Volleyball Series Begins First of Six Nights at Forum

Professional volleyball players from indoors and out will get together for six nights of team cup play this month, beginning tonight at 7 at the Forum.

A total of 32 players--including two-time Olympians Karch Kiraly, Steve Timmons and Dave Saunders, as well as beach volleyball stars Sinjin Smith and Randy Stoklos--will play on the four teams of six players and two alternates competing in a round-robin format that concludes Sept. 23. The other games will be Sunday; Tuesday; Wednesday, Sept. 19, and Saturday, Sept. 22.

Sponsorship has grown since the event began five years ago. The $110,000 in prize money this season is up 10% from the first year, but is still well below the $200,000 in prize money offered by the Assn. of Volleyball Professionals’ final event on its beach tour this summer.

“I would like to be offering more prize money,” said Jeannie Buss, event coordinator. “But the players have to understand that we can’t do that until we’re making money.”

Timmons, who is married to Buss, said: “It’s real important for volleyball to stay visible between the Olympics and the beach seasons.”