Kerri Walsh Jennings bringing volleyball tournament to Las Vegas

By Justin Emerson Las Vegas Review-Journal

6 years ago

In this March 22, 2016, file photo, Kerri Walsh Jennings speaks to reporters during a news conference sponsored by KT Tape in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, File)

In this Aug. 17, 2016 file photo, United States’ Kerri Walsh Jennings reacts while playing Brazil during the women’s beach volleyball bronze medal match of the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File)

In this Aug. 18, 2016, file photo, United States’ Kerri Walsh Jennings, left, and April Ross celebrate their bronze medals in the women’s beach volleyball competition at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek, File)

Three-time Olympic gold medalist Kerri Walsh Jennings will be partnering with the Federation Internationale de Volleyball to bring a beach volleyball tournament to Las Vegas in October, FIVB announced Monday.

The FIVB Las Vegas Open will be an opportunity for players to accumulate ranking points toward the 2020 Olympics, and will have a $300,000 prize split between the men’s and women’s tournaments.

The tournaments will be held Oct. 17-21 at a location to be determined. Admission is free the first two days for qualifiers, with paid admission starting Friday for the main draw.

Contact Justin Emerson at jemerson@reviewjournal.com or (702) 387-2944. Follow @J15Emerson on Twitter.