IRVINE, CA, April 9th 2007–Mikasa Sports USA has entered into a multi year partnership with professional beach volleyball players Todd Rogers and Phil Dalhausser.

Rogers and Dalhausser are coming off a banner season which saw the team win 8 AVP events and 1 FIVB World Tour Grand Slam event in Austria.

In 2007 the team will begin their quest to qualify for the 2008 Olympic Games. To qualifying for the Olympics, teams must play on the FIVB tour, also sponsored by Mikasa.

“Mikasa wants to continue to associate itself with the best and brightest athletes. Todd and Phil represent both those qualities. We hope they can build on last year’s season and qualify for the Olympic Games. This would be a great feat and they both would represent the US well at the Olympics” said Richard McCoy, President of Mikasa Sports USA.

Individually, the players racked up awards in 2006. Phil Dalhausser won The Most Improved Player on both the AVP and FIVB tour, the AVP’s Best Offensive Player of the year and the FIVB’s Best Blocker.

Todd Rogers won the coveted MVP of the AVP award, Best Defensive Player on the AVP, Best Defensive Player on the FIVB and Best Setter on the FIVB tour.

“This relationship with Mikasa works for me on so many different levels. Certainly as a Mikasa athlete I look forward to representing Mikasa around the world at International FIVB beach volleyball tournaments as well as the Beijing Olympics” said Rogers.

The volleyball duo kicks off their season April 14th in Miami.

Since 1964 Mikasa has been supplying the Olympic Games volleyballs and in 2008 Mikasa will once again be the official ball for indoor and beach volleyball.