May/Walsh, Ring/Roumain take AVP Huntington Beach crowns

The undefeated team of Misty May and Kerri Walsh extended their record to 86 straight matches and 15 consecutive tournament titles on Sunday, May 30, 2004, at the Bud Light Huntington Beach Open presented by Shark Energy Drink.

May and Walsh defeated Barbara Fontana and Jennifer Kessy in the finals of the AVP Nissan Series 21-16, 21-15.

Earlier in the day, May and Walsh beat the newly-formed team of Angie Akers and Rachel Wacholder 21-15, 21-16.

Packed stands witnessed a first-time tournament title for the up-and-coming team of Jason Ring and George Roumain.

The team defeated the first-seeded team of Sean Rosenthal and Larry Witt 21-12, 21-16.

Ring and Roumain arrived at the finals after defeating three-time Olympian Karch Kiraly and his partner Olympian Mike Lambert 21-17, 17-21, 21-19.

This is the first season together for the team that has consistently finished in the top 10 in the three previous AVP Nissan Series tournaments.

Two of the three top teams on the women's side were absent from today's competition.

Four-time MVP Holly McPeak and Olympian Elaine Youngs and Olympians Annett Davis and Jenny Jordan Johnson are currently competing internationally to qualify for the second spot at the Olympics in Athens.

The men's side was also missing some of the top Olympic-contenders including Dax Holdren and Stein Metzger, Tempe Open winners Todd Rogers and Sean Scott and 2000 Olympians Eric Fonoimoana and Kevin Wong.

The AVP Nissan Series next tour stop will be the Manhattan Beach Open taking place June 4th-6th south of the Manhattan Beach Pier. The tournament will be broadcast on Fox Sports Net.

Article courtesy of the AVP, home to the USA's best men and women pro beach volleyball players.