Not only are Miss America beauty contestants roaming around Atlantic City this weekend but you can catch professional beach volleyball as well.

Ryan Doherty
Ryan Doherty (AVP)
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The DO AC Pro Beach Volleyball Invitational begins today and runs through Sunday just off the boardwalk between the Revel and Showboat Casinos.

Seven foot tall volleyball star and Toms River native Ryan Doherty will be playing. He says what makes this event so special is that "this is gonna be the first ever AVP sanctioned event in Atlantic City and I think the first beach volleyball event in Atlantic City in probably a good 15 years, so everybody's really excited."

However, Doherty explains that volleyball wasn't his first love. He was actually working on a professional baseball career before he stumbled upon volleyball. "You know I loved baseball and I played it and I had some great times and great memories but when I got released, I kind of needed to find a new outlet and I was lucky enough to find beach volleyball.

Ryan Doherty in action
Ryan Doherty in action (AVP)
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According the AVP Tour press release, the invitational will feature the top 16 men's and women's teams with the likes of Olympians Kerri Walsh-Jennings and Sean Rosenthal, along with three-time Manhattan Beach Open Champ Whitney Pavlik and AVP star Casey Patterson.

Players will be competing for the Do AC Pro Beach Volleyball title and a piece of the $100-thousand dollar prize purse.

Intense qualifying rounds begin today from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. The men's and women's Main Draw takes place Saturday. Quarter Finals, Semi-finals, Finals and Awards are Sunday.

Get the details at avp.com

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