FORT LAUDERDALE, FL --- Professional Volleyball came back to the beaches of South Florida over the Memorial Day Weekend with the first stop of the Jose Cuervo Pro Beach Volleyball Series. The three-day Florida Open started with 64 doubles teams, 32 men's and 32 women's, competing for $100,000 in prize money. The tournament was part of the Great American Beach Party held on Fort Lauderdale Beach.

The tournament is sponsored by Jose Cuervo with co-sponsors Spalding and Mitch by Paul Mitchell and organized and operated by IMG Worldwide, a global sports, entertainment and media business. This year marks the second year Jose Ceurvo has sponsored the tour.

"IMG has been involved with beach volleyball for a long time including Olympic level and FIBV world events," said James Leitz, senior vice president of IMG Action Sports, and owner/operator of the series. " Jose Cuervo is one of the first pro beach volleyball sponsors dating back to the 80's so it makes sense for them to be involved with these tournaments. It's the beach, it's fun and it's intense. It fits with the Jose Cuervo brand profile."

The highest placing for a local was Adrian Carambula of Miami, who reached the semi-finals with partner Braidy Halverson, Redondo Beach, CA. The finals were an all California event. The number one seeded team of Sean Scott, Redondo Beach, and John Hyden, Sherman Oaks, won the men's competition over the second-seeded team of John Mayer, Culver City, and Brad Keenan, Costa Mesa, 21-14 and 21-18. Both men's and women's winning teams were awarded the Florida Open title, trophy and $11,000 in prize money.

"We've been training a lot in the off season and it has paid off," said Hyden. "Mayer and Keenan are a great team, but with Sean's serves on fire, we were able to secure the win."

Scott added, "After the first game we were focused on continuing to play hard. And we showed up stronger than ever in the second set. This was a great tournament and we really appreciate the fan support, Jose Cuervo and IMG Worldwide for putting this on."

On the women's side Jenny Kropp, Hollyglen, and Whitney Pavlik, Laguna Beach, the second-seeded team, entered the finals undefeated, and bested Brooke Hanson, Ventura, and Lauren Fendrick, Hermosa Beach, the one-seed, 14-21, 21-18, 15-10 .

"Brooke and Lauren are a great team, but we were really happy to come out top here in Fort Lauderdale," said Pavlik. "We focused on defense – Jenny's blocking really helped us get the win."

Kropp added, "We lost the first set and knew that we had to turn it around with a lot of momentum and get ourselves really fired up, maintaining excitement and focus while constantly communicating with each other made the difference. "

Among the spectators was Nick Lucena, a Fort Lauderdale native who is currently contending with his partner, Mathew Fuerbringer, for a spot in the London 2012 Summer Olympics. "I grew up 15 minutes from here and I'm happy to be home watching volleyball on my local beach," commented Lucena. "I just got back from the 2012 FIVB SWATCH World Tour and it's good to be here and see the action-packed competition that the tournament has drawn.

The tournament is as much about fun as it is about volleyball with a climbing wall and giant lime for bull riding fans. "We're trying to get people back to the beach and back to volleyball by not charging a fee and offering other fun activities," Leitz added.

From Fort Lauderdale the Jose Cuervo Volleyball Series heads to Belmar, NJ and then on to Chicago; Hermosa Beach, CA; Manhattan Beach, CA; and Huntington Beach, CA. The Fort Lauderdale Open will be telecast on NBC June 10.