Labor Day Weekend 2002 - August 29 - September 2, 2002
Men's Masters & Four Co-ed Divisions Start Play Friday
ASPEN, COLO. - Friday's competition at the 30th annual MotherLode Volleyball
Classic featured the 36-team Men's masters division along with play in four
co-ed (Open, A, BB and B) classes at four sites in one of America's favorite
resorts.
Eric Anderson (Los Gatos, Calif.), who won the 2001 men's master's title with
Kent Kitchel (Santa Cruz, Calif.), won three matches here Friday (August 30)
with new partner Andrew Cavanaugh (Santa Barbara, Calif.) to pace the early
action. Seeded first in the men's masters, Anderson and Cavanaugh play
fourth-seeded Tom Pestolesi (Huntington Beach, Calif.) and Bill Stetson
(Manhattan Beach, Calif.) Friday afternoon in a meeting of unbeatens.
Second-seeded Paul Cook (Steamboat Springs, Colo.) and Reed Stephenson
(Steamboat Springs, Colo.), who placed second to Anderson and Kitchel last
September, won their first two matches Friday to advance to a Friday afternoon
meeting with seventh-seeded John Basey (Lyons, Colo.) and Bill Strande
(Evergreen, Colo.). Third-seeded Dan LaFontaine (Huntington Beach, Calif.) and
Tom Witt (Scottsdale, Ariz.) plays 22nd-seeded Thierry Thilliez (Santa Fe, N.
M.) and Vince Vander Mey (Cedar Crest, N. M.) with the winner playing either
Cook/Stephenson or Basey/Strande.
The Colorado volleyball tradition started Thursday with competition in two
men's senior divisions (45 and 50 and over) and the women's masters. The
MotherLode Volleyball Classic runs through Monday at various sites throughout
the Aspen-area, one of the United States' premier resort playgrounds.
Top-seeded Jon Lee (Santa Barbara, Calif.) and Don Shaw (Menlo Park, Calif.)
won the men's 50 division for the second-straight year as second-seeded Bill
Noon (Lawton, Okla.) and Ron Smith (Denver, Colo.) had to forfeit the title
match due to Noon's right knee injury.
Thursday's title was Lee's (53 and volleyball coach at Santa Barbara's San
Marcos High School) seventh Motherlode title. The 51-year old Shaw coached the
Stanford women to four NCAA Division I titles in 16 years before becoming the
Cardinal men's volleyball coach last season.
Top-seeded Jon Hastings (San Luis Obispo, Calif.) and Andy Shroeder (Concord,
Calif.) successfully defended their men's 45 title by defeating second-seeded
Bob Blackburn (Sedalia, Colo.) and Mike Fair (Culver City, Calif.) 15-9 for the
title. The title was the second for Hastings (46 and publisher of VOLLEYBALL
Magazine) and Schroeder (46 a salesman).
Jackie Campbell (Santa Barbara, Calif.) and Ilga Celmins (Aptos, Calif.)
captured the women's master's title by defeating Yolanda Munoz (Dallas, Tex.)
and Shannon Smith (Dallas, Tex.) 15-8 in the title match. The top-seeded
Campbell (38 and a planner for Santa Barbara County) and Celmins (37 and a
chemical engineer) won their first MotherLode titles.
The men's Open, AA, A, BB and B classes and Women's Open, A, BB and B divisions
start Saturday at various locations around Aspen. Late registration ($75 for
entries) will be accepted on a space available basis the day of the event. The
registration desk will open at 8 a.m. (MDT) each day of the MotherLode
Volleyball Classic.
With 17 total divisions of play in men's (8 classes), women's (5) and co-ed (4)
divisions, the MotherLode Volleyball Classic is the "most comprehensive" beach
volleyball tournament in North America with some of the best beach volleyball
east of the Pacific Coast Highway.
The MotherLode Volleyball Classic's "open" classes for both men and women
feature the United States' top pro beach volleyball players competing on the
main championship sand courts at Koch Lumber Park. In addition to the 1,400
participants, the MotherLode Volleyball Classic attracts thousands of
spectators that flock to the Aspen-area every Labor Day Weekend to attend "the
best volleyball party in the country."
The MotherLode Volleyball Classic men's and women's Open divisions have
attracted some of America's pro beach players, including former champions Dane
Hansen and Ryan Post (men 1999) and Pat Keller (women 1993, 1997 and 1999 with
Valinda Hilleary). Hansen and Post are back to improve on their second-place
finish to Canyon Ceman and Adam Jewell last September. Keller is teamed with
Erin Galli this season. Galli captured the 1992 MotherLode title with Shawn
Hoover.
Produced by MotherLode Volleyball Productions of Aspen, "The 'Lode"
incorporates the best of traditional beach volleyball creating the "old time"
sense of joy and e***ment for the sport. It is a "must attend" event for the
serious volleyball aficionado - providing an exciting, competitive
end-of-the-season volleyball event surrounded by the beauty and e***ment of
Aspen.
Official brand sponsors for the 30th MotherLode include the MotherLode
Restaurant, Evian, Vehix.com, Volleyball Magazine, Volleyball Colorado, Paul
Mitchell, ATT Broadband, Coca-Cola, Alpine Bank, Coors Light, United/United
Express, Park n' Sun Sports, Spike Nashbar, Powerade and Wilson Sporting Goods
Co.
For additional information about this highly successful and hugely popular
beach doubles volleyball event at the premier summer/winter resort, please
telephone 720/851-7953 or visit the MotherLode Volleyball Classic website at
www.motherlodevolleyball.com. For information regarding activities in the
Aspen/Snowmass-area during the Labor Day weekend, please telephone the Aspen
Chamber Resort Association (800/262-7736) or visit www.aspenchamber.com.
30th ANNUAL MOTHERLODE VOLLEYBALL CLASSIC
Friday's Results & Schedule, August 30
Men's Masters
Winner's Bracket, First-Round
Fred Krohn, Council Bluffs Iowa/Mark Pletka, Omaha, Neb. (No. 24-seeded team)
def. Bill Pinkham, Glenwood Springs, Colo./Chip Seamans, Carbondale, Colo.
(36), 15-9;
Danny Kent, Hermosa Beach, Calif./Bill Meanwell, Denver, Colo. (20) def.
Brett Ammerman, Denver, Colo./Harley Shubart, Highlands, Ranch, Colo. (33),
15-7;
Rich Majors, Denver, Colo./Brian Smith, Santa Barbara, Colo. (30) def. Marcus
Arden, Lakewood, Colo./Dennis Dempsey, Denver, Colo. (34), 15-4;
Pete Peterson, Denver, Colo./Red Redstone, Denver, Colo. (35) def. Rocky
Basille, Lakewood, Colo./Roger Pontaine, Arvada, Colo. (26), 15-1.
Winner's Bracket, Second-Round
Eric Anderson, Los Gatos Calif./Andrew Cavanaugh, Santa Barbara, Calif. (1)
def. Brad Marlow, Oklahoma City, Okla./Isreal Solis, Oklahoma City, Okla. (32),
15-3;
Paul Fair, Denver Colo./Rick Robbins, Denver Colo. (16) def. Fran Broich,
Chicago, Ill./Rich Schuster, Chesterton, Ind. (17), 15-4;
Tobin Rhode, Salt Lake City, Utah/Dave Talley, Salt Lake City, Utah (9) def.
Krohn/Pletka (24), 15-6;
Doug Krutzikowsky, Santa Cruz Calif./Peter Stoessel, Ranchos De Taos, N. M.
(8) def. Bob Blackburn, Sedalia Colo./Joe Morneault, Denver, Colo. (25), 15-8);
Gary Heinemann, Santa Barbara Calif./Doug White, Manhattan Beach, Calif. (5)
def. Slim Bailess, Fort Worth, Tex./Donnie Harris, Dallas, Tex. (28), 15-7;
Mark Bergdahl, Aspen, Colo./Kevin Ryan, Aspen, Colo.( 12) def. Gary Kaelson,
Dallas, Tex./Joey Ranier, Dallas, Tex. (21), 15-1;
Greg Brendel, Dallas, Tex./Ali Clayrock, Dallas, Tex. (13) def. Kent/Meanwell
(20), 15-9;
Tom Pestolesi, Huntington Beach, Calif./Bill Stetson, Manhattan Beach, Calif.
(4) def. Lance Bradbury, Littleton, Colo./Brad Pendleton, Denver, Colo. (29),
15-2;
Dan LaFontaine, Huntington Beach, Calif./Tom Witt, Scottsdale, Ariz. (3) def.
Majors/Smith (30), 15-8;
Bryan Hulse, Highlands Ranch, Colo./Tomek Piesiak, Lakewood, Colo. (14) won
by forfeit over Steve Gouner, Monument, Colo./Tom Schmidt, Colorado Springs,
Colo. (19);
Thierry Thilliez, Santa Fe, N. M./Vince Vander Mey, Cedar Crest, N. M. (22)
def. Don Buntrock, Denver, Colo./Claire Dunning, Golden, Colo. (11), 17-15;
Greg Hall, Lakewood, Colo./Chris McFarlin, Denver, Colo. (6) def. Jim Loomis,
Beloit, Wis./Paul Voltz, Walworth, Wis. (27), 15-10;
John Basey, Lyons, Colo./Bill Strande, Evergreen, Colo. (7) def.
Peterson/Redstone (35), 15-13;
Jon Hastings, San Luis Obispo, Calif./Andy Schroeder, Conrad, Calif. (23)
def. Jeff Burgess, Denver, Colo./Casey Carey, Lakewood, Colo. (10), 15-8;
Steve Byrd, Santa Barbara, Calif./Greg Novak, Carpenteria, Calif. (15) def.
Dean Carlson, Denver, Colo./Kevin Lockwood, Englewood, Colo. (18), 15-10;
Paul Cook, Steamboat Springs, Colo./Reed Stephenson, Steamboat Springs, Colo.
(2) def. John McCarthy, Albuquerque, N. M./Mark Wandas, Albuquerque, N. M.
(31), 15-8.
Winner's Bracket, Third-Round
Anderson/Cavanaugh (1) def. Fair/Robbins (16), 15-6;
Krutzikowski/Stoessel (8) def. Rhode/Talley (9), 15-9;
Bergdahl/Ryan (12) def. Heinemann/White (5), 15-10;
Pestolesi/Stetson (4) def. Brendel/Clayrock (13), 15-9;
LaFontaine/Witt (3) def. Hulse/Piesiak (14), 15-4;
Thilliez/Vander Mey (22) def. Hall/McFarlin (6), 15-5;
Basey/Strande (7) def. Hastings/Schroeder (23), 15-12;
Cook/Stephenson (2) def. Byrd/Novak (15), 15-7.
Winner's Bracket, Fourth-Round
Anderson/Cavanaugh (1) def. Krutzikowski/Stoessel (8), 15-7;
Pestolesi/Stetson (4) def. Bergdahl/Ryan (12), 16-14;
LaFontaine/Witt (3) vs. Thilliez/Vander Mey (22);
Basey/Strande (7) vs. Cook/Stephenson (2).
Winner's Bracket, Fifth-Round
Anderson/Cavanaugh (1) vs. Pestolesi/Stetson (4);
LaFontaine/Witt (3) / Thilliez/Vander Mey (22) winner vs. Basey/Strande (7) /
Cook/Stephenson (2) winner.
Winner's Bracket, Sixth-Round (winner to Championship match)
Anderson/Cavanaugh (1) / Pestolesi/Stetson (4) winner vs. LaFontaine/Witt
(3), Thilliez/Vander Mey (22), Basey/Strande (7) or Cook/Stephenson (2) winner.
Contender's Bracket, First-Round (losers eliminated, place 33rd)
Blackburn/Morneault (25) def. Bassille/Pontaine (26), 15-5,
Bradbury/Pendleton (29) def. Arden/Dempsey (34), 15-9;
Ammerman/Shubart (33) won by forfeit over Gourner/Schmidt (19);
Pinkham/Seamans (36) def. Peterson/Redstone (35), 11-7.
Contender's Bracket, Second-Round (losers eliminated, place 25th)
Marlow/Solis (32) def11-6. Broich/Schuster (17), 11-6;
Blackburn/Morneault (25) def. Krohn/Pletka (24), 11-2;
Bailess/Harris (28) vs. Kaelson.Ranier (21);
Kent/Meanwell (20) vs. Bradbury/Pendleton (29);
Majors/Smith (30) vs. Ammerman/Shubart (33);
Buntrock/Dunning (11) vs. Loomis/Voltz (27);
Pinkham/Seamans (36) vs.. Burgess/Carey (10);
Carlson/Lockwood (18) vs. McCarthy/Wandas (31).
Contender's Bracket, Third-Round (losers eliminated, place 17th)
Marlow/Solis (32) vs. Hulse/Piesiak (14);
Blackburn/Morneault (25) vs. Hall/McFarlin (6);
Bailess/Harris (28) / Kaelson.Ranier (21) winner vs. Hastings/Schroeder (23);
Kent/Meanwell (20), Arden/Dempsey (34) or Bradbury/Pendleton (29) winner vs.
Byrd/Novak (15);
Majors/Smith (30) / Ammerman/Shubart (33) winner vs. Fair/Robbins (16),
Buntrock/Dunning (11) / Loomis/Voltz (27) winner vs. Rhode/Talley (9);
Pinkham/Seamans (36) / Burgess/Carey (10) winner vs. Bergdahl/Ryan (12);
Carlson/Lockwood (18) / McCarthy/Wandas (31) winner vs. Brendel/Clayrock
(13).
Contender's Bracket, Fourth-Round (losers eliminated, place 13th)
Marlow/Solis (32) / Hulse/Piesiak (14) winner vs. Blackburn/Morneault (25) /
Hall/McFarlin (6) winner;
Bailess/Harris (28), Kaelson.Ranier (21) or Hastings/Schroeder (23) winner
vs. Kent/Meanwell (20), Bradbury/Pendleton (29) or Byrd/Novak (15) winner;
Majors/Smith (30), Ammerman/Shubart (33) or Fair/Robbins (16) winner vs.
Buntrock/Dunning (11), Loomis/Voltz (27) or Rhode/Talley (9) winner;
Pinkham/Seamans (36), Burgess/Carey (10) or Bergdahl/Ryan (12) winner vs.
Carlson/Lockwood (18), McCarthy/Wandas (31) or Brendel/Clayrock (13) winner.
Contender's Bracket, Fifth-Round (losers eliminated, place ninth)
Brendel/Clayrock (13) vs. Contender's Bracket, Fourth-Round winner;
Krutzikowski/Stoessel (8) vs. Contender's Bracket, Fourth-Round winner;
Basey/Strande (7) / Cook/Stephenson (2) loser vs. Contender's Bracket,
Fourth-Round winner;
LaFontaine/Witt (3) / Thilliez/Vander Mey (22) loser vs. Contender's Bracket,
Fourth-Round winner.
Contender's Bracket, Sixth-Round (losers eliminated, place seventh)
Contender's Bracket, Fifth-Round winners.
Contender's Bracket, Seventh-Round (losers eliminated, place fifth)
Winner's Bracket, Fourth-Round losers vs. Contender's Bracket, Sixth-round
winners.
Contender's Bracket, Eight-Round (losers eliminated, place fourth)
Contender's Bracket, Seventh-Round winners.
Contender's Bracket, Ninth-Round (losers eliminated, place third)
Winner's Bracket, Fifth-Round loser vs. Contender's Bracket, Eighth-Round
winner.
Championship Match
Winner's Bracket, Fifth-Round winner vs. Contender's Bracket, Ninth-Round
winner (Contender's Bracket team must win two matches to win title).
Thursday's Results, August 29
Men's Senior, 50 and over
Fourth-Place Match
Bill Noon, Lawton, Okla./Ron Smith, Denver, Colo. (2) def. Danny Patterson,
Aspen, Colo./Tom Stillo, Crested Butte, Colo. (5), 15-1.
Third-Place Match
Noon/Smith (2) def. Kurt Batchelder, Vail, Colo./Monty McBride, Vail, Colo.
(10), 15-14.
Championship Match
Jon Lee, Santa Barbara, Calif. Don Shaw, Menlo Park, Calif.(1) won by forfeit
over Noon/Smith (2).
Men's Senior, 45 and over
Fourth-Place Match
Bob Blackburn, Sedalia, Colo./Mike Fair, Culver City, Calif. (2) def. Pete
Burton, Denver, Colo./Dean Carlson, Denver, Colo. (4), 15-3.
Third-Place Match
Blackburn/Fair (2) def. Brian Smith, Santa Barbara, Calif./Larry Sutliffe,
Denver, Colo. (3), 15-10.
Championship Match (winners place 1st, losers place 2nd)
Jon Hastings, San Luis Obispo, Calif./Andy Schroeder, Concord, Calif. (1)
def. Blackburn/Fair (2), 15-9.
Women's Masters, 34and over
Fourth-Place Match
Yolanda Munoz, Dallas, Tex./Shannon Smith, Dallas, Tex (2) def. Kris
Bredehoft, Englewood, Colo./Kathy Lawless, Parker, Colo. (4), 15-10.
Third-Place Match
Munoz/Williams (2) def. Becky Benson, Lakewood, Colo./Patti Smith, Dallas,
Tex. (3), 15-8.
Championship Match
Jackie Campbell, Santa Barbara, Calif./Ilga Celmins, Aptos, Calif. (1) def.
Munoz/Williams (2), 15-8.
Tim Simmons, BFishInc