Men’s Pro Beach Volleyball Group Announces Addition of Women’s Tour

The Assn. of Volleyball Professionals, the governing body of men’s pro beach tour, announced Wednesday the addition of a women’s tour, which will feature eight players competing in a round-robin format.

The women will begin play this weekend in Phoenix. Seven players have signed multi-year contracts and an eighth will be announced by the start of the tournament, according to AVP executive director Jeff Dankworth.

Dankworth would not say who the eighth player might be, but Women’s Professional Volleyball Assn. president Barbra Fontana, a Manhattan Beach native, apparently was the top choice. The AVP issued a release on Tuesday that included Fontana as one of the eight players who signed.

But Fontana declined a contract offer and is expected to compete in the 1993 WPVA opener this weekend in Isla Verde, Puerto Rico.

Angela Rock, Nancy Reno, Linda Carrillo, Jackie Silva, Linda Hanley, Holly McPeak and Cammy Ciarelli will compete on the new tour.

NBC will televise women’s matches as part of six AVP telecasts. The national telecasts are a first for women’s beach volleyball.

Sinjin Smith, the AVP’s winningest player with 134 tournament victories, welcomed the addition of a women’s tour.

“Initially the reaction from players was a bit skeptical,” he said. “But once they explained the whole situation and how it could benefit our tour and not take away from it, the men stayed at ease.”