Bill Stetson

Bill Stetson could just as well be spending his time at the beach, refining his volleyball skills. Instead he is spending it in a micro-vascular lab repairing a rat's blood vessels. "I was sharpening my surgical skills with a surgeon from Yugoslavia," he said. Stetson, a setter on Team Paul Mitchell of the Budweiser four-man beach volleyball tour, is in the fifth year of residency as an orthopedic surgeon at USC Medical Center. Lab time is a bonus.

Bill Stetson could just as well be spending his time at the beach, refining his volleyball skills. Instead he is spending it in a micro-vascular lab repairing a rat's blood vessels. "I was sharpening my surgical skills with a surgeon from Yugoslavia," he said. Stetson, a setter on Team Paul Mitchell of the Budweiser four-man beach volleyball tour, is in the fifth year of residency as an orthopedic surgeon at USC Medical Center. Lab time is a bonus.

Steve Timmons of Newport Beach and Adam Johnson of Capistrano Beach are among six Orange County volleyball players competing in the Great Western Team Cup tournament, which begins Thursday at the Forum. Timmons, a three-time Olympian and two-time gold medalist, is captain of Team Toyota, which also includes pro beach stars Dusty Dvorak of Laguna Beach and Brian Lewis of Corona del Mar.

The top professional beach volleyball players will be at Seal Beach pier this weekend for the $100,000 Seal Beach Open, one of the richest events on this year's tour. The winningest team on this year's tour, Sinjin Smith and Randy Stoklos, and the team that has earned the most prize money, Mike Dodd and Tim Hovland, will lead the pack as the two-day tournament begins at 9 a.m. Saturday, with the final rounds beginning at 8 a.m. Sunday.

Three-time national champion USC holds its men's alumni volleyball game Saturday night at 7:30 at Mira Costa High School. The match features several local products, including Trojan middle blocker Bryan Ivie (Mira Costa) and setter Dan Greenbaum (Rolling Hills). Expected to play for the alumni are Adam Johnson of the U.S.

TO anyone unfamiliar with his sport, Karch Kiraly's victory at the Huntington Beach Assn. of Volleyball Professionals tournament this summer over the best players in the country might have stirred a Roger Clemens moment. Kiraly is, after all, 44, turning 45 in November. But to understand the significance of his victory, picture this: Lance Armstrong winning another Tour de France -- in 11 years. Andre Agassi winning a major -- in nine.