The Beach Volleyball National Championships are back at Spanish Banks for a second straight year this weekend! Competitors from across Canada will be fighting it out for their share of the $11,000 purse and title of 2013 National Champions!
Local favorites and 2012 18U Champions, Nicole and Megan McNamara of South Surrey will look to continue their winning ways at National Championships in their first year in the Senior Competition. The 16 year old identical twins have attracted a lot of attention on the pro-circuit in 2013 after taking third place at the high-profile ClearlyContacts.ca Open in July, followed by a silver medal last week at the Canada Games in Quebec. Standing in their way will be the Canada Games Gold medalists Sophie Bukovec and Ali Woolley of Toronto, Ontario, as well as 2013 BC Provincial Champions Liz Cordonier and Leah Allinger-Pezer of Vancouver, BC.
On the Men’s side Aaron Nusbaum of Toronto, Ontario looks a strong favorite for his first National title after winning World U21 silver in Croatia this June with Grant O’Gorman. Playing with new team mate Will Sidgwick, a fellow Queen’s and Canada representative – the pair will be tough to beat. With BC born 2012 National Champion Maverick Hatch competing overseas currently, BC hopes rest with Provincial Champion and TRU star Krzysztof Orman who pairs up with National B team and former TWU player Steven Marshall.
The tournament will also feature the top youth teams from across Canada, competing in 14U, 16U, 18U and 21U divisions. With several BC teams taking part, the local athletes will hope to use the home advantage against some very strong travelling teams. Partnerships to look out for are BC 18U champions – Surrey’s Chloe Stone and Vancouver’s Sara Pantovic as well as 17U winners from Vancouver Island Victoria Behie and Sara Chase in the Girls’ competition and 2013 UBC recruits Irvan Brar and Matt Guidi and BC Silver medalists from the Okanagan, Logan Mend and Blair Anderson in the Boys’ event.
In total there will be 67 courts, 207 teams and 414 athletes at the biggest beach volleyball tournament ever held in Western Canada. The championships are free to the public and fans are encouraged to come and check it out! The event features free prize giveaways, interactive crowd activities, and some of the best beach volleyball action in North America – don’t miss out!
“We are very excited to welcome Canada’s best players to Vancouver once again in 2013,” commented Chris Densmore, Executive Director at Volleyball BC. “Volleyball BC are proud to act as host for the 25th annual National Beach Volleyball Championships at one of the most picturesque beaches in Canada, and I’d like to wish all the teams competing the very best of luck!”
If you can’t make it down to Spanish Banks, Senior Division 1 Gold medal matches will be streamed live on www.sportscanada.tv on Sunday afternoon. The Women’s final will get underway at 2pm, followed by the Men’s gold at 3pm (PST).
Tournament Details
Dates: August 23-25, 2013
Location: Spanish Banks Beach, Vancouver, BC
Times: 9am – 5pm daily
Gold Medal Match: Women – Sunday August 25th, 2pm
Men – Sunday August 25th, 3pm
More details and live results updates: http://www.volleyball.ca/contenfivb.t/2013-beach-nationals
For media enquiries please contact:
Brian Hiebert
Communications Manager
T: 604-364-2660 (Cell)
Kate Rothery
Event Media Coordinator
T: 778-891-6939 (Cell)
Action from the 2012 Beach Volleyball Nationals at Spanish Banks. Photo credit: Mallory Donen Photography