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The brisk air we Iowans know all too well has arrived. The leaves become a shelter to the grass and the anticipation of the freezing winter months has us feeling less than satisfied. I haven’t heard a single person say, “I’m so excited for this winter! I hope it’s just like last year. I can hardly wait for the snow to fall and the ice to cover the ground so I can chip it all winter long!”
No, what I have heard is more like, “Did you see the flurries the other day? I can’t believe it’s that time of year again. I’d rather serve jury duty than have another winter like last year’s.”
Despite the wintery mix of ice and snow, the Cedar Valley will be experiencing a heat wave in January. The AVP (Association of Volleyball Professionals) is bringing a little beach to the McLeod Center on Saturday, Jan. 31, 2009, at 7:30 p.m. Not only will there be sand, but some of the AVP’s hottest names in beach volleyball will be in attendance, too! The Hot Winter Nights Tour will feature top-ranked AVP men’s and women’s players on a rotational basis, including Nicole Branagh, Jenny Kropp, Tyra Turner and Todd Rogers, and will replicate the authentic Southern California beach party atmosphere featured at a typical AVP Crocs Tour Event.
More than one million people are expected to attend this nationwide tour which includes stops in New York City, Kansas City, Indianapolis, Minneapolis, St. Louis, Cleveland, Portland and Salt Lake City. Even though Cedar Falls is the smallest city on this year’s tour, organizers expect it to draw more fans than many of the larger venues.
“I think the Cedar Valley as well as the entire state has a real passion for volleyball,” University of Northern Iowa head volleyball coach Bobbi Petersen said. “This is an opportunity to see some of the best. We have not had something like this before and I know people will come out to be a part of this great opportunity. It will be a blast!”
She is right. With our Panthers so successful on the national collegiate scene, our community has fallen in love with the sport of volleyball. We love the height of their jumps, the gracefulness of their approaches at the net, and the inspiring thud of the ball hitting the court on the opposite side of the net. When you take that love for the game and mix it with a beach party, a fun time is sure to be had by all.
A lot of work will go into making this event a success. The AVP Tour comes to the UNI the same weekend as two home Panther women’s basketball games (Friday night and Sunday afternoon) and a UNI Track and Field meet in the UNI-Dome (all day Saturday). The UNI facilities staff will be working around the clock the entire weekend, setting up and removing the 200 tons of sand that the AVP tour requires. The UNI staff is working to promote the beach party and sell several thousand tickets, which are now on sale at the UNITix office or by calling 319-273-4TIX.
“This is a great way to show off our community and the support that we can have for an event like this,” Petersen stated. “Beach volleyball has become a popular sport throughout the entire country and the world and it is awesome to bring some of the best players to our area, especially right after the Olympics. These events aren’t only an opportunity to watch some great beach volleyball, but also a chance to have a lot of fun with how they run things.”
The AVP’s main goal is to deliver its fans the experience of an amazing athletic competition surrounded by an unforgettable beach party. Spectators can expect great music playing throughout the evening and many merchandise options available for purchase.
January couldn’t be a better time for this much-needed volleyball extravaganza and beach party. Don’t forget your sandals!
Eric Braley is host and producer of “Panther Sports
Talk,” a weekly UNI Sports TV show airing Sunday
nights on KWWL after the 10:00 news, Monday and
Wednesday nights on Cedar Falls Utilities Cable TV
and Thursday nights on Cedar Falls Community Television.
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