Off The Net Sports

American Beach Volleyball Gold Medalist Celebrate, originally uploaded by BSR-12.
Todd Rogers and Philip Dalhausser / USA vs. Fabio Magalhaes and Marcio Araujo / Brazil

The AVP and the United States have invited Brazil to Westgate City Center in Glendale, Arizona for the AVP World Challenge – USA vs. Brazil. If Brazil accepts, it will put the top AVP Crocs Tour players against the top Brazilian players.

The US teams will likely include Kerri Walsh, Phil Dalhausser and Todd Rogers

Kerri Walsh, originally uploaded by jamie nyc.
Olympic Gold Medalist Kerri Walsh in Hermosa Beach, California

Kerri Walsh plans to return to the AVP at the AVP Crocs Slam Hermosa Beach Open after being absent from the first nine events of the 2009 AVP Crocs Tour season because of the birth of her first son, Joseph Michael Jennings, with husband and AVP player Casey Jennings.

Walsh will be playing with Rachel Wacholder, who will also make her return to AVP Crocs Tour in Hermosa Beach after the birth of her son, Koa Daniel Scott, with husband and AVP player Sean Scott as Misty May-Treanor rehabilitates from an injury.

13IMAGE1, originally uploaded by jcosu217.
Misty May-Treanor (R) of the US celebrates with her teammate Kerri Walsh (2nd R) after winning against China’s Tian Jia and Wang Jie in their women’s final beach volleyball match at Beijing’s Chaoyang Park Beach Volleyball Ground on August 21, 2008 during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. The US team won 2-0 and took the gold medal. Photo credit THOMAS COEX/AFP/Getty Images

Kerri Walsh and Misty May-Treanor, the most decorated beach volleyball team, is up for another award. This time it’s a 2009 ESPY in the category of Best Championship Performance to celebrate their second consecutive gold medal in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

The duo is up against the likes of Michael Phelps, Kobe Bryant and Cole Hamels.