AVP Open Returns to Huntington Beach for Mother's Day Weekend

World-class beach volleyball returns to Southern California this weekend at the AVP Huntington Beach Open.

AVP Open: Schedules, Results

Opening rounds begin at 9:30 a.m. Friday at continue until 6 p.m. Elimination rounds are scheduled for Saturday before the semifinals and finals on Sunday.

Three teams in the field are likely to represent the United States at the Olympics this summer in Rio de Janiero. The Mother's Day weekend event offers fans the opportunity to see these top-flight athletes as they prepare for the Summer Games.

The top-two teams in the men's bracket are Ryan Doherty and John Mayer, and Jake Gibb and Casey Patterson. Gibb and Patterson are both from Huntington Beach.

"There's an added amount of pressue, but that's what you put on yourself -- it's not real," said Gibb. "There's an added amount of excitement, that's how I like to look at it. We just want to win the Huntington Beach Open."

Patterson called the event part of "one of the coolest summers of your life."

The top-two seeds in the women's tournament are April Ross and Kerri Walsh Jennings, and Kim DiCello and Kendra VanZwieten. 

"It's at a different echelon when you know these people have already won gold medals and are about to win medals this year, as well, and the fact as fans you walk up after the match they're going to sign whatever you have and they're going to sign everything you have," said John King, head referee for the AVP Tour.

The location is at the Huntington Beach Pier, 103 Pacific Coast Highway, Huntington Beach.

On Sunday, all mothers in attendance with their children are invited to join a pre-match warm-up and skills session on the beach.

General admission tickets are free. Reserved tickets are available for a covered seating area and lounge.