Olympian Kerri Walsh Showcases Volleyball, Wellness In Hometown

SAN JOSE, CA – Hometown girl Colette Vance would be the first in line to say this is how you celebrate sweet 16. The volleyball player sat in the stands directly behind three-time gold medalist Kerri Walsh-Jennings during the Olympic athlete’s inaugural San Jose Invitational beach volleyball tournament. P1440, which was named for how many minutes in the day Walsh advocates in mind, body and spirit, was staged in the athlete's own hometown.

“I’ve wanted to meet her all my life,” the young Vance said. She sat so close enough to see the sand on Walsh- Jennings' back, who played to and for the crowd assembled at center court.

The crowd reciprocated on a hot Saturday with cheers, flying beach balls and even a slow-motion wave in response to the great digs, spikes, dives and bumps from Walsh-Jennings' Swiss teammate Anouk Verge-Depre and opponents Saraelen Leandro Ferreira Lima of Brazil and Jolien Sinnema of the Netherlands.

The opponents won, but that didn’t hinder the enthusiasm of the spectators.

“They’re very good players,” Walsh-Jennings told Patch of the “frustrating” match. Lima and Sinnema mixed up their plays with a few drop shots that had Walsh and Verge-Depre diving.

Beyond showcasing skilled athletes from all over the world and along with wellness displays and demostrations, the event at Avaya Stadium for the extended weekend of fun, sun, tons of sand and many hired guns in the often overlooked sport.

P1440 -- https://p1440.com/about/news/ -- continues Sunday then will move on to Las Vegas, San Diego and Huntington Beach in this year’s series, will perhaps put an end to the absence of seeing these athletes once the Summer Olympics move on every four years.

“It’s nice to have this level of play. It doesn’t happen that often,” Palo Alto player Amelia Vugrincic said, while watching a match with her mother Dawn Darbonne that featured a highly skilled Nicole Branaugh.

“We don’t really have many opportunities to play the sport, do what we love and make money,” said Branaugh, who just won her match.

Thousands of people have showed up to see the pros for the weekend. ESPN is airing it live.

--Images via Sue Wood