How do you feel about being in NY and the facility here?

"Adam and I arrived on Friday and competed in Belmar, NJ over the weekend. I’m always very impressed with New York City and I’m excited about playing here in the media capital of the world."

What are some of the changes in domestic vs. international play?

"The biggest adjustment you have to make on our tour is using a different ball in the international tour. The ball is larger, has no seams and is slicker. We’re going to have to make a quick adjustment and I felt pretty good with the ball today at practice. We had to make the adjustment at the Olympics in Atlanta and we did."

How many years do you have left? Do you aspire to be in Sydney in 2000?

"I think a lot of guys competing here aspire to compete in Australia and it’s going to be tough qualifying. Only two teams from each country can qualify and that’s going to be a real test while juggling our regular playing schedules."

How do you view the other teams in your pool?

"I’ve seen five of the teams before that are playing here this week. All eight teams are solid, any one of the teams is capable of winning, I don’t really think there’s a favorite."

Do you feel there’s been a lack of dominance by a handful of teams in the past?

"I think now there are many more good teams than there have been in the past. What used to be an easy game to win in the first or second round is now becoming more challenging. Even the top teams is at a risk of losing in the early rounds."

Do you think the Goodwill Games will help the sport of Beach Volleyball?

"I hope the Goodwill Games will lead to some great exposure for Beach Volleyball. We’ve been spending a lot of time working to promote the sport and I think we’ve been doing a great job with that."

What are your thoughts on bringing a game that belongs on the beach to the city?

"Bringing the beach to the people in New York City, even though its not a beach sight is exciting for both the athletes and the spectators. It’s far from the water but the sand is the same. It was a huge hit in Atlanta and people had a great time."

What differences do you see from indoor volleyball?

"I grew up and learned my game on the beach. The indoor game is six on six and is an air conditioned gym vs. the beach where its much more challenging because of the heat, the wind, the surface and covering the same area of court with only two players."

What are your feelings on the settings here in Central Park?

"No one said a Beach Volleyball event can’t thrive in a non-beach city. We don’t necessarily have to be on the coast to have a great event, we proved that in Atlanta. Central Park is a beautiful place to have a competition. We had a great event in MSG where we played in the winter, it was very strange to bundle up in the freezing cold then go inside where it was nice and balmy and strip down to your shorts and play volleyball."