Top Ranked Players in the World to Compete in First Domestic Event of the Season

BALTIMORE, 04-17-12---The National Volleyball League (The NVL) will host its first event of the season, a two-day $50,000 tournament May 18-19th in Baltimore. Olympic Gold medalists Phil Dalhausser and Todd Rogers will make their 2012 domestic debut at the event, which will take place in Baltimore Beach and the Pimlico Race Course infield on Preakness Day.

“Phil and I are very excited for the opportunity to compete on US soil in the National Volleyball League’s season-opening event at the Preakness,” said Rogers. “We heard about last year’s NVL event being a huge success at the Preakness and we are looking forward to showcasing our talents domestically before going to London to defend our Gold medals.”

2012 Summer Olympic contenders Jen Kessy and April Ross will also be participating in what may be the only event U.S. Olympic teams play domestically prior to London.

“I am thrilled about our Gold Medalists and Olympians competing at our NVL Preakness event. Last year was a huge success and we are looking forward to building on this momentum leading into the Olympic games. We look forward to continuing to grow the sport and introduce it to a broader audience and featuring the best players in the world,” said Albert Hannemann, CEO of The NVL.

The Main Draw will begin at 8:00 a.m. on Friday, May 18 at Baltimore Beach and will run all day. Athletes will battle in two featured evening matches at 7:00 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. with the winners moving into the semi-finals. The men's and women's semi-finals and finals will be played at during Preakness InfieldFest at Pimlico on Saturday, May 19 with the Men's final at 2:00 p.m. and the Women's final at 3:30 p.m.

“The Maryland Jockey Club has tried to create a new dynamic in the Infield and the proof is in the pudding this year with the Olympic teams competing at Pimlico on Preakness Day,” Maryland Jockey Club President Tom Chuckas said. “This just illustrates how far we have come since changing the landscape in the Infield in 2009. What a big coup for us to have Phil Dalhausser and Todd Rogers here just two months prior to the London Games.”

ABOUT THE NVL

The National Volleyball League (www.TheNVL.com) is the professional beach volleyball association in the U.S. The NVL was founded in late 2010 by pro beach volleyball player Albert Hannemann and played its first full pro season in 2011. Its tournaments are often produced in conjunction with large-scale lifestyle events, the first of which is The Preakness Stakes, the Triple Crown horse race held in May in Baltimore. The NVL has been created and designed to fully support the needs of the players, fans and sponsors.

ABOUT THE PREAKNESS

The Maryland Jockey Club was founded in 1743, and thus today is the oldest sporting association in the North America. After 269 years it remains the corporate name of Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, which opened in 1870, and is home to the Preakness® Stakes, the middle jewel in horse racing's famed Triple Crown. Preakness InfieldFest is a multi-entertainment festival that includes live music, a beer garden, bikini contest and pro beach volleyball. The 2012 headline acts will be Maroon 5 and Wiz Khalifa. More information on can be found at www.preakness.com