There are a few women's open teams coming to Atlantic City this weekend from Canada including Marie Andree Lessard and Nancy Gourgeon, who both play on the FIVB international tour. I would like to have additional teams come to this event this year and in the future.
In the past, even with high prize money, women's teams have not supported this event. At one time it was a women's featured event with the women playing on center court and receiving the most money. When women's teams did not support the event the prize money was shifted tot the men's open teams who have strongly supported it. Now that it is a very successful men's tournament I would like to try and increase the number of women's team attending to create a big high prize money early season event to kick off the northern season.
The prize money for this weekend is scheduled at $200. EEVB will add 1/2 of every women's open team over 6 teams to the prize purse with $15 going to 1st place and $10 going to 2nd place. This will provide women's teams a way to express whether or not they want to be part of an annual early season event in Atlantic City. I hope that all women open players will consider joining this tournament.