BEACH VOLLEYBALL : Three Four-Man Teams Share Lead at Seal Beach

For members of the U.S. national volleyball team, a day at the beach is a welcome break from a grueling five-day-a-week training schedule. Getting paid makes it that much better.

So on weekends, some national team members and former Olympians compete on the Pro Beach Volleyball League’s four-man tour, which is in Seal Beach this weekend.

After seven rounds on Saturday, team Paul Mitchell, Sideout and Naya were tied at 2-1. Team Sony Autosound went 1-2 and Ocean Pacific 0-2. Naya, the top-rated team, has won the last two tournaments.

Team captain Bob Ctvrtlik led Naya with 23 kills. Allen Allen and Steve Salmons each had 25 kills for Paul Mitchell and Doug Partie led Sideout with 21 kills and six blocks.

The five four-man teams compete in a round-robin format and the winner splits $12,050. Every player earns a check.

“It’s a lot of fun to play out here and it’s a refreshing change of pace,” said Scott Fortune, a gold medalist on the 1988 Olympic team and current national team member. Fortune, a member of Laguna Beach High’s 1983 championship team, also played on the ’92 U.S. Olympic team that won a bronze.