Information and Background

WPVA - Address

Women's Professional Volleyball Association (WPVA)
Suite 205
840 Apollo
El Segundo, CA 90245-4711

310/726-0700 Business Affairs/Event Management Office
310/726-0719 Business Affairs/Event Management Office FAX
303/443-2833 Information Director Office
303/541-9782 Information Director FAX

Nancy Lengel, Executive Director
LeValley Pattison, Tour Director
Gordie Mahon, Tournament Director
Angela Guerra, Administrative/Marketing Manager
Timothy Simmons, Information Director

Background:

The Women's Professional Volleyball Association (WPVA) was organized at the end of 1986 by a group of professional women that included former Olympic and collegiate All-America players. Led by Pepperdine volleyball coach Nina Matthies, the formation of the WPVA was the first step to organizing the women's pro beach volleyball events, which had previously been played as amateur games.

After working four years with outside promoters of individual events, the WPVA in 1991 became the promoter for the premier women's beach volleyball tour in the United States. With a membership of more than 225 active female athletes, the WPVA is the third largest professional league for women and serves as the sanctioning body for the participation of the United States top female beach volleyball players in worldwide competition.

10th Season:

The WPVA, which had sactioned 128 events starting with the inaugural women's professional event May 16-17, 1987 at Newport Beach, CA, starts its 10th season of competition. The Evian Tour has been staged at 59 sites in 21 states and three international sites. Karolyn Kirby is the tour's all-time money winner ($369,349.13). Kirby has a record 56 wins and 87 top four placements along with 104 top twelve finishes in 108 career starts. Gail Castro and Elaine Roque have played in the most events (124).

Competition:

Beach volleyball is played between two-person teams on a nine-meter by 18-meter sand court. Games are played to 15 points. WPVA event points are used to determine seedingd for each tournament. Each participant earns points for double-elimination tournament finishes throughout the season, which when combined with her partner's points determines the week's ranking or seedings. Players have the option to change partners for each tournament.
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