ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — As one of the nation's top beach volleyball players, FGCU volleyball alumna Brooke Youngquist Sweat returns to her home state for competition next week. Sweat will vie for a position in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games at the 2015 St. Pete FIVB Grand Slam.
The event, which takes place June 15-21 at Spa Beach Park, boasts the world's top beach players as the athletes prepare for Rio 2016. Sweat and her partner Lauren Fendrick are one of 32 pairs from over 20 countries competing in the Olympic qualifying event that also includes the nation's top pair of April Ross and Kerri Walsh Jennings as well as a pool of the world's best men's players. The event serves to add points to the Olympic qualifying standings, while bringing the world's best beach volleyball to Florida.
In collaboration with the Federation of International Volleyball, the St. Pete Grand Slam serves as one of five Grand Slams in the FIVB World Tour that features 20 international cities this year. The Florida based competition stands as the first of three U.S. events this year and carries $800,000 in prize money.
The event begins Monday, June 15 with qualification and continues June 17-20 with pool play and elimination rounds. The women's championship is slated for Sunday, June 21 at 4 p.m. and will be broadcast live on NBC.
General admission to the event is free and includes admission to Vendor Village, the ultimate beach volleyball festival featuring interactive activities, athlete appearances, vendors, live music and more. Special ticket options are available through AVP.com for those interested in an exclusive beach volleyball experience.
The final rounds of both the men's and women's competition will be broadcast nationally, with NBC and NBC Sports Network showing six hours of the highest level of beach volleyball through the weekend.
Sweat and Fendrick currently rank as the number three pair in the nation and recently took fifth at the FIVB Major event in Croatia. The pair is competing in Norway at the Stavanger Major this weekend.
A 2008 graduate of FGCU, Sweat stands as the program's all-time leader with 1,167 kills. In four years with the program, including the inaugural 2004 season, Sweat guided the team to a 103-15 record and led the team with 13.11 kills per set, a record that stands today.
Her younger sister Holly Younquist Hebers '12 also played a contributing role in the FGCU indoor volleyball team, was member of the inaugural sand volleyball team and served as an assistant coach for the program in years following graduation. As Southwest Florida natives, the Youngquist family continues to be strong supporters of FGCU Athletics.
For up-to-the minute information and a behind-the-scenes look at the FGCU volleyball program, follow on Twitter at @FGCU_VB, on Facebook at /FGCUVolleyball and on Instagram at @FGCU_VB.
