Aspen's Motherlode Volleyball Tournament

Aspen's 39th Annual Motherlode Volleyball Tournament.The 39th Annual Motherlode Volleyball Tournament brought top tier talent to Aspen, Colorado.  Over 600 Volleyball teams from all over the World converged on Aspen over labor day weekend for a "block party" Wagner Park, Rio Grande Park and Koch Lumber Park all were packed with nets, balls and long lean super-fit volleyball players.  The Motherlode is considered "the top social event " in the Volleyball Universe.  The Motherlode, which began back in 1972 is now sanctioned by the National Volleyball League (NVL)

The Men's Open final was a classic battle between top seed and eventual winners Rosenthal and Patterson and a very stubborn duo of Marchewka and Zimet.  It went down to the exciting third and final game with each team having multiple match points.  The experience of Rosie (former Olympian) and Casey showed through in the end as a crucial block and a diving save led to the match winner in a very tight 3rd game.

The Ladies final was exponentially less dramatic as Lunquist and Caulkins took the math in convincing style needing only to games to dispatch their rivals.

Men's Champions:  $12,000

SEAN ROSENTHAL (Calif) / CASEY PATTERSON (Utah)

Ladies Champions:  $12,000

KARIN LUNQVIST (Swe) / RAQUEL CAULKINS (Bra)