Jose Cuervo Pro Beach Volleyball Series Moves to Miami Beach on September 16-18 for Second Stop on Elite $500,000 Tour

MIAMI BEACH, Fla., Sept. 13, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Following the successful first stop at the legendary Manhattan Beach Open, the Jose Cuervo Pro Beach Volleyball Series continues at Lummus Park in Miami Beach on Sept. 16-18, 2011.  Produced by IMG and USA Volleyball, the $150,000 Miami Beach Pro will feature a field of 16 teams per gender in a three-day, double elimination tournament that showcases match play under Friday and Saturday night lights.  Information is available at www.josecuervoprobeachvolleyballseries.com.

The Miami Beach Pro boasts top USA beach volleyball players alongside Florida’s finest battling for a prize purse of $150,000 and the highly coveted Jose Cuervo championship trophy. In addition to the Manhattan Beach Open champs Sean Scott (Redondo Beach, CA) and John Hyden (Sherman Oaks, CA), and Whitney Pavlik (Laguna Beach, CA) and Jenny Kropp (Hollyglen, CA), top-rated California teams include Matt Fuerbringer (Redondo Beach) and Nick Lucena (Santa Barbara), April Ross (Costa Mesa) and Jen Kessy (San Clemente), and Nicole Branagh (Torrance) and Brittany Hochevar (Hermosa Beach).

The Miami Beach Pro roster also includes Floridian brothers Mark Van Zwieten (Pompano Beach) and Steve Van Zwieten (Coconut Creek), Steve's wife Kendra Van Zwieten (Coconut Creek), Tyra Turner (Fort Myers Beach), Olaya Pazo (Miami), Kristen Batt (Venice), Brooke Sweat (Estero), Chara Harris (Sarasota), Megan Wallin (Siesta Key), Shayna Munson (New Port Richey) and Tara Kuk (Belleair Beach).

"Miami Beach has bred several of the best beach volleyball players in the world and has always been a primary draw for volleyball fans," said senior VP, IMG James Leitz.  "IMG is thrilled to bring the Jose Cuervo Pro Beach Volleyball Series to Florida and have this opportunity to showcase several of these talented volleyball stars in their hometown."

The Miami Beach Pro includes a center court stadium with VIP skyboxes featuring Jose Cuervo products for fans 21 and older, courtside cabanas, bleacher seating for over 2,000 plus six ancillary courts.  Additional highlights include a welcome center, merchandise store and festival village with an expected 40,000 in attendance over the three day weekend.  Tentative match times are Friday 11am to 8pm; Saturday 11am to 8pm; Sunday 10am – 1:00pm Semi-Finals; Sunday 1:15pm Women's Finals; Sunday 3:00 – 5:00pm Men's Finals Live on VERSUS.

The Jose Cuervo Pro Beach Volleyball Series kicked off at the $200,000 Manhattan Beach Open in Aug. 26-28.  Following the Miami Beach Pro, it moves to Hermosa Beach, Calif. on Sept. 23-25 for the $150,000 Jose Cuervo Pro Beach Volleyball Series National Championship.  The series offers a combined prize purse of $500,000, the most in the U.S. this year.

Jose Cuervo's beach volleyball roots can be traced to 1978 when they became the sport's first major sponsor.  Cuervo again played a significant role in the sport during the mid-80's ultimately leading to the Cuervo Gold Crown in 1988, considered the Triple Crown of beach volleyball.  The Gold Crown events were among the first televised in the sport and helped pave the way for pro beach volleyball to become an Olympic sport.

"Beach volleyball and Jose Cuervo are both known for intensity and lifestyle appeal, and the opportunity to help the sport return to prominence not only for the players but also for fans was one we're excited about," said Brian Radics, Brand Director, Jose Cuervo.  "Given the Jose Cuervo brand's deep history in professional beach volleyball and as one of the sport's first corporate sponsors, this just feels right for everyone involved."

SOURCE Jose Cuervo Pro Beach Volleyball