High-Intensity Action Continues at AVP Manhattan Beach Open
Aug 17, 2024 12:40PM ● By Mb News Staff
Sara Hughes (with partner Kelly Cheng) spikes the ball in a match against Bracken/Crews on Friday. Photo credit: Evelyn Schmitt.
Friday's AVP Manhattan Beach Open saw high-intensity play among star beach volleyball athletes, looking for a chance to cement their places in the new AVP League and a $300,000 prize purse. The tournament continues through the weekend.
After spending three weeks at the Olympics in Paris, top-seeded women Taryn Kloth and Kristen Nuss showed no signs of fatigue as they rolled through the competition Friday morning, landing a spot in the third round of the winners’ bracket. The Louisianan duo won both their matches in straight sets; 21-10, 21-17 in their first match against 32nd-seeded Emma Donley/Hannah Fleming and 21-18, 21-17 against 17th-seeded Chloe Loreen/Natalie Robinson in their second match.
(Taryn Kloth and and Kristen Nuss clap hands in a match against Loreen/Robinson. Photo credit: Evelyn Schmitt.)Top-seeded men Theo Brunner and Trevor Crabb dominated the competition with straight-set victories. Brunner and Crabb overcame 32nd-seeded Tate Calles and Brendan Onishchenko, who had secured their spot into the main draw through Thursday’s qualifier, 21-15, 21- 18. The pair later defeated 16th-seeded Timothy Brewster and Jake Dietrich, 21-18, 21-16.
Kelly Cheng, Sara Hughes, Andy Benesh, Chase Budinger, Miles Evans and Miles Partain all returned from the Paris Olympics less than a week ago, and dominated their first-round matches. Cheng/Hughes and Benesh/Partain both swept their second-round competition in straight sets, whereas Budinger/Evans fell short to 12th-seeded Tri Bourne and Ryan Wilcox, 21-15, 21-16. Budinger and Evans remain alive and will continue to fight their way through the contenders’ bracket in the double-elimination tournament.
Olympic gold medalists April Ross and Alix Klineman fell early in their first match against 28th-seeded Maya Gessner and Jacinda Ramirez, 21-17, 21-17. “The A-Team" began their journey through the contenders’ bracket Friday afternoon, winning both their matches.
The AVP Manhattan Beach Open features 32-team women’s and men’s fields competing in a double-elimination bracket across ten courts from Friday through Sunday. The AVP recently announced the creation of the AVP League, which will launch with eight founding teams playing head-to-head in a regular season spanning September through November in 2024. Each team will be based in a home market including Los Angeles, San Diego, Austin, Dallas, Miami, Palm Beach, New York and Brooklyn. Each home market will have one starting men’s duo and one starting women’s duo. The top overall teams will then participate in an end-of-season championship.
The AVP Manhattan Beach Open features 32-team women’s and men’s fields competing in a double-elimination bracket across ten courts from Friday through Sunday. The AVP recently announced the creation of the AVP League, which will launch with eight founding teams playing head-to-head in a regular season spanning September through November in 2024. Each team will be based in a home market including Los Angeles, San Diego, Austin, Dallas, Miami, Palm Beach, New York and Brooklyn. Each home market will have one starting men’s duo and one starting women’s duo. The top overall teams will then participate in an end-of-season championship.
General admission to the AVP Manhattan Beach Open is free every day,
with the option to purchase premium seating for Sand Club, AVP 360,
Courtside Boxes and Suites, all ranging in price. Tickets are available
at www.avp.com/tickets/.
Friday’s Notable Results
Women:
First round
• (1) Taryn Kloth/Kristen Nuss def. (32) Emma Donley/Hannah Fleming, 21-10, 21-17
• (2) Kelly Cheng/Sara Hughes def. (31) Parker Bracken/Kaeli Crews, 21-10, 21-14
• (3) Betsi Flint/Julia Scoles def. (30) Katie Hogan/Kaylie McHugh, 21-15, 21-8
• (4) Terese Cannon/Megan Kraft def. (29) Sara Putt/Tiffany Svenssohn, 21-18, 21-9
• (28) Maya Gessner/Jacinda Ramirez def. (5) Alix Klineman/April Ross, 21-17, 21-17
Second round
• (1) Taryn Kloth/Kristen Nuss def. (17) Chloe Loreen/Natalie Robinson, 21-18, 21-17
• (2) Kelly Cheng/Sara Hughes def. (18) Xolani Hodel/Kahlee York, 21-18, 21-12
• (3) Betsi Flint/Julia Scoles def. (19) Peri Brennan/Natalie Myszkowski, 16-21, 21-16, 15-11
• (4) Terese Cannon/Megan Kraft def. (13) Devon Newberry/Jaden Whitmarsh, 20-22, 21-13, 15-10
• (28) Maya Gessner/Jacinda Ramirez def. (21) Madelyne May Anderson/Marine Kinna, 21-19, 10-21, 15-10
Men:
First round
• (1) Theo Brunner/Trevor Crabb def. (32) Tate Calles/Brendan Onishchenko, 21-15, 21-18
• (2) Taylor Crabb/Taylor Sander def. (31) Adam Hartmann/Andrew Holman, 21-19, 21-14
• (3) Andy Benesh/Miles Partain def. (30) Ian Carlson/Skylar del Sol, 21-18, 21-18
• (4) Cody Caldwell/Seain Cook def. (29) Kevin Coyle/Ben Vaught, 21-16, 21-15
• (5) Chase Budinger/Miles Evans def. (28) TJ Jurko/Ian Satterfield, 21-12, 21-10
Second round
• (1) Theo Brunner/Trevor Crabb def. (8) Timothy Brewster/Jake Dietrich, 21-18, 21-16
• (2) Taylor Crabb/Taylor Sander def. (15) Alvaro Filho/Caleb Kwekel, 23-21, 21-16
• (3) Andy Benesh/Miles Partain def. (19) Peter Connole/Steven Roschitz, 21-12, 21-13
• (4) Cody Caldwell/Seain Cook def. (20) Dylan Maarek/Lev Priima, 18-21, 21-18, 15-11
• (12) Tri Bourne/Ryan Wilcox def. (5) Chase Budinger/Miles Evans, 21-15, 21-16
First round
• (1) Theo Brunner/Trevor Crabb def. (32) Tate Calles/Brendan Onishchenko, 21-15, 21-18
• (2) Taylor Crabb/Taylor Sander def. (31) Adam Hartmann/Andrew Holman, 21-19, 21-14
• (3) Andy Benesh/Miles Partain def. (30) Ian Carlson/Skylar del Sol, 21-18, 21-18
• (4) Cody Caldwell/Seain Cook def. (29) Kevin Coyle/Ben Vaught, 21-16, 21-15
• (5) Chase Budinger/Miles Evans def. (28) TJ Jurko/Ian Satterfield, 21-12, 21-10
Second round
• (1) Theo Brunner/Trevor Crabb def. (8) Timothy Brewster/Jake Dietrich, 21-18, 21-16
• (2) Taylor Crabb/Taylor Sander def. (15) Alvaro Filho/Caleb Kwekel, 23-21, 21-16
• (3) Andy Benesh/Miles Partain def. (19) Peter Connole/Steven Roschitz, 21-12, 21-13
• (4) Cody Caldwell/Seain Cook def. (20) Dylan Maarek/Lev Priima, 18-21, 21-18, 15-11
• (12) Tri Bourne/Ryan Wilcox def. (5) Chase Budinger/Miles Evans, 21-15, 21-16
Pier Ceremony
The Manhattan Beach Open festivities kicked off Thursday with the
unveiling of the reigning champions’ plaques on the Manhattan Beach
Pier’s Walk of Fame.
2023 winners Betsi Flint, Julia Scoles, Taylor Crabb and Taylor
Sander are now among
beach volleyball’s greatest players with their names forever etched on
the pier.
The plaques commemorating their 2023 Manhattan Beach Open victories were the first for all four 2023 winners.
"This is extra special for me,” said Flint.
“This was my third consecutive Manhattan Beach finals appearance, and
all three coming after giving birth to my daughter, Cora, so it’s been
special to see how incredible motherhood has elevated
my game and who I am on and off the court.”
Added Scoles: “My favorite thing about this
sport is the way it unites people and brings people together for a
common passion. I feel so blessed and privileged to be able to compete
with a healthy and able body. Last year was quite the
journey, and having April (Ross) as our coach was truly a dream come
true. To have her mentor us and pour into our team was something beyond
words can describe.”
Crabb had knocked at the door of becoming a Manhattan Beach winner before, having advanced to four semifinals south of the pier before winning last year. And he had watched his brother, Trevor, unveil plaques the three previous years.
“I’ve been to a few of these, but never on this
side of it, so it’s nice to be on this side - sorry, Trevor," Taylor
Crabb said. “However, I’ve got to thank him. He’s made me a better
volleyball player. He’s pushed me—his competitiveness
anytime I get to step on the court against him is honestly a dream for
me because I love battling against him.”
Added Sander: “It’s crazy that I got a Manhattan
Beach win in my second one. It’s pretty special. To be able to do this
with him, one of my best friends, is so special.”
Both teams will have the opportunity to repeat last year’s winnings with their respective partners.
