Reflekt Polarized Big Shot Volleyball Coming toAtlantic City

The Big Shot Volleyball Championships will return to Atlantic City, NJ at a new location, Resorts Casino Hotel beachfront, right outside LandShark Bar & Grill on September 17-18, co-sponsored by Reflekt Polarized and Spalding King of the Beach. Men’s and women’s teams will be competing for a lion’s share of $8,000 in prize money. The tournament is a Volley America sanctioned event run by East End Volleyball and Great American Volleyball.

Tournament Director, Richard Heiles, is thrilled about Resorts Casino Hotel hosting this year’s event and cannot wait to return to Atlantic City. “The Big Shot Championships is my favorite tournament of the season. Players from all over the country come to Atlantic City to compete in this exceptionally strong event. This is the only beach in the northeast still open in September. While all of the other beaches we use are packing their equipment away for the winter, Atlantic City is still hopping with great beaches still ready for fun and play. All of the great volleyball players in the tournament only adds to the already great atmosphere. Hope we see you there!”

The tournament is sanctioned by Volley America, the largest grass roots program in the United States for beach volleyball players and organizers: over 20,000 dues paying members from 40 states and 60 volleyball organizations. Volley America runs a national ranking system used to seed all tournaments as it promotes beach volleyball throughout the US. By cooperating and charging a national membership fee, Volley America allows players to compete in numerous tournaments, earn national ranking points and qualify for end of the season cash prizes in the $50,000 Volley America Grand Prix.

Players of all skill levels will be eligible to play in the tournament sponsored by Reflekt Polarized. There will be divisions for intermediate and novice level players, who will be competing for merchandise prizes from 4C Iced Tea - Drink Mix – Energy Stix, Spalding King of the Beach, Rider Sandals, Reflekt Polarized sunglasses, Venus Swimwear, Bethpage Federal Credit Union, CORA Sports Medicine & Rehabilitation, Resorts Casino - Hotel, LandShark Bar & Grill, Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville, Sand Socks by Vincere, Park & Sun Sports, Atlantic City Sports Commission, Dig Magazine, Sportime, Horry County, Spike Key, Volley America and South Shore Outdoors.

East End Volleyball has been organizing beach volleyball tournaments for 40 years since 1977. Based in the east end of Long Island, EEVB has grown into the largest volleyball series in the east end of the country with tournaments from Newport, RI to Hollywood, FL. Sanctioned by Volley America, EEVB runs over 35 events for 5,000 plus players. The highest level in the tournaments, the Open Division, funnels players into the Pro Beach Volleyball Tour. Five players in the 2016 Rio Olympics, representing three countries (US, Italy and Venezuela) won EEVB tournaments in their careers. From 2016 US Olympian, Nick Lucena, “The Big Shot Championships in Atlantic City was one of my favorite tournaments I have played. Playing in front of the Boardwalk and in front of all the casinos, was just an exciting time. Love that event!”

Great American Volleyball was started in 2002 by local beach volleyball veteran Wayne Gant. After climbing the ladder of divisions on the JSVBA, East End, and other local volleyball tours, Wayne noticed over several years that participation was declining. Determined to save this great sport, Wayne decided to create his own beach volleyball tour. Great American Volleyball prides itself on making players happy, and as a result the tour has grown quickly. In the past 14 years since its first tournament, Great American Volleyball has become the largest beach volleyball tour in the Northeast and one of the largest in the U.S.

Tournament play will start at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. on Sunday. Player check in is one hour prior to start time. Men's and Women's Open, AA, A, and B Divisions will play on Saturday. Coed AA, A, and B teams will play on Sunday. Admission is free for all spectators who are encouraged to come early for a front row seat. A player’s party open to the public, will be held Saturday evening at LandShark Bar & Grill right next to center court.

For further information and applications contact East End Volleyball at 631-728-0397 or visit www.eevb.net.

Event: Reflekt Polarized Big Shot Volleyball Championships

Schedule: September 17-18: Big Shot Championship at Resorts Casino Hotel

Time: 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Saturday for Men's & Women's Open, AA, A, & B Divisions

9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Sunday for Coed AA, A, & B Divisions

Cost: Free for spectators, $100/team for Open divisions, $60/team for all other divisions

Prizes: $5,000 Men’s Open

$2,500 Women’s Open

Additional prizes from 4C Iced Tea - Drink Mix – Energy Stix, Spalding King of the Beach, Rider Sandals, Reflekt Polarized sunglasses, Venus Swimwear, Bethpage Federal Credit Union, CORA Sports Medicine & Rehabilitation, Resorts Casino - Hotel, LandShark Bar & Grill, Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville, Sand Socks by Vincere, Park & Sun Sports, Atlantic City Sports Commission, Dig Magazine, Sportime, Horry County, Spike Key, Volley America and South Shore Outdoors will be awarded in the A and B Divisions.

ABOUT THE ATLANTIC CITY SPORTS COMMISSION & VOLLEY AMERICA: The Atlantic City Sports Commission was officially formed on January 13, 2015 as a 501 (c)(3) organization with the support of Meet AC and the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA) to attract sporting events, conventions and competitions to Atlantic City.

Volley America is the largest grass roots program in the United States for beach volleyball players and organizers: over 20,000 dues paying members from 40 states and 60 volleyball organizers. It also offers a $50,000 Grand Prix that awards prize money to players in 8 separate divisions at the end of the season based on their results during the season. Over sixty different organizations make up Volley America.