eSpike Oct 09

Team SpikeKey heads to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico ( October 7^th- 9^th, 2009)

In March, Team SpikeKey went to the Cayman Islands and played in their first ever NORCECA event which earned them Olympic qualifying points for 2012! They leave this Wednesday for Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. This will be the second international trip representing the USA for team SpikeKey. They will have the opportunity to compete against talented international teams such as Cuba, Mexico, Guatemala, Dominican Republic, Costa Rica and many others. Follow the tournament here: http://www.usavolleyball.org/.

eSpike Sept 09

GREAT FINISH at the Chicago AVP Tournament!
(August 27th-30th, 2009)

Chara and I finished with our heads held high after our last match at the Chicago AVP tournament. The Chicago stop is always one of the most popular and competitive tournaments of the season.

Despite the rain and cold weather on Thursday we qualified wining two rounds and advanced to the main draw. We had another solid day of competition resulting in a 17th finish in the nation. The AVP season may be over for this summer but we still have some very exciting tournament and events that are coming up.

eSpike Aug 09

SpikeKey Takes Title at Clearwater Beach

(August 1-2, 2009)

Dig the Beach headed back to Clearwater Beach for a second time this season. Beach volleyball tournaments at Clearwater Beach consistently feature large fields and showcase a variety of teams. Adding to the intensity of the tournament, Megan and Chara competed in the Men’s AA Division, as well as the Women’s Open Division. For the record, guys absolutely hate losing to girls. In maximizing their playing opportunities, Megan and Chara ran back and forth between the men’s and women’s courts throughout the entire day. After frantically running around the beach from match to match, Megan and Chara defeated a well respected team from Florida/Puerto Rico in the Women’s Open Division finals in two straight games. As a side note for those of you that closely follow beach volleyball, former Olympian and father of Misty May-Treanor ,“Butch” May competed in the tournament. Many thanks to Doug and Drew from KILO KAI for their support at the Clearwater Beach tournament.

HOMETOWN HEROES: Beach volleyball circuit keeps Venice grad going

The professional beach volleyball circuit is unrelenting. With all the tours, players might compete every weekend during the season. Sometimes Venice High School graduate Kristen Batt does -- in a whirlwind schedule that has included a career counseling job at North Port High School, ongoing training and volleyball clinics."I figure that I have to play while I can and give it my all," Batt wrote in an e-mail, shortly after arriving home from a victory at the Extreme Volleyball Professionals (EVP) tournament in Racine, Wis. "When I can no longer play, I'm sure I will be ready to do some coaching. I do help out every once in a while with Venice High School."

eSpike July 09

Team SpikeKey Qualifies for Main Draw at AVP Coney Island

(July 2-5, 2009) Brooklyn, NY

SpikeKey and the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus shared Brooklyn’s famous boardwalk in Coney Island, New York earlier this month. Volleyball fans celebrated with SpikeKey as they qualified for the Main Draw of the AVP event, and circus enthusiasts cheered as the hulking elephants, acrobats and Russian tumblers displayed their talents.

SpikeKey aptly compares their New York trip to a circus because they were constantly running around the city. Typically, SpikeKey tries to make arrangements to stay relatively close to the venue at each featured city. However, in New York, they seized an opportunity and accepted a generous offer from some talented and worldy musicians. The result was that SpikeKey faced an hour-long subway ride to and from the venue each day. Needless to say, SpikeKey became very familiar with New York’s always entertaining subway system.
Spikekey competed in the Qualifier’s Bracket on Thursday, and by defeating Lynne Brinkman/JoAnna Papageorgiou, they successfully earned a berth in the Main Draw on Friday. Here’s a breakdown of Tournament. On Friday, SpikeKey faced the Lindquist sisters, who are well known in the beach volleyball community and on the AVP Tour for their outstanding and tenacious defense. Proving that beach volleyball isn’t all about height, the Lindquist sisters measure only 5’6” tall. But despite their apparent height disadvantage, the Lindquist sisters are currently ranked 6th on the AVP Tour. Team SpikeKey lost a hard fought match to these veteran professionals. The last match of the day was a close and intense battle against a well respected team from San Diego that was seeded 11th in the event. The match went to the third game, and SpikeKey was edged out for the victory. This was Megan and Chara’s very first AVP event together.

eSpike June 09

“SpikeKey Beach Annual” Now Available

Former Sarasota Cardinal Mooney High School and Michigan State University volleyball star and current professional beach volleyball player, Megan Wallin, proudly announces the publication of the first edition of her magazine, the SpikeKey Beach Annual. The magazine is the first of its kind in the state of Florida and aims to establish itself as the authority on beach volleyball in the state. The objective of the SpikeKey Beach Annual is to drive tourism and economic growth to beach communities around the World, specifically Florida beaches. Content ranges from health and conditioning tips, guidance on obtaining a college scholarship, and a reference of competition sites throughout the state. SpikeKey Beach Annual is an entertaining and informative read for the average beach goer and avid sand player.

“We have reached out to contributors from all over the country who have helped create content that will entertain, inform, and instruct,” said Executive Editor Sean Griffin. “We are very fortunate to have some of the biggest names in volleyball, as well as respected experts in other athletic fields contributing articles and interviews.”

SpikeKey Beach Annual Magazine with Pre-Launch Party

Please join Team SpikeKey for a Siesta Key sunset May 16, Saturday night, to celebrate the pre-launch of SpikeKey Beach Annual. The party will immediately follow the Dig the Beach volleyball tournament at Siesta Beach.

The party provides a chance to celebrate the culmination of months of planning and work on the publication. Many of the advertisers, writers, and supporters of SpikeKey will be in attendance. Also, several of the players who have inspired and contributed to SpikeKey are scheduled to participate in the tournament at Siesta Beach that day and are expected to attend the party.

SpikeKey Beach Annual Magazine

Sarasota volleyball star celebrates first edition of the SpikeKey Beach Annual magazine with Pre-Launch Party

Sarasota, FL, May 6, 2009 - Former Cardinal Mooney and Michigan State University volleyball star and, current professional beach volleyball player, Megan Wallin, will be celebrating the pre-launch of her magazine, SpikeKey Beach Annual, with a party on Siesta Key, May 16, immediately following the Dig the Beach volleyball tournament at Siesta Beach. The magazine is scheduled for publication in early June.

eSpike May 09

SpikeKey at Dig The Beach Team SpikeKey wins on home beach, Siesta Key! (May 16-17th, 2009)
Team SpikeKey gave local Siesta Key residents a reason to celebrate after winning the Dig the Beach Series tournament on Siesta Key Beach. SpikeKey not only represented their home “sand” but also won a trip to compete in the US Open (Manhattan Beach, September 25-27, 2009). Sunday also broke a new record for Dig the Beach Junior Series with teams competing for their mark in the sand. SpikeKey is very proud of all their “SpikeKey” girls who competed with such determination and sportsmanship.

Fort Lauderdale Open April 4-5, 2009

The 3rd annual Fort Lauderdale Open proved yet again to be a GREAT success! Player’s from around the state of Florida jammed Fort Lauderdale beach to prove that they are worthy of the cash prize, or for our amateur divisions, the “bundle” giveaways. 150 Teams took to Fort Lauderdale beach for the season opener of the Dig the Beach Series. If this was any indication of the level of competition; this year will be a battle till the end for all divisions.

News

eSpike Oct 09

eSpike Sept 09

eSpike Aug 09

HOMETOWN HEROES: Beach volleyball circuit keeps Venice grad going

eSpike July 09

eSpike June 09

“SpikeKey Beach Annual” Now Available

SpikeKey Beach Annual Magazine with Pre-Launch Party

SpikeKey Beach Annual Magazine

eSpike May 09

Fort Lauderdale Open April 4-5, 2009

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