LAS VEGAS, Nevada (October 10, 2000) --- Barbra Fontana, a top-ranked athlete on the Beach Volleyball America (BVA) women's professional tour, claimed the Queen of the Beach volleyball title over fellow Olympians Holly McPeak, Elaine Youngs and BVA newcomer Nancy Mason.

The Queen of the Beach tournament included the top 14 BVA Tour athletes based on the final season rankings. Each athlete had the opportunity to play with different partners during the first three days of qualification rounds. Fontana, a native of Manhattan Beach, Calif., powered through to the fourth day of competition at the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas against women's beach volleyball all-stars such as McPeak, Lisa Arce, Misty May, Karrie Poppinga, Stephanie Cox and Jennifer Meredith among others. Fontana advanced to the final championship round of the competition on day four with a perfect 3-0 record, where she added to that spotless win record with three additional victories, emerging as the eventual "Queen of the Beach."

"I had a great time at the Queen of the Beach Tournament in Vegas this past weekend," said Fontana. "It was a pleasure to be on the court with so many great players! To be able to take home a win at the Queen of the Beach is a fantastic way to end the domestic year!"

Fontana teamed this season with Arce, also a native of Manhattan Beach, Calif., to win two BVA Tour events in Oceanside and Pismo Beach, Calif. The duo ended the U.S. domestic season as the third place team on the BVA Tour, the official U.S. National Circuit for beach volleyball. They earned a sixth-place world ranking on the FIVB World Tour, the official Olympic qualification tour, behind fellow U.S. teams of Annett Davis (Tarzana, Calif.)/Jennifer Johnson Jordan (Tarzana, Calif.), May (Costa Mesa, Calif.)/McPeak (Manhattan Beach, Calif.) and Liz Masakayan (San Diego, Calif.)/ Youngs (Encinitas, Calif.).

"The BVA Tour established itself as the place to play this year, " added Fontana. "I am so happy to have a domestic tour to play on and appreciate the first class job that the BVA did this year. I think the talent in the U.S. continues to grow and the BVA is the place where the U.S. players will excel."

Beach Volleyball America is the official U.S. women's professional organization for beach volleyball, as sanctioned by USA Volleyball, the sport's national governing body. The 2000 BVA Tour included seven tournaments offering over $500,000 in prize money. The top United States beach volleyball teams participated on the BVA Tour, including 2000 U.S. Olympians Davis (Tarzana, Calif.)/Johnson Jordan (Tarzana, Calif.) and May (Costa Mesa, Calif.)/McPeak (Manhattan Beach, Calif.). Other top-ranked United States athletes on the BVA Tour include former Olympians Masakayan (San Diego, Calif.), Youngs (Encinitas, Calif.), and BVA stars Mason (Hermosa Beach, Calif.), Leanne Schuster (Manhattan Beach, Calif.), Jennifer Meredith (Manhattan Beach, Calif.), Stephanie Cox (Santa Barbara, Calif.), Katy Eldridge (Los Gatos, Calif.), Carrie Busch (El Segundo, Calif.) and Rachel Wacholder (Hermosa Beach, Calif.).

The Queen of the Beach Tournament was held October 5-8 at the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas, Nev. "Queen of the Beach" is a registered trademark of Sideout Sport, Inc.

For further information on the BVA Tour, please contact Mike Kantor at (858) 486-8659, ext. 350, or via email at [email protected]. For more information on Barbra Fontana, please contact Lori Okimura at (858) 486-8659, ext. 322 or via email at [email protected]. Detailed information on the BVA Tour is also available online at bvatour.com or www.volleycentral.com.