Volleyball: Newport Dunes poised to become a beach volleyball

castle?

Richard Dunn

UPPER NEWPORT BAY - With groundbreaking scheduled a week from

today, a new sand volleyball facility will be constructed at the Newport

Dunes Resort, a venture headed by local men’s pro beach volleyball star

Brian Lewis.

Lewis, the architect of the project, has played on the Association of

Volleyball Professionals Tour for over a decade and is poised to turn the

corner on his career, beginning with his initial capital campaign at the

Newport Dunes.

With sponsorships in place, and fellow volleyball standouts Steve

Timmons and Tim Hovland helping Lewis spread the word about the event in

their respective communities in San Diego and Los Angeles, the inaugural

Da Dunes Pro-Am Tournament will be played Oct. 13-14.

The event, which could be the first of many pro and amateur beach

volleyball tournaments at the 100-acre waterfront resort tucked in the

Upper Newport Bay, is expected to feature 30 four-man teams and 10

four-woman teams -- and many apparently outfitted in themes.

“It’s more geared around fun,” Lewis said, “which is something I think

has been lost in our sport.”

Lewis, who also has a Web site for his new enterprise

(www.dadunes.com), is the director of Da Dunes Tournament and, with his

deep volleyball contacts, should be able to lure some of the top names in

pro beach volleyball.

Legendary pro beach volleyball player Randy Stoklos, along with

Hovland and Olympic gold medalists Timmons and Ricci Luyties, are

expected to play in the pro-am, which begins Oct. 13 at 8:30 a.m. and

concludes with an awards ceremony the evening of Oct. 14. Plaques will be

presented to the winning teams, to players who compete in the funniest

and most festive costumes and to to best hecklers in the audience.

Admission for the entire weekend’s festivities is $7 for adults and

children under 12 free. Parking is $7 per car per day.

In addition, tournament guests can purchase lunch, snacks, draft beer

and margaritas court side. Festivities include music by DJ and a live

Saturday evening (Oct. 13) performance by the popular reggae band Common

Sense.

“Brian Lewis has gathered together a stellar lineup of top players who

will, no doubt, provide visitors with a weekend of fast-paced

competition,” Newport Dunes General Manager Andrew Theodorou said. “The

blending of athletic excellence, live music, great food and festive

atmosphere are sure to add up to a weekend of pure, unadulterated fun.”

Lewis, along with many of his playing peers, has mostly shunned the

AVP Tour this year because of payout and management problems. But the

12-year pro, who won over $900,000 in his career, is ready for another

type of set, spike and kill.

“We’ll be running tournaments, leagues and exhibitions, the whole

kitten caboodle,” Lewis said of the four-court facility, which is also

part of the Newport Dunes’ attempt to help revitalize the resort, and,

perhaps, fulfill Lewis’ dream of turning the Newport Dunes into a

volleyball dynasty.

In his new role as promoter, Lewis hopes to secure an annual

tournament in Orange County and believes that Newport Dunes, not far from

where he grew up, is the ideal location with its overnight camping,

waterfront sand beach on the bay, 406-site RV park and large outdoor

movie screen.

“It’s the field of dreams,” Lewis said of the new sand volleyball

facility at the resort’s west beach. “I’m going to build it and they will

come.”

For two-day volleyball tournaments and clinics, in which visitors are

welcome to stay overnight at the resort, campers can watch replays of the

day’s highlights on the big screen that evening, another unique

attraction, Lewis said.

Lewis, a former Corona del Mar High and Orange Coast College standout

and member of the Daily Pilot Sports Hall of Fame, climbed to the AVP

Tour’s No. 3 spot last year with partner Canyon Ceman of Manhattan Beach.

In his first year playing organized volleyball, Lewis helped Corona

del Mar win the CIF Southern Section 4-A championship in 1985, his junior year.

After graduating from CdM in 1986, Lewis played two years at Orange

Coast, leading the Pirates to state championships in 1987 and ’89.

A two-time State Community College men’s volleyball Player of the

Year, Lewis turned pro soon after his last spike at OCC, and, after

taking his share of lumps, he finally reached the zenith of his playing

career when he captured his first AVP Tour title -- the prestigious

Cuervo Gold Crown in Clearwater, Fla., with partner Pat Powers in 1992.

Including international titles, Lewis has won 15 tournament

championships in his career.

Lewis, also an avid surfer, was inspired to play volleyball after

watching Timmons (Newport Harbor, OCC) lead Team USA to the 1984 gold

medal at the Los Angeles Olympic Games with his father.

For details on Da Dunes Pro-Am Beach Volleyball Tournament: (800)

765-7661.