rd-Kevin McColloch (Solana Beach, Calif.)/Curtis Jackson (Encinitas, Calif.)

Source: USA Volleyball