LONG BEACH, Calif. -- A lot of things can happen in 16 years. Even as the game of beach volleyball evolves and grows, the players do as well, and for Canyon Ceman, the times are changing.

"I've been trying to have a good sense of humor about it," said Ceman, who played in his first qualifier tournament with partner Casey Patterson today at the Long Beach Open. "Each year I've made a choice to devote a certain amount of energy, time and life to this sport. The simple physical reality is that I am now 36 and have enough physical problems and wasn't that great of a jumper to begin with. All of the young guys coming out are good jumpers, and their skills have slowly improved and my physical limitations have continued to fall."

Even with his physical limitations, Ceman is one of the legendary players of beach volleyball who always found a way to win.

"I think that my secret to longevity in this sport has probably been ball control and being a thinking man's player while having a passion for the sport," said Ceman, who has won seven AVP titles in his 16 years on the tour. "A lot of other players that in the last five years had the same projectory that I have had would have hung it up earlier, but I like the life that goes along with this. It gives me the flexibility to do all of the things I like in my life. I also have good ball control and know how to win, and sometimes, physically, I don't have it, but with those skills you can compete with anyone."

Along with having played with some of the legends of the game, Ceman also picked up some valuable tips along the way.

"Tim Hovland used to tell me, 'In through the nose and out through the mouth,' which is how you are supposed to breathe when you tighten up," said Ceman. "Brian Lewis would talk to me about stop thinking, because I would overanalyze things. Mike Whitmarsh would tell me about being in the moment and leaving it all on the court and how we win and lose as a team."

In line with other retirees such as Eric Fonoimoana and Karch Kiraly, retirement is on the horizon for Ceman.

"This year, I am done," said Ceman, who was a four-year starter at Stanford and the 1993 NCAA National Player of the Year. "If I play next year, it will be in local tournaments, because my mom wants me to retire at the Hermosa Beach Open next year. I'm not going to play a full season and put in any time into it. It's time for me to get a job, get some income going and take the next step in my life."

Along with the next step in his life being focused around his wife Kimberly and their six-month old daughter Cayenne Sydney, Ceman will also be focusing on other things.

"I have an MBA and have been doing strategic and financial consulting for the last couple of years," said Ceman, who still has a loose affiliation with Nike. "I'm looking for what the passion is, and my two final industries are the sports and alternative energies. Hopefully, by September 15, I will know."

Yet before he retires in September, there is more volleyball to play and a few words of wisdom for the up-and-comers on the tour.

"Pick your role models well," said Ceman, who picked Kiraly and Mike Dodd as his role models. "Enjoy the volleyball and everything that this lifestyle allows you to do."

Along with Ceman and Patterson, the No. 3 seed, qualifying for the Main Draw that starts Friday, other teams on the men's side that are advancing include the top-seeded Jeff Carlucci and Albert Hannemann, second-seeded Jason Lee and Austin Rester and fourth-seeded John Moran and Eyal Zimet.

Meanwhile on the women's side, teams that are advancing to Friday's Main Draw play include the No. 1 seed, Paige Davis and Jenelle Koester; the No. 4 seed, Jennifer Fopma and Brittany Hochevar; the No. 3 seed, Angela Knopf and Brooke Langston; and the No. 31 seed, Lynne Brinkman and Carol Hamilton.

The men's Main Draw competition starts at 8 a.m. on Friday. The women begin