Jon D. Gaede |BVN Sports
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Medalists from the Paris games, plus familiar faces return to Huntington’s main beach to compete for another AVP title. They have been coming since the mid -1970’s to this iconic stretch of beach just north of the pier to compete at the highest level. Olympic gold medalist Dain Blanton once won here with partner Eric Fanoimoana, then went on to win America’s first Beach Volleyball gold at the Sydney 2000 games. Both Huntington and Manhattan Beach consistently draw the crowds all week long to see the world’s best men and women teams compete.
Former USC teammates Megan Kraft and Terese Cannon played very well all week, then lost to top seeds Kristen Nusss and Taryn Brasher (Paris Olympians) in an intensely contested final 21-17, 21-23, 15-9. Kraft and Cannon, also 2024 Paris Olympians, disposed of Canadian Olympic silver medalists Brandie Wilkerson and Melissa Humana-Peredes in three sets to reach the final.
On the men’s side, top seeded Miles Partain and Andy Benesh defeated fellow Olympians Chase Budinger and Miles Evans in straight sets 21-14, 21-14. Partain, who lost his family home in the Palisades fire, and Benesh, used powerful serves and team consistency to get ahead quickly and finish sets.
Among the significant changes in AVP rules, single elimination has evolved. In this “do or die” format, losing just one match means your tournament is over. This applies to the early week qualifier events as well, as teams no longer have an opportunity to work their way back through the brackets after a loss. The
AVP Tour now moves to the Florida swing.