The AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tour started its 2009 season today with the Qualifier for the AVP Crocs Tour’s first-ever Spring Break event in Panama City Beach, Fla. Four teams from both the men’s and women’s qualifiers made it into Saturday’s Main Draw, which features the world’s best beach volleyball players, including 2008 Olympic gold medalists Phil Dalhausser and Todd Rogers.

In addition to Dalhausser and Rogers, Saturday’s Main Draw features 2008 Beijing Olympians Nicole Branagh (Torrance, Calif.) / Elaine Youngs (Durango, Colo.), Jake Gibb (Costa Mesa,  Utah) / Sean Rosenthal (Corona Del Mar, Calif.) and three-time Olympian Holly McPeak (Manhattan Beach, Calif.).

On the men’s side of the Qualifier, top-seeded team Mike DiPierro (Pompano Beach, Fla.) / Jon Mesko (Manhattan Beach, Calif.) defeated JD Christie / Mike Morales (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) (25), 21-11, 21-16 and will face No. 12 seeds Anthony Medel (Hermosa Beach, Calif.) / Adam Jewell (Redondo Beach, Calif.) in the first round on Saturday. Jonathan Acosta (Newport Beach, Calif.) / Andrew Fuller (Mountain View, Calif. (4) eliminated Danny Cook (Nashville, Tenn.) / Chris Luers (Morrow, Ohio) (21), 21-15, 28-26 and will take on No. 10 seeds Will Strickland (Malibu, Calif.) / Aaron Wachtfogel (Hermosa Beach, Calif.). Joey Dykstra (Hermosa Beach, Calif.) / Evan Engle (Dana Point, Calif) (3) dispatched Jake Elliott (Mt. Pleasant, S.C.) / Jonathan Guida (Mt. Pleasant, S.C.)(27), 21-17, 18-21, 15-12 to advance to Saturday and a match against No. 11 seeds Pedro Brazao (San Pedro, Calif.) / Matt Prosser (Long Beach, Calif.). Lastly, Scott Hill (Los Angeles) / Everett Matthews (Burbank, Calif.) (7) beat out Daniel Dalanhese  (Westminster, Calif.) / Nate Hagstrom (Fountain Valley, Calif.) (18), 21-11, 19-21, 15-13 and will attempt to upset No. 9 seeds Jose Loiola (Manhttan Beach, Calif.) / Larry Witt (Santa Ynez, Calif.).

On the women’s side, top-seeded Paige Davis (Hermosa Beach, Calif.) / Brooke Langston (Hermosa Beach, Calif.) defeated Kathleen Olsovsky (Hermosa Beach, Calif.) / Chrissie Zartman (Hermosa Beach, Calif.) (8), 21-6, 21-14 to advance to Saturday’s Main Draw against No. 12 seeds Ashley Ivy (Hermosa Beach, Calif.) / Lauren Fendrick (Carlsbad, Calif.). Raquel Caulkins (Huntington Beach, Calif.) / Rosalinda Masler (Hermosa Beach, Calif.) (13) made it to Saturday by beating Katie Carter (Sherman Oaks, Calif.) / Christina Hinds (Malibu, Calif.) (12), 21-14, 21-17. They will face No. 10 seeds Nancy Mason (Hermosa Beach, Calif.) / Michelle More ( Redondo Beach, Calif.) Ashley Groothuis (Costa Mesa, Calif.) / Christal Morrison (Manhattan Beach, Calif.) (14) upset Diane Pascua (Carlsbad, Calif.) / Jennifer Snyder (Long Beach, Calif.) (6), 16-21, 21-15, 15-13 and will advance to take on the No. 9 team of Barbra Fontana (Manhattan Beach, Calif.) / Keao Burdine (Pico Rivera, Calif)). Cindie Boosin (Manhattan Beach, Calif.) / Tealle Hunkus (Redondo Beach, Calif) (7) sent home Capri Hilgendorf (West Palm Beach, Fla.) / Franci Van Zwieten (Coconut Creek, Fla.) (15), 21-15, 21-17 and have the chance Saturday to unseed No. 11 team Priscilla Lima (Palm Coast, Fla.) / Jenny Pavley (Agoura Hills, Calif.).

The AVP’s week in Panama City began with Collegiate Beach Challenge. Starting on Tuesday, March 24, college students from across the country will had the chance to participate in a two-day four-on-four beach volleyball tournament, competing for cash prizes.

The AVP Crocs Panama City Open is taking place in front of Sharky’s Beach Front Restaurant & Tiki Bar, located in the heart of Panama City Beach. Main Draw play begins Saturday at 8 a.m. and will continue Sunday at 8 a.m. Men’s and women’s finals are scheduled for Sunday afternoon. Tickets are available at Sharky’s gift shop and at avp.com. Tickets start at $10 for beach access/standing room, and $20 for a stadium court bleacher seat. For more information about the AVP Crocs Tour, please visit avp.com.