FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 7, 2003


FHSAA awards first-ever boys volleyball finals to Palm Beach County, unveils official event logo, posts state series terms and conditions booklet

GAINESVILLE – The Inaugural FHSAA Boys Volleyball Finals state championship tournament will be played at Royal Palm Beach High School, the FHSAA Office announced today. The event will be held May 2-3, 2003. Royal Palm Beach and Palm Beach Lakes high schools will be co-hosts.

In conjunction with the announcement, the FHSAA also unveiled the official logo for the inaugural event and posted the first-ever state series terms and conditions booklet for the sport.

Copies of the booklet and the NFHS Volleyball Rules Book were mailed to all participating schools today (Friday). The first official day of boys volleyball practice is Monday, Feb. 10.

The FHSAA considered three other sites for the event. FHSAA staff members inspected facilities at Palm Beach Community College, Palm Beach Lakes High School and Olympic Heights High School. In the end, however, Royal Palm Beach High School won out.

"Royal Palm Beach High School has everything we were looking for," said FHSAA Director of Communications Jack Watford, who will administer the first-ever event. "Its facilities are beautiful with ample locker rooms to accommodate the two-day, eight-team event. It's easily accessible, located just off the Turnpike in an area that is not yet overly congested."

Palm Beach County Director of Athletics Linda Cowart will serve as Tournament Manager.

The Florida High School Activities Association is the governing body for interscholastic athletics in Florida. It has a membership of 668 middle and senior high schools and conducts state series to determine the official state champions in 21 girls and boys sports. When the state boys volleyball champion is crowned on May 3, it will be the first champion crowned in a new sport since the state fast-pitch softball series began in 1988.

Contact:
Jack Watford
Director of Communications, FHSAA
(352) 372-9551 ext. 170
jwatford@fhsaa.org