POSTED: Thursday August 6th 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

KERRI WALSH RETURNS AS NBC SPORTS PRESENTS COVERAGE OF THE AVP FROM HERMOSA BEACH

Universal Sports To Broadcast Semifinals Live

       NEW YORK- August 6, 2009 – Two-time Olympic gold medalist and 103-time beach volleyball match winner Kerri Walsh is making her comeback at the AVP Crocs Slam Bud Light Hermosa Beach Open. Walsh, who has not played since the end of last season due to her pregnancy, returns this weekend with fellow new mom and 2008 FIVB World Tour silver medalist Rachel Wacholder as her partner.  The top men’s team this weekend is Phil Dalhausser and Todd Rogers who took the gold medal at the Beijing Olympics.

NBC Sports will present high-definition coverage of the women’s final on Saturday and the men’s final on Sunday each beginning at 4:30 p.m. ET. Universal Sports and UniversalSports.com will provide live coverage of women’s semifinal round on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. ET and the men’s semifinal round on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. ET.

Also competing on the women’s side are Nicole Branagh and Elaine Youngs who have won six of eight events in which they played this year and Southern California natives and former USC All-Americans Jen Kessy and April Ross who recently won the FIVB World Championships in Norway.  Dalhausser and Rogers competition will come from Sean Scott and John Hyden.  They come in as the top seed after winning AVP stops in Atlanta and Ocean City, Md.

AVP COVERAGE ON UNIVERSAL SPORTS:
Universal Sports will broadcast 12 hours of live semifinal coverage for events in Hermosa Beach and the Cup Championship in Chicago and will re-air all 12 hours of the finals after the live broadcasts on NBC Sports. UniversalSports.com will also live stream each semifinal event with on-demand video of the semifinals and finals available online.


HAMBLETONIAN LIVE ON NBC SPORTS SATURDAY, 3:30 P.M. ET

NEW YORK August 4, 2009 - NBC Sports presents live coverage of the 84th edition of harness racing’s “Greatest Race,” the Hambletonian from the Meadowlands in East Rutherford, N.J., Saturday 3:30-4: 30 p.m. ET.  The Hambletonian is one of America’s oldest sporting events dating back to 1926, showcasing legendary Standardbred horses.

The Hambletonian attracts the world’s finest trotters including favorite Muscle Hill, winner of 12 straight starts, and Explosive Matter, winner of seven of his 10 career starts. The Hambletonian is the richest horseracing event of its kind with a $1.5 million purse.  The Oaks, which will also be aired live, will highlight the best three year-old fillies.

Gary Seibel, Kenny Rice and Donna Brothers call the action.


AMERICAN Le MANS ACURA SPORTS CAR CHALLENGE, SUNDAY, 2:30 P.M. ET

NBC Sports presents taped coverage of the American Le Mans Acura Sports Car Challenge at Mid-Ohio, this Sunday from 2:30 - 4:30 p.m. ET.  The American Le Mans Series features eye-catching exotic sports cars, and provides multiple ways to interact with Series personalities. The Acura Sports Car Challenge at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course marks the eighth stop of the American Le Mans Series.

Bill Weber hosts NBC Sports’ coverage alongside Wally Dallenbach, Marty Snider, Kelli Stavast and Calvin Fish.

       Members of the media can get more information about NBC Universal and its programming on the NBC Universal Media Village Web site at www.nbcumv.com.

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Keywords · Kerri Walsh · NBC · AVP Crocs Slam Bud Light Hermosa Beach Open

Name: Lyndsay M Iorio
Organization: NBC
Email:
Phone: +1.212-6642160
URL: http://www.nbcuni.com

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