POSTED: Sunday September 9th 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JOHN HYDEN BECOMES THE NEW GOD OF THE BEACH AT CAESARS PALACE AND PROVES HE IS THE BEST INDIVIDUAL ATHLETE OF THE AVP CROCS TOUR
John Hyden a surprise winner of the event beat the 10-1 odds finishing on top
LAS VEGAS, NV (September 8, 2007) ? John Hyden who made it to only one final during the 2007 AVP Crocs Tour season proved he is the most versitile player of the Tour capturing the God of the Beach title at Caesars Palace. Hyden selected a veteran partner in Mike Lambert, one he was familiar with and one he had a lot of experience playing with. Hyden and Lambert defeated Phil Dalhausser and his partner selection of Sean Rosenthal 16-21, 21-16, 15-9.
Fifth seeded Hyden advanced out of his pool upsetting the top seeded defending champion Todd Rogers as well as the fourth seeded Stein Metzger. Experience seemed to be the difference between the two teams with Hyden and Lambert having played together on two indoor Olympic teams as well as their victory together on the beach in Cincinnati in 2005.
The odds had Hyden at 10-1, a tough road to climb to get to the finals.
?To tell you honestly, I didn?t know what the odds were coming into this,? said Hyden on his chances of winning. ?I just thought I had a really good chance to win.
?If you don?t make it to these finals yourself, the next best thing is to have someone who want you to be in the fight with you,? stated Lambert. ?It was just like old times like when we played in the two indoor Olympics together.?
Dalhausser, a favorite coming into the competition, was dominate all season long and won the most 2007 AVP Crocs Tour events with partner Todd Rogers. Rogers, defending champion failed to advance out of his pool of play.
The Roman Plaza Amphitheater at Caesars Palace has been transformed into the only beach-front property in Las Vegas, as 6,000 cubic feet of sand built the court. A village reminiscent of beachside huts surrounds the tournament area and features live music. Tournament sponsors to keep the beach vibe going strong for all three days of the event.
The AVP Crocs Tour moves on next weekend for the AVP San Francisco Best of the Beach, September 14-16.
About AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tour, Inc.
AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tour, Inc. is a lifestyle sports entertainment company focused on the production, marketing and distribution of professional beach volleyball events worldwide. AVP operates the industry?s most prominent volleyball tour in the United States, the AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tour, which was organized in 1983. Featuring more than 150 of the top American men and women competitors in the sport, AVP staged 16 events throughout the United States in 2006. In 2004, AVP athletes successfully represented the United States during the Olympics in Athens, Greece, winning gold and bronze medals, the first medals won by U.S. women in professional beach volleyball. For more information, please visit www.avp.com.
About Caesars Palace
Journalists can access media materials and request high-resolution image downloads at media.harrahs.com.
Caesars Palace is the world?s best known resort-casino, celebrating the glory that was Greece and the grandeur that was Rome, in an 85-acre destination location that sets the standard for entertainment, dining and luxury. Reigning at the heart of the Las Vegas Strip, Caesars Palace ranks among the world?s top luxury resorts known for their originality and beauty and features 3,348 hotel guest rooms and suites, 25 unique restaurants and cafes, 4.5-acre Garden of the Gods pools and gardens, 50,000 square foot Qua Baths & Spa and 240,000 square feet of premium meeting and convention space. The 4,100-seat Coliseum sits just steps from celebrity chef restaurants and the acclaimed Forum Shops at Caesars and spotlights world class entertainers such as Celine Dion, Elton John and Jerry Seinfeld; and starting in February 2008, Bette Midler.
Media Contacts: Kenneth Langdon ,Caesars Palace 702-731-7506
Kimberly Moran, Brener Zwikel & Associates, 818-462-5612, kimberlym@bzapr.com
2007 AVP CROCS Tour
$200,000 AVP Las Vegas Gods & Goddesses of the Beach
Las Vegas, Nev.
September 6-8, 2007
Pool Play Results ? second round (Saturday, September 8)
Men?s Match 9: Pool Y ? Todd Rogers (seed 1) / John Hyden (seed 5) def. Stein Metzger (seed 4) / Matt Fuerbringer (seed 8), 21-14, 21-16 (48);
Men?s Match 10: Pool Z ? Phil Dalhausser (seed 2) / Sean Rosenthal (seed 6) def. Mike Lambert (seed 3) / Fred Souza (seed 7), 21-16, 21-17 (42);
Men?s Match 11: Pool Y ? Todd Rogers (seed 1) / Matt Fuerbringer (seed 8) def. Stein Metzger (seed 4) / John Hyden (seed 5), 21-14, 17-21, 15-13 (66);
Men?s Match 12: Pool Z ? Phil Dalhausser (seed 2) / Fred Souza (seed 7) def. Mike Lambert (seed 3) / Sean Rosenthal (seed 6), 21-18, 21-18 (0:42)
Advancing from Men?s Pool Y ? John Hyden (2-1 match record, 5-2 game record)
Eliminated from Men?s Pool Y ? Todd Rogers (2-1, 4-3), Matt Fuerbringer (2-1, 4-3), Stein Metzger (0-3, 1-6)
Advancing from Men?s Pool Z ? Phil Dalhausser (3-0, 6-1)
Eliminated from Men?s Pool Z ?Sean Rosenthal (1-3, 3-4), Fred Souza (1-2, 3-4), Mike Lambert (1-2, 2-5)
Dalhausser selects Sean Rosenthal as partner, Hyden selects Mike Lambert as partner
Men?s Match 13: Championship ? John Hyden / Mike Lambert def. Phil Dalhausser / Sean Rosenthal, 16-21, 21-16, 15-9 (77).
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