Smack Athlete Jennifer Kropp And Her Partner Crowned Belmar Open Champions

Online, June 27, 2012 (Newswire.com) - The final day of the Belmar Open was an emotional day met with red cards, contested calls and fierce competition, and the pressure was high enough to stir emotion out of even the calmest athletes. The No. 1 seeded women's team Smack Athlete Jenny Kropp (Holly Glen, Calif.) and her partner Whitney Pavlik (Laguna Beach, Calif.) continued their streak as they brought home their second consecutive victory in the Jose Cuervo Pro Beach Volleyball Series (the first was at last month's Florida Open). They played with passion and vigorous energy as they claimed their piece of the $100,000 prize purse in front of a stadium that overflowed with spectators who gathered wherever they could to watch the action.

In front of a full and energetic stadium that broke out into the "wave," Kropp and Pavlik effectively blocked, killed, dove and strategically placed the ball on the line and corners for the duo to win their second championship this year and third championship overall. The 2011 Manhattan Beach Open champs defeated No. 2 seed Lauren Fendrick (Carlsbad, Calif.) and Brooke Hanson (Woodland Hills, Calif.) in the Semi-Finals and then No. 6 team Raquel Ferreira (Minas Gerais, Brazil) and Kristen Batt (Venice, Fla.) in the Finals, 20-22, 21-12 and 15-9.

"We are grateful to play in the Jose Cuervo Pro Beach Volleyball Series. They have provided us a tour with great atmosphere, huge turnout and stability for our sport," said Kropp. Kropp and Pavlik enjoyed the support of a local cheering section after the two expressed their appreciativeness by acknowledging them at the end of their qualifying matches earlier in the week. "There were more people on Friday for Qualifiers alone than I've ever seen in Belmar in the past. The crowd braved the sun, the rain, thunder and lightning, and brought all of their energy. And today, we had a full stadium with people in the stands, on the sideline and everywhere I looked. It was an amazing weekend," said Pavlik.

Smack Athlete Brooke Sweat (Fort Myers, FL) and her partner Jennifer Fopma (Bellflower, CA) also had a successful weekend in Belmar, they took 3rd place and lost to the second placed Batt & Ferreira.

If you want to check out our Smack girls' game the Belmar Open will broadcast nationally on NBC Sports Network on July 1 at 9 p.m. PT / July 2 at 12 a.m. ET. And if you want to play in their winning bikinis go to http://www.vbsuperstore.com/beach-volleyball/smack-beachwear/women-s-apparel-swimwear.html?p=2