What Is 2013 AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tour

Overview

The 2013 AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tour marked the 26th competitive season for the Association of Volleyball Professionals, serving as the premier domestic circuit for professional beach volleyball in the United States. This season featured top American athletes, including Olympic medalists and collegiate standouts, competing in a series of tournaments to earn ranking points and prize money.

Spanning from June to August 2013, the tour hosted 10 official events in major coastal and urban markets across the country. The structure emphasized both individual event victories and cumulative performance, culminating in the AVP Championships in Chicago, which determined the year's top teams.

• 10 tournaments were held during the 2013 season, starting in Huntington Beach and ending in Chicago, creating a coast-to-coast competitive footprint.
• The total prize purse for the tour was $750,000, with individual event purses ranging from $50,000 to $100,000 depending on event size and sponsorship.
• Notable participants included Kerri Walsh Jennings and April Ross, who were coming off a silver medal at the 2012 London Olympics and dominated the 2013 circuit.
• The AVP partnered with CBS Sports Network to broadcast 12 hours of live and taped coverage, increasing national visibility for the sport.
• Chicago hosted the AVP Championships from August 23–25, 2013, where Walsh Jennings and Ross claimed the title, cementing their dominance.

How It Works

The 2013 AVP Pro Tour followed a structured competition format designed to balance accessibility for lower-ranked teams with elite-level play among top contenders. Each tournament followed a multi-stage format with qualifying rounds, main draws, and finals.

• Qualifying Rounds: Held the day before main draw play, these gave lower-ranked and wildcard teams a chance to advance. 32 teams per gender competed for 8–16 main draw spots.
• Main Draw Format: The top 24 seeded teams entered directly into the main draw, competing in pools followed by single-elimination brackets.
• Scoring System: Matches used rally scoring to 21 points, with the third set played to 15; teams needed to win by at least 2 points.
• Ranking Points: Players earned points based on tournament finishes, with the champion teams receiving 600 points, crucial for seeding and Championships qualification.
• Prize Distribution: Prize money was awarded down to 16th place, with champions receiving $12,000 per team in larger events and $6,000 in smaller ones.
• Wildcards: Tournament directors could award up to 4 wildcard entries per gender, often used for local talent or returning champions.

Comparison at a Glance

Below is a comparison of the 2013 AVP Pro Tour with other major beach volleyball circuits:

The 2013 AVP season showed growth over the previous year in both prize money and event count, though it remained smaller in scale than the international FIVB circuit. However, its focus on American talent and domestic venues helped strengthen national interest in beach volleyball.

Why It Matters

The 2013 AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tour played a critical role in advancing the sport’s popularity and professional structure in the United States. It provided a competitive platform for Olympic athletes and emerging players alike, while also boosting media exposure through television partnerships.

• Development of Talent: The tour served as a pipeline for U.S. national team selection, with strong performances influencing Olympic and FIVB team choices.
• Increased Visibility:CBS Sports Network coverage brought beach volleyball into millions of homes, helping grow the sport’s fan base beyond coastal regions.
• Gender Equity: Equal prize money and event structure for men’s and women’s divisions reinforced the AVP’s commitment to gender parity in sports.
• Economic Impact: Host cities reported up to $2 million in local revenue from tourism and event attendance during AVP stops.
• Youth Engagement: The AVP ran youth clinics alongside events, inspiring over 5,000 participants in beach volleyball programs nationwide.
• Legacy Building: The success of 2013 helped secure multi-year sponsorships from brands like Nike and First National Bank, stabilizing future seasons.

The 2013 season was a turning point for the AVP, demonstrating that professional beach volleyball could thrive in the U.S. with the right mix of elite athletes, media exposure, and community engagement.