Todd Rogers is living proof of the acorn not falling too far from the tree.

He lives in the same city (Santa Barbara, Calif.) that he grew up in, attended college (University of California at Santa Barbara) at and now competes on the beaches of as a member of the Association of Volleyball Professionals.

Rogers, who has competed as a professional beach volleyball player for seven years, earned $10,200 on this season’s AVP Tour with four-fifth place finishes in the six events he entered with Sean Scott. The duo finished tied for fifth at the Sept. 5-7 Paul Mitchell AVP Shoot out in Las Vegas.

Last season, while teamed with fellow Santa Barbaran native Dax Holdren, Rogers earned championships in two AVP events (Clearwater Beach, Fla. and Hermosa Beach, Calif.) and four Fèdèration Internationale de Volleyball Gold Medals, including a FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour title in Mexico as the 32nd seed.

The 29-year-old, who enjoys soccer, surfing, reading science fiction books and hiking, currently is at $297,697 in career earnings with $74,375 in 2000 being his best year ever.

His best AVP finishes on the hometown Santa Barbara courts occurred in 2001 and 2002 where he and Holdren earned second places in front of the hometown crowd.

Rogers took time to answer the following questions from the AVP staff.

What do you like best about playing on the AVP?
The ability to play locally in front of family and friends and make a career out of it.

What do you like least about playing on the AVP?
The fact that there are only seven tourneys. I would love to see 20 at $100,000 a pop.

How long have you been playing volleyball?
I started playing volleyball my freshman year in high school (1988).

What made you start playing volleyball?
Volleyball looked like a fun sport and all of my friends had decided to play it as well.

Who is your favorite volleyball player?
I really don't have a favorite. I used to but as you get to know people you tend to look at them differently.

Who is the biggest inspiration in your life?
Karch Kiraly was in a volleyball sense. Magic Johnson was always my idol when I grew up. But I don't think I can name anyone as an inspiration.

What is your pre-match ritual?
I take a warm up jog and stretch. I don't do any mental things. I do all of that before the tourney.
 
What is your favorite music?
I like all kinds of music ranging from classical to 80's to alternative, you name it. I am not a big fan of the current rap stuff however. I like old school rap not new school.

What is your favorite movie?
My favorite movie is probably Top Gun or Risky Business. I like Tom Cruise and I always wanted to be in the Air Force.

What is your favorite book?
My favorite book is actually a series. I love Tolkein's trilogy.

What do you like to do in your spare time?
I spend a lot of time with my family in my spare time. The great thing about being self-employed is that I have the ability to take time for my family. I like to take my dogs for walks to the beach as well.

What is your favorite ice cream flavor?
My favorite ice cream flavor is Haagan Daz Macadamia Nut Brittle.

What is your favorite color?
Green

What is your fondest volleyball memory?
My fondest volleyball memory was taking weekend trips to Santa Cruz (Calif.) to play in the Begonia Festival. It was always the best trip of the year.

What is your favorite vacation spot?
My favorite vacation spot would be Priest Lake, Idaho. My grandparents own a cabin on a lake up in the woods. It is beautiful, serene and out in the middle of nowhere. Unfortunately, I don't get to go there very often as I am usually playing volleyball when I would want to go there.