Hilton Garden Inn Teams with AVP's Top Pro-Beach Players to Host Free Youth Volleyball Clinic on Chicago's North Avenue Beach This Thursday

WHAT: Members of local youth volleyball clubs from Illinois, Tennessee, Iowa, Ohio and Michigan will bump, set and spike with top pro-beach volleyball players for a free youth clinic at North Avenue Beach this Thursday, July 20 at 5 p.m. Before sand begins to fly in the Windy City during opening matches of the AVP Chicago Open, local youth will take to Center Court for the 2006 Hilton Garden Inn AVP Youth Volleyball Clinic.

WHO: AVP Tour sponsor Hilton Garden Inn has enlisted 2004 Olympic medalist Elaine Youngs and AVP's reigning defensive player of the year Rachel Wacholder, to host youth volleyball players in a free clinic that teams local 12 - 18 year-olds with multiple professional beach volleyball players competing in the AVP cross-country tour.

AVP players will conduct a free autograph session and meet & greet following the youth clinic. The Chicago event is one of eight clinics being hosted by The Hilton Family of Hotels, Hilton Hotels, and Hilton Garden Inn at AVP tournaments across the U.S.

Note: Students from the following communities will be in attendance and available for media interviews:

Avalanche VBC (Minoska Community HS) - Oswego Velocity VBC (Glenbrook South HS) - Glenveiw

EVP Volleyball Club Cinci Classics - Cincinnati, OH

Celtic Force (McAuley HS) - Worth Quad City VBC - Eastern Iowa

Memphis Juniors (Memphis, TN)

**Elaine Youngs and Rachel Wacholder will also be available for one-on-one media interviews.

WHEN: Thursday, July 20, 2006

Youth Clinic: 5:00 p.m. - 6:15 p.m.; Player Autograph Session and Meet & Greet: 6:15 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

WHERE: AVP Chicago Open - Center Court

North Avenue Beach

1603 N. Lake Shore Drive

Chicago, IL 60614