4th Annual U.S. Open of Beach Volleyball comes to Manhattan Beach
More than 700 athletes are expected to compete in the fourth annual U.S. Open of Beach Volleyball when the event comes to the Manhattan Beach Pier this weekend.
Redondo Beach native Sean Rosenthal and fellow Sea Hawk Aaron Wachtfogel will vie for the U.S. Open of Beach Volleyball after winning the prestigious Manhattan Beach Open this summer. Photo
Presented by Corona Light and run under the guidance of volleyball legend Karch Kiraly, the tournament offers $50,000 in prize money, including $12,000 to the winning teams from the 32-team main draw in both the Men’s and Women’s Open divisions.
Approximately 15 teams have earned automatic berths into the event after winning one of 32 different qualifier events held across the nation this summer, including the Corona Light Wide Open, the official qualifying tour of the U.S. Open.
Ty Loomis (Hermosa Beach) and Casey Patterson captured four events on the Corona Light Wide Open tour and has earned the top seed in the men’s competition. The top seeds for the Women’s Open divisions will be Erin Gray (Redondo Beach) and Kathryn Babcock (Chicago).
Redondo Beach natives and winners of this year’s Manhattan Beach Open, Aaron Wachtfogel and Sean Rosenthal are expected to compete in the Men’s Open division.
Local players had strong showings in the final qualifying tournament, the 38th Annual MotherLode Volleyball Classic in Aspen, Colo. John Moran (Redondo Beach) and Jesse Rambis (Manhattan Beach) placed second to Loomis Patterson.
Stafford Slick (Hermosa Beach) and Ben Shamrokh placed fifth and the teams of Joey Dykstra (Hermosa Beach)/Andy McGuire (Manhattan Beach) and Dane Jensen (Hermosa Beach)/Evan Engle (Dana Point) earned seventh-place finishes.
In women’s competition, Gray and Babcock edged Paige Jensen (Hermosa Beach) and Christal Engle (Dana Point) for first place. Larissa Merezczak (El Segundo) and Michelle Moriarty (Hermosa Beach) placed seventh.
Top teams from Friday’s qualifying tournament advance to the main draw that begins at 8:30 a.m. Saturday. Championship matches in the Open divisions are slated for approximately 2 p.m. on Sunday.
Competition will also be held in 14 different amateur divisions on Saturday and Sunday, featuring draws for two-person teams in Men’s AA, A, BB and B; Women’s AA, A, BB and B and Coed A and Novice divisions. There also will be draws in Men’s and Women’s Masters, a draw for players ages 37+ and a draw for participants 45+.
Additionally, there are plans for two four-person divisions (where each team must have at least one female player).
Entries for the Open Division qualifier set for Riday will be accepted until 6 p.m. Thursday at www.usopenbeachvolleyball.com. Entries for all other divisions will be accepted online until 6 p.m. Friday.
Onsite registration (based on open spots in each division) will be available for an additional $10 fee, beginning at 8 a.m. Friday for the Open division qualifiers and 8 a.m. Saturday for all amateur divisions. ER