Nautica International Sponsors Top Pro Beach Volleyball Stars
Nautica Enterprises, Inc. (NAUT) today announced that it will be playing a major role in the world of professional beach volleyball with the recent addition of the top men's and women's AVP (Association of Volleyball Professionals) volleyball players to its sponsorship roster.
Nautica International, Inc. the men's sportswear division has signed individual endorsement deals with the top men's volleyball team of Eric Fonoimoana and Dax Holdren. On the women's side, Nautica Apparel, Inc., the Company's licensing division announced that Authentic Fitness, Inc., its new women's swimwear licensee, has signed individual endorsement deals for the Nautica women's swimwear line with top ranked U.S beach volleyball players Elaine Youngs and Misty May. All players are under contract through the 2004 season. Financial details were not released.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20030522/NYTH022 )
In his support of this new apparel sponsorship, David Chu, Nautica's founder and designer, said, 'Volleyball is a fun, competitive sport that can be enjoyed by everyone. It's active. It relies on teamwork and athleticism and has all the elements of the outdoor lifestyle associated with the Nautica brand. I'm happy to welcome Eric, Dax, Elaine and Misty to our Nautica family and wish them good luck in their spirited competition to win the Olympic gold medal for the U.S.A.'
Eric Fonoimoana won the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games Gold Medal in beach volleyball and he won the King of the Beach title in 1998. In 2001 Fonoimoana competed in 16 events (seven domestic and eight international) with six 'final four'finishes as well as a fourth place finish at the 2001 Goodwill Games in Brisbane, Australia. After a standout career at Manhattan Beach's Mira Costa High School, he enjoyed a successful career at the University of California Santa Barbara where he graduated with a degree in Sociology. He is currently the head coach of the Mira Costa Varsity Volleyball team. In January of 2000, Fonoimoana founded 'Dig for Kids'a non-profit foundation committed to providing youth in low-income communities the opportunity to pursue higher education and to promote excellence in youth sports.
Dax Holdren has captured an event title in each of the past four domestic seasons. Holdren finished the 2001 season with five 'final four'finishes in 13 events. Dax placed fifth at the 2001 FIVB (Federation Internationale de Volleyball) World Championships in Austria and won four 2000 Gold Medals, including a FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour title. A 1990 graduate of Santa Barbara's San Marcos High School, he attended Santa Barbara City College. He helps with youth volleyball and basketball leagues for children in Santa Barbara. In 2002, Holdren forged a new partnership with Eric Fonoimoana. It proved to be a good move: they made it to the finals in all but one of the AVP's seven tournaments in 2002 and they won four of them.
California native Elaine Youngs is one of the top-ranked, highest-earning players in professional volleyball today. A force both on the international and domestic circuits, Youngs represented the U.S in indoor volleyball during the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. She counts numerous victories including: three FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour Gold Medals in 2000, and a fourth place finish in the 2001 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships in Austria. Also in 2001, Youngs finished as a Bronze Medallist at the 2001 Goodwill Games in Brisbane. In 2002 Elaine received AVP Best Blocker 2002, AVP Best Offensive Player 2002, and AVP Most Valuable Player 2002 awards. Having earned more than 23 first place titles during her career, Elaine Youngs is at the top of her game.
Misty May, another California native, has quickly climbed the ranks to the top of the professional beach volleyball circuit. She finished last season as the top player in the world on the FIVB World Tour. Making her professional debut in 2000, May achieved the most first-season wins of any player in USA domestic history with five Golf Medal finishes. Additionally she placed fifth in the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney. Coming fresh off her first place victories at the recent AVP Nissan Paul Mitchell Fort Lauderdale Open and the AVP Tempe Open both in April 2003, May is easily proving to be a formidable presence on the AVP and is leading the pack for the 2003 season.
'The Nautica brand is synonymous with adventure and outdoor fun. Beach volleyball embodies both of these qualities. We could not be more thrilled to have Eric Fonoimoana, Dax Holdren, Elaine Youngs and Misty May on the Nautica team,'said Christopher Heyn, President of Nautica International. 'These athletes represent the best in athleticism and professionalism and will be great ambassadors for the Nautica brand. We wish all of our players continued success throughout the season.'
Nautica Enterprises, Inc., through its subsidiaries, designs, sources, markets and distributes apparel under the following brands: Nautica; Nautica Competition; Nautica Jeans Company; John Varvatos; Earl Jean; E. Magrath; and Byron Nelson.
SOURCE Nautica Enterprises, Inc.
Mary Ellen Barone, +1-212-887-8112,maryellen.barone@nautica.com
Nautica International, Inc. the men's sportswear division has signed individual endorsement deals with the top men's volleyball team of Eric Fonoimoana and Dax Holdren. On the women's side, Nautica Apparel, Inc., the Company's licensing division announced that Authentic Fitness, Inc., its new women's swimwear licensee, has signed individual endorsement deals for the Nautica women's swimwear line with top ranked U.S beach volleyball players Elaine Youngs and Misty May. All players are under contract through the 2004 season. Financial details were not released.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20030522/NYTH022 )
In his support of this new apparel sponsorship, David Chu, Nautica's founder and designer, said, 'Volleyball is a fun, competitive sport that can be enjoyed by everyone. It's active. It relies on teamwork and athleticism and has all the elements of the outdoor lifestyle associated with the Nautica brand. I'm happy to welcome Eric, Dax, Elaine and Misty to our Nautica family and wish them good luck in their spirited competition to win the Olympic gold medal for the U.S.A.'
Eric Fonoimoana won the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games Gold Medal in beach volleyball and he won the King of the Beach title in 1998. In 2001 Fonoimoana competed in 16 events (seven domestic and eight international) with six 'final four'finishes as well as a fourth place finish at the 2001 Goodwill Games in Brisbane, Australia. After a standout career at Manhattan Beach's Mira Costa High School, he enjoyed a successful career at the University of California Santa Barbara where he graduated with a degree in Sociology. He is currently the head coach of the Mira Costa Varsity Volleyball team. In January of 2000, Fonoimoana founded 'Dig for Kids'a non-profit foundation committed to providing youth in low-income communities the opportunity to pursue higher education and to promote excellence in youth sports.
Dax Holdren has captured an event title in each of the past four domestic seasons. Holdren finished the 2001 season with five 'final four'finishes in 13 events. Dax placed fifth at the 2001 FIVB (Federation Internationale de Volleyball) World Championships in Austria and won four 2000 Gold Medals, including a FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour title. A 1990 graduate of Santa Barbara's San Marcos High School, he attended Santa Barbara City College. He helps with youth volleyball and basketball leagues for children in Santa Barbara. In 2002, Holdren forged a new partnership with Eric Fonoimoana. It proved to be a good move: they made it to the finals in all but one of the AVP's seven tournaments in 2002 and they won four of them.
California native Elaine Youngs is one of the top-ranked, highest-earning players in professional volleyball today. A force both on the international and domestic circuits, Youngs represented the U.S in indoor volleyball during the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. She counts numerous victories including: three FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour Gold Medals in 2000, and a fourth place finish in the 2001 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships in Austria. Also in 2001, Youngs finished as a Bronze Medallist at the 2001 Goodwill Games in Brisbane. In 2002 Elaine received AVP Best Blocker 2002, AVP Best Offensive Player 2002, and AVP Most Valuable Player 2002 awards. Having earned more than 23 first place titles during her career, Elaine Youngs is at the top of her game.
Misty May, another California native, has quickly climbed the ranks to the top of the professional beach volleyball circuit. She finished last season as the top player in the world on the FIVB World Tour. Making her professional debut in 2000, May achieved the most first-season wins of any player in USA domestic history with five Golf Medal finishes. Additionally she placed fifth in the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney. Coming fresh off her first place victories at the recent AVP Nissan Paul Mitchell Fort Lauderdale Open and the AVP Tempe Open both in April 2003, May is easily proving to be a formidable presence on the AVP and is leading the pack for the 2003 season.
'The Nautica brand is synonymous with adventure and outdoor fun. Beach volleyball embodies both of these qualities. We could not be more thrilled to have Eric Fonoimoana, Dax Holdren, Elaine Youngs and Misty May on the Nautica team,'said Christopher Heyn, President of Nautica International. 'These athletes represent the best in athleticism and professionalism and will be great ambassadors for the Nautica brand. We wish all of our players continued success throughout the season.'
Nautica Enterprises, Inc., through its subsidiaries, designs, sources, markets and distributes apparel under the following brands: Nautica; Nautica Competition; Nautica Jeans Company; John Varvatos; Earl Jean; E. Magrath; and Byron Nelson.
SOURCE Nautica Enterprises, Inc.
Mary Ellen Barone, +1-212-887-8112,maryellen.barone@nautica.com