AVP Tour close to making return to Santa Barbara

After a two-year absence, the AVP Tour returns to Santa Barbara for a four-day event, April 29-May 2.

The AVP Nivea Santa Barbara Open will take place at a constructed facility at West Beach.

The last time the domestic pro beach volleyball tour stopped here local star Todd Rogers and Phil Dalhausser had just returned from winning the gold medal at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China. They gave local fans more to cheer about as they scored a stirring come-from-behind victory over John Hyden and Sean Scott in the championship match.

Phil Dalhausser serves two years ago at the AVP Santa Barbara Open.

In addition to the men’s and women’s AVP action, Santa Barbara will host a 16-team collegiate women’s championship. UCSB is expected to have a team entered in the invitational event, set for Saturday and Sunday, May 1-2. The teams will be announced early next week.

The action begins Thursday, April 29 at 8 a.m. with 64-team men’s and women’s qualifiers. Eight teams will advance to the main draw

The 32-team main draw begins at 9 a.m. Friday and continues through Sunday. The men’s final is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. on Sunday and will be televised on ESPN2. The women’s final will follow at 4:30 p.m.

Tickets can be purchased online at avp.com or at the site. Fans buying on line receive a $5 discount per ticket and a coupon for 10 percent off any AVP merchandise onsite. For suite information, If you are please contact [email protected] or call 310-426-7107.

General admission single-day tickets are $15 online and $20 onsite; courtside seats are $25 and $30 and youth/students (with student ID) are $5 and $10.

All-session passes are $40 online and $50 for general admission and $65-$75 for courtside seats.

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