EL SEGUNDO, CALIF. - The Women's Professional Volleyball Association has cancelled this weekend's Aspen Classic at the Silver Circle Ice Rink due to costs.

The decision to cancel the event was made here Monday (August 25) when the WPVA could not secure the additional revenues to cover the costs associated with the event.

"It is unfortunate that we could not secure the additional funding to cover the costs associated with the staging of the event, including prize money," said Krista Blomquist, a member of the WPVA's Board of Directors.

"The promoter (Motherlode Productions) has done everything possible to make the Aspen Classic a reality," said Blomquist, "but the WPVA could not cover its costs. The WPVA is disappointed about the cancellation since the Aspen Classic was being used to prepare our players for September's World Championships of Beach Volleyball in Los Angeles.

Despite the cancellation, several of the WPVA's top players will be competing in the Women's Open at the 25th Motherlode Volleyball Classic starting Saturday (August 30) in Aspen, Colo.

North America's top "Pro-Am" event, the Motherlode Volleyball Classic opens Thursday (August 28) with more than 600 teams scheduled to compete.

The Motherlode Volleyball Classic pro-am competition runs throughout Labor Day weekend. Pro-am play in eight men's and five women's classes will be held at six different locations in the Aspen-area. The top players will compete in the "Open" classes for both men and women starting Saturday on sand courts at Koch Lumber Park and Willoughby Park.