Just got back from the big AVP tourney down in Huntington Beach, where thousands showed up south of the pier to watch world-class players battle it out on the sand.

Some say the crowds were a bit thin - perhaps because people were out of town for the holiday weekend, or maybe it was the absence of Olympic gold medalists Misty May-Treanor of Costa Mesa and Kerri Walsh.

Still, die-hard volleyball enthusiasts showed up to watch the games from the sand, and even more checked out the fun stuff they had in the festival area. Check out AVP photos and more on ocregister.com.

Stopped in at the AVP Crocs Pro Beach Volleyball Tour this afternoon, and the sand was already packed with people checking out the event on the south side of the Huntington Beach Pier.

For player Jenny Kropp - who was standing on the sand between matches - it’s nice to have the tournament close to her Manhattan Beach home.

“It’s nice that it’s local, so we don’t have to travel,” she said of having the tournament on Orange County beaches. The team won their first match.

“We’ll see how it goes… but we’ll win,” she said of her next game.

Click here or on the image to the right to see action and lifestyle images in our OrangeCounty.com slideshow.

There was tons of action going on - and while volleyball might be the highlight, there’s a lot of other things to get into.

Michael Adams, of Dana Point, decided to sit down at the Paul Mitchell booth to get his hair cut. Hair cuts through the weekend are $10, with the money going towards “Food for Africa.”

“Efficiency of time,” he said. “I’m on the beach getting a haircut. Beats going to the barber,” he said.

There’s also a bunch of free swag - at the Malibu Rum tent, shake a coconut and if it makes a sound, win stuff like beach volleyballs (no booze at the tent, sorry). At the Barefoot wine booth, grab key chains and bags. Naked Juice is also on site handing out samples.

Check out the schedule of the AVP tournament in Huntington Beach.

The AVP Crocs Pro Beach Volleyball Tour hit the sand today in Huntington Beach, the first beach stop on the tour.
Players from around the world gathered for qualifying matches today, with competitions running Friday through Sunday on the south side of the Huntington Beach Pier.

Volleyball players from around Orange County will be playing, including Westminster’s Brad Keenan, (2006 Rookie of the Year), Huntington Beach’s Jeff Carlucci and Ed Ratledge, and Fountain Valley- born Lindquist sisters. Also competing will be Phil Dalhausser and Todd Rogers (who have already won the first two events), as well women’s front runners and Beijing Olympians Nicole Branagh and Elaine Youngs.

Check back tomorrow, we’ll have a slideshow and more about the event.

Here’s the schedule of events: 

Friday: 
Men’s and Women’s Main Draw (Gates open at 8 a.m.)
9 am.-6:30 p.m.

Saturday:
Men’s and Women’s Main Draw (Gates open at 9:30 a.m.)
10:30 am.-5:30 p.m.

Sunday:
Men’s and Women’s Main Draw (Gates open at 8:30 a.m.)
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