Beach Update: 11 U.S. Teams in Ostrava for Elite 16

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (May 30, 2023) – Eleven U.S. beach volleyball teams are in Ostrava, Czech Republic this week for the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Elite 16 tournament, which begins on Wednesday and runs through Sunday.

Beach volleyball teams earn points toward Olympic qualifying at Beach Pro Tour events. The Elite 16 events are the highest level.

On the women’s side, the teams of Megan Kraft/Emily Stockman, Terese Cannon/Sarah Sponcil and Savvy Simo/Toni Rodriguez will begin with qualification on Wednesday.

Three women’s teams will start in the main draw: Sara Hughes/Kelly Cheng, Kristen Nuss/Taryn Kloth and Julia Scoles/Betsi Flint.

Nuss/Kloth took silver at the last Elite 16 event in Uberlandia while Flint/Scoles took fourth.

All five of the men’s teams will start with qualification. Unfortunately, Chaim Schalk/Tri Bourne will have to play Trevor Crabb/Theo Brunner in their opening match, meaning one team is eliminated immediately.

The other men’s teams in qualifying will be Miles Partain/Andy Benesh, Miles Evans/Chase Budinger and Troy Field/Paul Lotman.

For a complete schedule of matches go to VolleyballWorld.com.

All matches will be shown on VolleyballWorld.tv.

SARAH SPONCIL VISITS KENYA

Sarah Sponcil visited Kenya with the Christian charity World Concern at the beginning of May. You can learn more about her trip on her blog at sarahsponcil.com/blog and on her Instagram account at smsponcil.

USA Volleyball donated 100 volleyballs for Sarah to give to schools, individuals and organizations working to promote the sport in the country.