CHICAGO, ILL. - The Women's Professional Volleyball Association and Alberto VO5, the official hair care sponsor of the Evian Women's Pro Beach Volleyball Tour, will be awarding two fitness grants here this weekend at the WPVA Chicago Open presented by Bravo Card.

Alberto VO5 also presents a "free" beach volleyball skills clinic Friday (July 12) at 4 p.m. (CDT) at the tournament site on North Avenue Beach featuring WPVA players. The $500 fitness grants from Alberto VO5 will be awarded on Saturday and Sunday during the WPVA Chicago Open presented by Bravo Card, the ninth stop on the 1997 Evian Tour.

Alberto VO5 and the WPVA has already awarded 14 fitness grants after the first three months of the 1997 season to fitness organizations that best motivate female participation in sports and fitness. The fitness grants are open to all non-profit clubs, groups and teams with a 501(c)3 certification.

Alberto VO5's will award $14,000 overall this season. Recipients will be judged on how well they motivate female participation and advancement in sports and fitness activities. Organizations will be selected in each city on the 1997 Evian Tour.

For more information or to get an application for the "Get in Condition with Team VO5" fitness grants, contact the WPVA (310/726- 0706). Applications must reach the WPVA office three weeks prior to each event.

The Evian Tour returns to North Avenue Beach for the second- straight season as the $50,000 WPVA Chicago Open presented by Bravo Card starts Saturday (July 12) at 9 a.m. (CDT) with the six rounds of competition in the main draw.

Twelve (12) teams advance to Sunday's final 14 matches starting at 8 a.m. The tournament semi-finals will start at approximately 11:30 a. m. with the championship match set for 3 p.m. when ABC Sports taping the finals for replay July 19.