AVP Recap: No Surprises in Belmar

Both number one seeds found their way to a championship this weekend, albeit in different ways.

Men’s AVP Results

Phil Dalhausser and Todd Rogers faced a difficult semi final match against Kevin Wong and Casey Patterson, losing the second game 20-22 before barely pulling out a 16-14 win in the third game. They moved on to once again face John Hyden and Sean Scott, the same team they played in the finals at Huntington Beach on June 6th.

Hyden/Scott were unable to take a game off the dynamic duo of Rogers/Dalhausser, who took home the championship in two games, 21-19, 21-15. I’ve got to agree with Canyon Ceman, who reminds us in his tournament recap, “Trust me, this is not as easy as they are making it look.”

Women’s AVP Results

On the women’s side Jennifer Kessy and April Ross made it three in a row, defeating Rachel Scott and Elaine Youngs with a decisive 21-16, 21-13 score. Kessy/Ross lost to Scott/Youngs in the winner’s seminfinals, forcing them to battle back through Lauren Fendrick and Ashley Ivy (21-11, 21-13) and No. 2 seeds Nicole Branagh and Misty May-Treanor, 21-14, 19-21, 15-11 to earn a rematch.

But earn it they did, and they were clearly motivated by the earlier loss. This was the first time Kess/Ross came in to a tournament as the number one seed, and they proved that it wasn’t a mistake.

What About Misty?

May-Traenor/Branagh seem to be suffering from a lack of chemistry, earning their third place finish “based on talent and skill… but they sure don’t seem to be having much fun” (says Canyon Ceman). I’m wondering if a breakup is in their future … Kerri Walsh is already eying her return to the game, and May-Traenor may be biding her time till her former partner is back in shape.

No AVP action for the next few weeks; the tour returns to California, specifically Hermosa Beach, July 16-17.

Photo courtesy of Flickr.

Updating...

Tags: association of volleyball professionals, AVP, mens beach volleyball, womens beach volleyball