MotherLode Volleyball czar Leon Fell, Wendy Martin (Tampa, Fla.) and Samantha Meador (Houston, Tex.)
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ASPEN, COLO. - Samantha Meador and Wendy Martin captured the first title of the 31st MotherLode Volleyball Classic here Thursday (August 28) while Jon Lee and Don Shaw returned to the podium for the third-straight year as more than 600 teams from 32 states and Switzerland have entered the "most comprehensive" beach volleyball tournament in North America.
Considered the No. 1 Pro-Am tournament in the United States, the MotherLode Volleyball Classic runs through Labor Day (September 1) as the event features the top men's and women's classes will feature several of the nation's top sand players as five "glorious late summer days" of two-person volleyball..
The MotherLode Volleyball Classic has attracted players from Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin.
Seeded second in the 12-team women's masters, Meador (Houston, Tex.) and Martin (Tampa, Fla.) outlasted third-seeded Linda Hager-Arndt (Denver, Colo.) and Kris Bredehoft (Englewood, Colo.) 16-14 in the title match at Koch Lumber Park. Meador and Martin, who had to rally from a 14-13 deficit against the Coloradoans, won all four of their matches Thursday.
Don Shaw (Menlo Park, Calif.), MotherLode Volleyball czar Leon Fell, and Jon Lee (Santa Barbara, Calif.)
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Thursday's title was Martin's second MotherLode crown as she won a Coed A title last year with Keith Jones (Nashville, Tenn.) After losing their opening match Thursday, Hager-Arndt and Bredehoft had to win five contender's bracket games, to advance to the final.
The top-seeded Lee (Santa Barbara, Calif.) and Shaw (Menlo Park, Calif.) scored a 15-2 win over second-seeded Dave Lawless (Denver, Colo.) and Ron Smith (Denver, Colo.) for the Men's 50 and over title at Koch Lumber Park. It was the second win Thursday for Lee and Shaw over their Colorado rivals and the Californians defeated Lawless and Smith 15-13 in the finals of the championship bracket on the Chart House Courts. Lee has now won six MotherLode titles, including three men's master's crown with George Zebot (1994-96).
Third-seeded Larry Sutliffe (Denver, Colo.) and Brian Richter (Denver, Colo.) scored a 15-12 win over fourth-seeded Bill Noon (Lawton, Okla.) and Joe Gagnon (Santa Barbara, Calif.) late Thursday for the men's 45 and over crown. It was the three match of the day for the two teams as Noon and Gagnon forced the double final with a 15-7 win. Sutiffe and Richter defeated Noon and Gagnon 15-8 on the Koch Lumber courts earlier Thursday in the finals of the champion bracket.
Larry Sutliffe, Denver, Colo. and Brian Richter, Denver, Colo
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Play continues Friday with the 36-team men's master's competition. Eric Anderson (Los Gatos Calif.) and Andrew Cavanaugh (Santa Barbara, Calif.) won the 2002 MotherLode Men's Master, but return this season with different partners. Anderson will team with Kent Kitchel, who missed last year's event due to injuries. Anderson and Kitchel won five MotherLode master titles together in 1994, 1996, 1997, 1999 and 2001. Kitchel also won two MotherLode masters with Mark Tanner in 1992 and 1993. Christian Larson will be Cavanaugh's partner this season.
Record MotherLode crowds in 2002 saw Colorado State University products Angela Knopf (from Troutdale, Ore.) and Krista Swartzendruber (Glenwood Springs, Colo.) win the women's Open title at the 30th MotherLode Volleyball Classic. In the men's Open, Skyler Davis (Irving, Tex.) and Brian Soldano (Isle of Palms, S.C.) captured the crown.
Knopf and Swartzendruber are expected to defend their women's title while Soldano returns with new partner Dave Smith (Culver City, Calif.). A total of 74 men's and 27 women have entered the "opens" this season as the two classes highlight the play in the 18-division event. The Men's Master's field has 37 entries and has become the United States' No. 1 event for players 37 and older.
Seeded last in the 26-team women's Open field, Knopf and Swartzendruber had to rally twice in the title match to defeat sixth-seeded Natalie Sime and Dawn Tischauser 18-16. Davis and Soldano finished first among the 67 teams entered by defeating 33rd-seeded Bryan Gibson (Birmingham, Ala.) and Jones (Nashville, Tenn.) twice on Labor Day 2002, including a 15-6 win in the title match.
Late registration will be accepted, in person (space permitting), day of check-in for the respective divisions; or, at the pre-check-in desk in Aspen Friday (August 29) at Koch Lumber Park 12-6 p.m., or Saturday starting at 8 a.m. The late registration fee is $80. For more information on the MotherLode Volleyball Classic, please visit www.motherlodevolleyball.com.
The MotherLode Volleyball Classic's "open" divisions feature beach professionals, top amateurs, USA National Team members, and Legends of the Game competing on the main championship sand courts at Koch Lumber Park. In addition to the 1,400 participants, the MotherLode Volleyball Classic attracts thousands of spectators that flock to the Aspen-area every Labor Day Weekend to attend "the best volleyball party in the country."
Produced by MotherLode Volleyball Productions of Aspen, "The 'Lode" incorporates the best of traditional beach volleyball creating the "old time" sense of joy and excitement for the sport. It is a "must attend" event for the serious volleyball aficionado - providing an exciting, competitive end-of-the-season volleyball event surrounded by the beauty and excitement of Aspen.
31st ANNUAL MOTHERLODE VOLLEYBALL CLASSIC
August 28, 2003 Results
Men's Senior's 45 and over (seven entries)
Championship Bracket, First-round
·Bill Noon, Lawton, Okla./Joe Gagnon, Santa Barbara, Calif. (No. 4-seeded team) def. Dean Carlson, Denver, Colo./Kelly Esser, Denver, Colo. (5), 15-7;
·Larry Sutliffe, Denver, Colo./Brian Richter, Denver, Colo. (3) def. David Straun, Denver, Colo./Rocky Basile, Denver, Colo. (6), 15-8.
·Joe Morneault, Denver, Colo./Bill Pinkham, Glenwood Springs, Colo. (7) def. Bob Blackburn, Sedalia, Colo./Mike Fair, Culver City, Calif. (2), 15-12
Championship Bracket, Second-round
·Noon/Gagnon (4) def. Eric Anderson, Los Gatos, Calif./Packy Jones, Westlake Village, Calif. (1), 16-14;
·Sutliffe/Richter (3) def. Morneault/Pinkham (7), 15-4.
Championship Bracket, Third-round
·Sutliffe/Richter (3) def. Noon/Gagnon (4), 15-8
Contender's Bracket, First-round (loser eliminated, place seventh)
·Blackburn/Fair (2) def. Straun/Basile (6), 15-8;
Contender's Bracket, Second-round (losers eliminated, place fifth)
·Carlson/Esser (5) def. Morneault/Pinkham (7), 15-9;
·Anderson/Jones (1) def. Blackburn/Fair (2), 15-8.
Contender's Bracket, Third-round (loser eliminated, place fourth)
·Carlson/Esser (5) def. Anderson/Jones (1), 15-13.
Contender's Bracket, Fourth-round (loser eliminated, place third)
·Noon/Gagnon (4) def. Carlson/Esser (5), 15-7.
Championship Match, double final
·Noon/Gagnon (4) def. Sutliffe/Richter (3), 15-7 to force a double final;
·Sutliffe/Richter (3) def. Noon/Gagnon (4), 15-12.
Past Men's Senior 45 and over Champions
2003 Larry Sutliffe/Brian Richter
2002 Jon Hastings/Andy Shroeder
2001 Jon Hastings/Andy Shroeder
2000 Dan Salyer/Ron Smith
1999 Ron Smith/Mike Wirsing
1998 David King/Dan Salyer
1997 David King/Dan Salyer
1996 Jon Lee/George Zebot
1995 Jon Lee/George Zebot
1994 Jon Lee/George Zebot
Men's Senior's 50 and over (11 entries)
Championship Bracket, First-round
·Mark Andrews, Council Bluffs, Iowa/Brian Warneke, Council Bluffs, Iowa (No. 9-seeded team) def. Terry Bannick, Denver, Colo./Bill Post, Vail, Colo. (8), 15-8;
·Dennis Dempsey, Lakewood, Colo./Chris Savard, Denver, Colo. (5) def. Dan McCarty, Aspen, Colo./Mike Peterson, Denver, Colo. (10), 15-7;
·Bill Schuster, Denver, Jack Flora, Wheat Ridge, Colo. (11) def. Philip Powers, Lakewood, Colo./Larry Kowalski, Lakewood, Colo. (6), 15-6.
Championship Bracket, Second-round
·Jon Lee, Santa Barbara, Calif./Don Shaw, Menlo, Park, Calif. (1) def. Andrews/Warneke (9), 15-4;
·Dempsey/Savard (5) def. Monty McBride, Vail, Colo./Dan Patterson, Aspen, Colo. (4), 15-13;
·Dave Akin, Monument, Colo./Bruce Walker, Aspen, Colo. (3) def. Schuster/Flora (11), 15-9;
·Dave Lawless, Denver, Colo./Ron Smith, Denver, Colo. (2) def. Mike Larkin, Wichita, Kan./Robert Albrecht, Wichita, Kan. (7), 16-14;
Championship Bracket, Third-round
·Lee/Shaw (1) def. Dempsey/Savard (5), 15-13;
·Lawless/Smith (2) def. Akin/Walker (3), 15-11.
Championship Bracket, Fourth-round
·Lee/Shaw (1) def. Lawless/Smith (2), 15-13.
Contender's Bracket, First-round (losers eliminated, place ninth)
·Schuster/Flora (11) def. Bannick/Post (8), 15-2
·Powers/Kowalski (6) def. Larkin/Albrecht (7), 15-8;
·Andrew/Warneke (9) def. McCarty/Peterson (10), 15-11.
Contender's Bracket, Second-round (losers eliminated, place seventh)
·Schuster/Flora (11) def. Powers/Kowalski (6), 15-5;
·McBride/Patterson (4) def. Andrew.Warneke (9), 15-11.
Contender's Bracket, Third-round (losers eliminated, place fifth)
·Schuster/Flora (11) def. Akin/Walker (3), 15-9;
·Dempsey/Savard (5) def. McBride/Patterson (4), 15-11.
Contender's Bracket, Fourth-round (loser eliminated, place fourth)
·Dempsey/Savard (5) def. Schuster/Flora (11), 15-7.
Contender's Bracket, Fifth-round (loser eliminated, place third)
·Lawless/Smith (2) vs. Dempsey/Savard (5), 15-12
Championship Match
·Lee/Shaw (1) def. Lawless/Smith (2), 15-2.
Past MotherLode Men's Senior's 50 Champions
2003 Jon Lee/Don Shaw
2002 Jon Lee/Don Shaw
2001 Jon Lee/Don Shaw
2000 Danny Patterson/Byron Shewman
1999 Larry Stein/Tom Stillo
1998 Danny Patterson/Byron Shewman
1996 Chester Goss/Stephen Goss
Women's Masters (12 entries)
Championship Bracket, First-round
·Debbie Webster, Carrolton, Tex./Darcy Arellano, Fairview, Tex. (No. 9-seeded team) def. Elizabeth Bergdahl, Aspen, Colo./Deb Straum, Denver, Colo. (8), 15-3;
·Nancy Hall, Denver, Colo./Kathy Lawless, Parker, Colo. (5) def. Susie Patterson, Aspen, Colo./Fadia Middlebrook, Aspen, Colo. (12), 15-1;
·Amy Carlson, Denver, Colo./Sandy Matthes, Aurora, Colo. (6) def. Diane Herzberg, Boulder, Colo./Joelle Patten, Boulder, Colo. (11), 15-4;
·Lisa Patton, Highlands Ranch, Colo./Dawn Gates, Centennial, Colo. (7) def. Tammy Weckwerth, Longmont, Colo./Barb Bradley, Boulder, Colo. (10), 15-11.
Championship Bracket, Second-round
·Webster/Arellano (9) def. Patti Smith, Dallas, Tex./Yolanda Munoz, Dallas, Tex. (1), 15-11;
·Hall/Lawless (5) def. Tina Bowlin, Denver, Colo./Kelly Colvin, Boulder, Colo. (4), 15-13;
·Carlson/Matthes (6) def. Linda Hager-Arndt, Denver, Colo./Kris Bredehoft, Englewood, Colo. (3), 16-14;
·Samantha Meador, Houston, Tex./Wendy Martin, Tampa, Fla. (2) def. Patton/Gates (7), 15-8.
Championship Bracket, Third-round
·Hall/Lawless (5) def. Webster/Arellano (9), 15-9;
·Meador/Martin (2) def. Carlson/Matthes (6), 15-3.
Championship Bracket, Fourth-round
·Meador/Martin (2) def. Hall/Lawless (5), 15-4.
Contender's Bracket, First-round (losers eliminated, place ninth)
·Smith/Munoz (1) def. Wechwerth/Bradley (10), 15-6;
·Bowlin/Colvin (4) def. Herzberg/Patten (11), 15-8;
·Hager-Arndt/Bredehoft (3) def. Patterson/Middlebrook (12), 15-0;
·Bergdahl/Straum (8) def. Patton/Gates (7), 15-5.
Contender's Bracket, Second-round (losers eliminated, place seventh)
·Smith/Munoz (1) def. Bowlin/Colvin (4), 15-11;
·Hager-Arndt/Bredehoft (3) def. Bergdahl/Straum (8), 15-10;
Contender's Bracket, Third-round (losers eliminated, place fifth)
·Carlson/Matthes (6) def. Smith/Munoz (1), 15-11;
·Hager-Arndt/Bredehoft (3) def. Webster/Arellano (9), 15-7.
Contender's Bracket, Fourth-round (loser eliminated, place fourth)
·Hager-Arndt/Bredehoft (3) def. Carlson/Matthes (6), 15-7.
Contender's Bracket, Fifth-round (loser eliminated, place third)
·Hager-Arndt/Bredehoft (3) def. Hall/Lawles (5), 15-9.
Championship Match
·Meador/Martin (2) def. Hager-Arndt/Bredehoft (3), 16-14.
Past MotherLode Women's Masters Champions
2003 Samantha Meador/Wendy Martin
2002 Jackie Campbell/Ilga Celmins
2001 Jeanne Goldsmith/Linda Hanley
2000 Jill Davis/Gayle Stammer
1999 Mardji Hyde/Becky Snider
1998 Andrea Beylen/Sue Holmes
1997 Andrea Beylen/Sue Holmes
1996 Sandra Fahey/Marie Salyer
1995 Jill Cerise/Deb Lawless
1994 Andrea Beylen/Sue Holmes
August 29, 2003 Schedule
Men's Masters
Championship Bracket, First-round
·Rich Majors, Denver, Colo./Ron Snyder, Colorado (17) vs. Joe Gagnon, Santa Barbara, Calif./R. H. Hinkson, Denver, Colo. (36);
·Casey Carey, Lakewood, Colo./Jeff Burgess, Denver, Colo. (24) vs. Bill Pinkham, Glenwood Springs, Colo./Chip Seamans, Carbondale, Colo. (33);
·Mark Wandas, Fort Collins, Colo./Mark Hickert, Belleair Bluffs, Fla. (21) vs. Thomas Schmidt, Colorado Springs, Colo./Steve Gouner, Monument, Colo. (36);
·Al Peters, Longmont, Colo./Bob Hill, Geneva, Switzerland (22) vs. Donnie Harris, Dallas, Tex./Alan White, Dallas, Tex. (35);
Championship Bracket, Second-round
·Eric Anderson, Los Gatos, Calif./Kent Kitchel, Santa Cruz, Calif. (1) vs. Mark Winkler, Dallas, Tex./to be announced, Texas (32);
·Brian Kennedy/Rick Robbins, Colorado (16) vs. Majors/Snyder (17) / Gagnon/Hinkson (36);
·Matt Bergdahl, Aspen, Colo./Bob Roberts, Aspen, Colo. (9) vs. Carey/Burgess (24) / Pinkham/Seamans (33) winner;
·Doug White, Manhattan Beach, Calif./Mark Warren, Hermosa Beach, Calif. (8) vs. Kevin Lockwood, Denver, Colo./Paul Fair, Denver, Colo. (25);
·Tom Witt, Scottsdale, Ariz./Dan LaFontaine, Huntington Beach, Calif. (5) vs. Lance Bradbury, Littleton, Colo./David Robinson, San Antonio, Tex. (28);
·Harley Shubart, Highlands Ranch, Colo./Clare Dunning, Denver, Colo. (12) vs. Wandas/Hickert (21) / Schmidt/Gouner (36) winner;
·Tobin Reynolds, Warship, Utah/David Talley, Warship, Utah (13) vs. John Basey, Lyons, Colo./Bill Strande, Evergreen, Colo. (20);
·Randy Meador, Houston, Tex./Keith Jones, Nashville, Tenn. (4) vs. Mark Pletka, Omaha, Neb./Terry Christensen, Omaha, Neb. (29);
·Chris Hannemann, Seal Beach, Calif./Chip Hallas, Colorado (3) vs. David Vadnais, Robbinsdale, Minn./Pete Fedorczuk, Coon Rapids, Minn. (30);
·Greg Brendal, Dallas, Tex./Jason Brown, Denver, Colo. (14) vs. Rocky Basile/Dave Gotshaw, Colorado (19);
·Greg Hall, Lakewood, Colo./Chris McFarlin, Denver, Colo. (11) vs. Peters/Hill (22) / Harris/White (35) winner;
·Thierry Thilliez, Santa Fe, N. M./Vince Vander Mey, Cedar Crest, N. M. (6) vs. Dean Carlson, Denver, Colo./Brad Pendleton, Denver, Colo. (27);
·Claudio Borgiotti, Vienna, Va./Adam Brosius, Virginia (7) vs. Fred Krohn, Council Bluffs, Iowa/Larry Hansen, Council Bluffs, Iowa (26);
·Don Buntrock, Denver, Colo./Bob Blackburn, Salida, Colo. (10) vs. Gary Patton, Highlands Ranch, Colo./Brian Richter, Highlands Ranch, Colo. (23);
·Tomek Pieslak, Lakewood, Colo./Bryan Hulse, Highlands Ranch, Colo. (15) vs. Jeff Poole, Santa Fe, N. M./Will Findsomeone, Santa Fe, N. M. (18);
·Andrew Cavanaugh, Santa Barbara, Calif./Christian Larson, California (2) vs. Brad Marlow, Oklahoma City, Okla./Jim Faaborg, Edmond, Okla. (31).
Men's Masters Entries (36 teams)
1. Eric Anderson, Los Gatos, Calif./Kent Kitchel, Santa Cruz, Calif.
2. Andrew Cavanaugh, Santa Barbara, Calif./Christian Larson, California
3. Chris Hannemann, Seal Beach, Calif./Chip Hallas, Colorado
4. Randy Meador, Houston, Tex./Keith Jones, Nashville, Tenn.
5. Tom Witt, Scottsdale, Ariz./Dan LaFontaine, Huntington Beach, Calif.
6. Thierry Thilliez, Santa Fe, N. M./Vince Vander Mey, Cedar Crest, N. M.
7. Claudio Borgiotti, Vienna, Va./Adam Brosius, Virginia
8. Doug White, Manhattan Beach, Calif./Mark Warren, Hermosa Beach, Calif.
9. Matt Bergdahl, Aspen, Colo./Bob Roberts, Aspen, Colo.
10. Don Buntrock, Denver, Colo./Bob Blackburn, Salida, Colo.
11. Greg Hall, Lakewood, Colo./Chris McFarlin, Denver, Colo.
12. Harley Shubart, Highlands Ranch, Colo./Clare Dunning, Denver, Colo.
13. Tobin Reynolds, Warship, Utah/David Talley, Warship, Utah
14. Greg Brendal, Dallas, Tex./Jason Brown, Denver, Colo.
15. Tomek Pieslak, Lakewood, Colo./Bryan Hulse, Highlands Ranch, Colo.
16. Brian Kennedy/Rick Robbins, Colorado
17. Rich Majors, Denver, Colo./Ron Snyder, Colorado
18. Jeff Poole, Santa Fe, N. M./Will Findsomeone, Santa Fe, N. M.
19. Rocky Basile/Dave Gotshaw, Colorado
20. John Basey, Lyons, Colo./Bill Strande, Evergreen, Colo.
21. Mark Wandas, Fort Collins, Colo./Mark Hickert, Belleair Bluffs, Fla.
22. Al Peters, Longmont, Colo./Bob Hill, Geneva, Switzerland
23. Gary Patton, Highlands Ranch, Colo./Brian Richter, Highlands Ranch, Colo.
24. Casey Carey, Lakewood, Colo./Jeff Burgess, Denver, Colo.
25. Kevin Lockwood, Denver, Colo./Paul Fair, Denver, Colo.
26. Fred Krohn, Council Bluffs, Iowa/Larry Hansen, Council Bluffs, Iowa
27. Dean Carlson, Denver, Colo./Brad Pendleton, Denver, Colo.
28. Lance Bradbury, Littleton, Colo./David Robinson, San Antonio, Tex.
29. Mark Pletka, Omaha, Neb./Terry Christensen, Omaha, Neb.
30. David Vadnais, Robbinsdale, Minn./Pete Fedorczuk, Coon Rapids, Minn.
31. Brad Marlow, Oklahoma City, Okla./Jim Faaborg, Edmond, Okla.
32. Mark Winkler, Dallas, Tex./to be announced, Texas
33. Bill Pinkham, Glenwood Springs, Colo./Chip Seamans, Carbondale, Colo.
34. Paul Cook/to be announced
35. Donnie Harris, Dallas, Tex./Alan White, Dallas, Tex.
36. Joe Gagnon, Santa Barbara, Calif./R. H. Hinkson, Denver, Colo.
Past MotherLode Men's Master Champions
2003 36-team field
2002 Eric Anderson/Andrew Cavanaugh
2001 Eric Anderson/Kent Kitchel
2000 Dan LaFontaine/Tom Witt
1999 Eric Anderson/Kent Kitchel
1998 Anthony Jenkins/Doug White
1997 Eric Anderson/Kent Kitchel
1996 Eric Anderson/Kent Kitchel
1995 Pat Powers/Jon Stevenson
1994 Eric Anderson/Kent Kitchel
1993 Kent Kitchel/Mark Tanner
1992 Kent Kitchel/Mark Tanner
~Tim Simmons
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