May/Walsh dominate to take AVP Manhattan Beach Open

A packed crowd at the Manhattan Beach Pier saw the dynamic duo of Misty May (Long Beach, CA) and Kerri Walsh (Manhattan Beach, CA) capture their first Manhattan Beach Open title.

The top-seeded May and Walsh outlasted second seeds Holly McPeak (Manhattan Beach, CA) and Elaine Youngs (Durango, CO) 21-16, 21-19 in a grueling battle that was televised "live" on NBC, the first ever for a women's final.

It was the fifth straight championship title for May and Walsh in five opportunities this year on the AVP Nissan Series.

With the victory, May and Walsh kept their unbeaten streak alive, running their match record to 26-0 this year on the AVP.

May and Walsh have now defeated McPeak and Youngs four times in four AVP finals.

Earlier in semifinal action, May and Walsh edged fifth seeds Dianne DeNecochea (San Diego, CA) and Nancy Mason (Redondo Beach, CA) 21-17, 21-19.

McPeak and Youngs reached the finals by beating sixth seeds Carrie Busch (El Segundo, CA) and Leanne Schuster McSorley (Manhattan Beach, CA) 21-13, 21-17 in the semis.

The win sent them to their fifth AVP title match in six tries this year.

McPeak is still looking for one more championship title to tie the all-time record of 67 held by Karolyn Kirby.

Elaine Youngs was the Manhattan Beach tournament leader in aces with 11 and finished second in blocks with 13.

On the men's side, second seeds Canyon Ceman (Los Angeles, CA) and Mike Whitmarsh (San Diego) advanced to the semifinals beating third-seeded Scott Ayakatubby (Hermosa Beach, CA) and Brian Lewis (San Clemente, CA) 25-23, 21-17.

Lewis and Ayakatubby will face ninth seeds Eduardo Bacil (Redondo Beach, CA) and Jose Loiola (Manhattan Beach, CA) in the contenders bracket.

Bacil and Loiola defeated Chad Mowrey (Manhattan Beach, CA) and Ed Ratledge (Fountain Valley, CA) 21-15, 21-18.

Also moving into the semifinals is fourth seeds Matt Fuerbringer (Hermosa Beach, CA) and partner Casey Jennings (Manhattan Beach, CA).

They beat top-seeded and three-time Olympic Gold Medalist Karch Kiraly (San Clemente, CA) and Brent Doble (Dana Point, CA) 21-12, 21-16.

Kiraly and Doble still remain in contention and will face seventh seeds Eric Fonoimoana (Hermosa Beach, CA) and Kevin Wong (Venice, CA) on Sunday morning, with the winner advancing to the semis.

Sunday's men's action begins at 9:30 am with the men's final televised "live" on NBC at 4:30 EST. NBC will also cover the Huntington Beach Open, Aug. 14-17 and the Chicago Open Aug. 28-31st.

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