NORCECA Beach Tour Head North!

NORTH BAY, Canada, June 30, 2016 – The NORCECA Beach Circuit heads north again this year to North Bay, Ontario, at the Canor Molson Sand Centre. This is the only North American stop for the tour and builds on the success of previous years.

Ed Drakich, Beach High Performance Director for Volleyball Canada, said:  "Volleyball Canada is thrilled that the 2016 COGECOTV NORCECA Beach Tour will have a stop in North Bay for the third consecutive year. The two previous stops in North Bay (2014 and 2015) were a big success and Volleyball Canada is looking forward to working with VSE Canada (local organizers) to once again deliver one of the highest quality events on the NORCECA Beach Tour.”

Due to the recent Continental Beach final in Mexico, which was also an Olympic qualifier, the number of entrants is lower this year, but it will not detract from the quality of volleyball.  The field includes Canadian 2016 tour medalists Mike Plantinga and Cam Wheelan, and on the women’s side 2016 NORCECA medalists Julie Gordon and Brandie Wilkerson, also of Canada.  

They will join other up and coming Canadian teams along with U.S. entrants, and teams from as far away as El Salvador.

Local organizer Amedeo Bernardi recently announced a TV partner, COGECOTV. “I would like to thank COGECOTV, the City of North Bay, Sport Canada, our sponsors and our incredible volunteers for their continued support.  North Bay has become recognized internationally for beach volleyball and we hope to continue growing and diversifying the Canor Molson Sand Centre.”

The event coincides with Canada, July 1, which is a national holiday.  Competition gets underway at on July 1 at 10 am Eastern time.  Finals are held on Sunday, July 3.