tourney....<br><br><a
href=http://www.latimes.com/tcn/pilot/sports/la-dp0022912sep15.story
target=new>http://www.latimes.com/tcn/pilot/sports/la-dp0022912sep15.story</a><b\
r><br>Volleyball: Newport Dunes poised to become a beach volleyball
castle?<br> Da Dunes Pro-Am Tournament, founded by local pro
Brian Lewis, will kick-start new four-court sand
volleyball facility at the venerable<br>waterfront
resort.<br><br>By Richard Dunn <br>UPPER NEWPORT BAY - With
groundbreaking scheduled a week from today, a new sand
volleyball facility will be constructed at the Newport Dunes
Resort, a venture headed by local men's pro beach
volleyball star Brian Lewis.<br><br>Lewis, the architect of
the project, has played on the Association of
Volleyball Professionals Tour for over a decade & is poised
to turn the corner on his career, beginning with his
initial capital campaign at the Newport
Dunes.<br><br>With sponsorships in place, & fellow volleyball
standouts Steve Timmons & Tim Hovland helping Lewis spread
the word about the event in their respective
communities in San Diego & Los Angeles, the inaugural Da
Dunes Pro-Am Tournament will be played Oct. 13-14. The
event, which could be the 1st of many pro & amateur
beach<br>volleyball tournaments at the 100-acre waterfront resort
tucked in the Upper Newport Bay, is expected to feature
30 4-man teams & 10 4-woman teams -- & many
apparently outfitted in themes.<br><br>"It's more geared
around fun," Lewis said, "which is something I think has
been lost in our sport."<br><br>Lewis, who also has a
Web site for his new enterprise (www.dadunes.com), is
the director of Da Dunes Tournament &, with his deep
volleyball contacts, should be able to lure some of the
top<br>names in pro beach volleyball.<br><br>Legendary pro
beach volleyball player Randy Stoklos, along with
Hovland & Olympic gold medalists Timmons & Ricci Luyties,
are<br>expected to play in the pro-am, which begins Oct. 13 at
8:30 a.m. & concludes with an awards ceremony the
evening of Oct. 14. Plaques will<br>be presented to the
winning teams, to players who compete in the funniest &
most festive costumes & to to best hecklers in the
audience.<br><br>Admission for the entire weekend's festivities is $7 for
adults & children under 12 free. Parking is $7 per car
per day.<br><br>In addition, tournament guests can
purchase lunch, snacks, draft beer & margaritas court
side. Festivities include music by DJ & a
live<br>Saturday evening (Oct. 13) performance by the popular
reggae band Common Sense.<br><br>"Brian Lewis has
gathered together a stellar lineup of top players who
will, no doubt, provide visitors with a weekend of
fast-paced competition," Newport Dunes General Manager
Andrew Theodorou said. "The blending of athletic
excellence, live music, great food & festive atmosphere are
sure to add up to a weekend of pure, unadulterated
fun."<br><br>Lewis, along with many of his playing peers, has mostly
shunned the AVP Tour this year because of payout &
management problems. But the 12-year pro, who won over
$900,000 in his career, is ready for another type of set,
spike & kill.<br><br>"We'll be running tournaments,
leagues & exhibitions, the whole kitten caboodle," Lewis
said of the 4-court facility, which is also part of
the Newport Dunes' attempt to help revitalize the
resort, &, perhaps, fulfill Lewis' dream of turning the
Newport Dunes into a volleyball dynasty.<br><br>In his
new role as promoter, Lewis hopes to secure an annual
tournament in Orange County & believes that Newport Dunes,
not far from where he grew up, is the ideal location
with its overnight camping, waterfront sand beach on
the bay, 406-site RV park & large outdoor movie
screen.<br><br>"It's the field of dreams," Lewis said of the new sand
volleyball facility at the resort's west beach. "I'm going
to build it & they will come."