Gabby Plays 4 on 4 Summer 2010

The AVP and Gabrielle Reece are bringing back the four-woman tour. Three events are scheduled in conjunction with 2010 AVP NIVEA Tour stops: Hermosa Beach and Malibu in July and the Hermosa Beach Invitational, a season finale specialty event, in September.

“The AVP is proud to announce the re-launch of the AVP NIVEA 4-Woman Tour,” said Mike Dodd, AVP Commissioner. “Gabrielle Reece is an icon in women’s sports and fashion and a great anchor to a talented lineup of past, current and future AVP Stars. These 4-Woman events should add entertainment value to our already packed So Cal weekends.”

“NIVEA, our title sponsor, recognizes significant branding benefit from national media coverage of the AVP,” said Jason Hodell, AVP CEO. “Mainstream coverage of this concept, highlighted by the return of Gabrielle Reece, delivers good value to NIVEA and the AVP.”

“The 4-Woman Tour is one more way that NIVEA and the AVP will spread happiness across the country this summer by bringing men, women and families to the beach to enjoy exciting play, sand and fun,” added Nicolas Maurer, Beiersdorf Inc. Vice President of Marketing.

Reece, who returns to the sands of Southern California this season, first launched her professional beach volleyball career with the 4-woman discipline in the early 90s. In 1997, competing with the best global beach volleyball players ever assembled, Gabby’s 4-person team took first place at the first-ever Beach Volleyball World Championships.

Since then, Reece has taken time off to raise a family and continued to pursue her career in health, fitness, and wellness projects in television, writing, and producing content for DVD and on line.

“I am really looking forward to competing in 4×4 beach volleyball with the AVP this season,’ Reece said. “The idea of multi-discipline beach volleyball competitions being played at one event is something I have wanted to participate in for a very long time. I believe 4×4 will be another great opportunity to give the most talented collegiate indoor players a transition discipline to compete in, and provide athletes a platform to develop their skills for doubles. And for me, the opportunity to still be able to compete in a sport that I love, for as long as I can, and still have a legitimate reason to tell my kids why my office is at the beach, in a bathing suit, is one that is still very exciting for me.”

The format will feature 4 sponsored teams of 4 women, competing on Sundays in 3 best-of-3 matches. 4′s finals will take place on Feature Court 1 on Sunday late morning to early afternoon. Exact times are TBD.

Date Event
July 18 Hermosa Beach Open
July 25 Malibu Open
Sept. 19 Hermosa Beach Invitational

4 Woman Teams will be led by legends/captains: Gabrielle Reece, Leanne McSorley, Nancy Reynolds and Lisa Zimmerman.