Extreme Volleyball Returns to Hermosa

The Extreme Volleyball Professional's tour returns to Hermosa Beach on Saturday. After a one-year hiatus from the South Bay, the tour will showcase some of the top talent in the sport of beach volleyball this weekend.

"We are very excited to be back in Hermosa Beach," said event director Mark Paaluhi, a Redondo Beach resident and 16-year professional beach volleyball player.

Hermosa Beach had been a regular stop on the national tour since 2001, but financial shortcomings forced the tour to skip the South Bay last year.  With the help of sponsors such as Clif Bar, Body Glove and Dive and Surf, the tour is back in one of beach volleyball's most influential cities.

Eric Yokoo, former professional athlete and Manhattan Beach resident, will host and compete in the weekend tour.

"The EVP is a smaller organization, which gives more players a chance to play," he said. "Most everyone knows each other and with some prize money on the line you get some seriously competitive games on the beach."

The tour's professional division will be set as a King and Queen of the Beach tournament. The men's and women's divisions will each consist of eight players with no set teams. 

Each player will rotate partners throughout the day, and whoever has accumulated the most wins at the end of Saturday will be crowned the winner and earn the largest share of the $2,000 purse.

The design forces players to adjust to the styles of a different partner for each match, allowing for a very even playing field. 

The tour's amateur division is completely open to the public. This division's bracket will feature both A and B groups for men and women, allowing for the participation of a variety of skill levels. For those unsure about competing, the tour also includes a few extra courts for attendees to organize pickup games.

The EVP action kicks off on the beach near the north side of the Hermosa Beach pier at 8:30 a.m. Saturday. Amateur registration is available from 7 to 8 a.m.