Cincinnati volleyball tournment will continue without AVP

COLUMBIA TOWNSHIP, Ohio - The future for professional beach volleyball is bright, despite the end of the AVP.

The Association of Volleyball Professionals or AVP ended operations Friday, August 13 after failing to find enough funding to continue the season. Local organizers plan to open Hahana Beach along Wooster Pike this year with a new approach to professional beach volleyball.

Partner Brian Polark assures all fans that tickets already purchased and future tickets will assure them the top in beach volleyball.

"The event will go off at the level that it was planned to go off and at the levels they were scheduled to go off prior to the events of last Friday," said Polark.

Polark promised the top olympians will still serve it up at Hahana Beach over the Labor Day weekend.

Organizers released a statement including thought from the pros.

“I am happy that we (the players) will still have the chance to play in Cincinnati – over the last 5 years we have enjoyed the fans of Cincinnati immensely.” said Misty May Treanor. “They (the fans) are what makes our experience so special – I can’t wait to dig in.” Misty added.

Polark says they plan to change the experience from a stadium style to a boutique envrioment. He says without the AVP, Hahaha Beach will use more local contractors to prepare the site.

"We're going to have on court seating for the fans, we'll also be providing stadium seating like they've experience in years past," said Polark.

Owners hope Hahaha Beach can become a model for other cities throughout the mid-west who want to host professional volleyball players. The facility is also designed to accommodate extreme sports and year round dining.