Blanton Might Test AVP Again

Dain Blanton and Eric Fonoimoana are playing again on the Assn. of Volleyball Professionals tour--for now.

Blanton and Fonoimoana, among the top beach volleyball teams in the United States, will play in an AVP event in Belmar, N.J., this weekend, one month after they were suspended by the AVP because they registered for an international tournament in Italy instead of an AVP tournament in Muskegon, Mich.

But in order to qualify for the Olympics, they might challenge their AVP contract again.

The California duo, who trail Karch Kiraly and Adam Johnson by only 18 points for the second and final U.S. Olympic spot, can only earn points toward Olympic qualifying by competing in tournaments sponsored by the Federation Internationale de Volleyball, the sport’s international governing body and an AVP adversary.

“It’s unfortunate we had to deal with any of it at all,” said Blanton, from Laguna Beach. “It’s not something you want to deal with when you’re trying to make the Olympic team. The last month has been a complete waste of time on both sides.”

Bill Berger, chief executive officer of the AVP, said the duo would be welcomed back. “It doesn’t do a league any good to have continued in-fighting,” he said.