Local spikers medal on the sand
The Redondo Union High School team of Tiffany Morales and Abril Bustamante captured the AAU Pairs Championships at Dockweiler State Beach. Photo by Gino Grajeda
Beach volleyball is in full swing and future Olympic hopefuls are gaining valuable experience competing in local tournaments, including many hosted by the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU).
After a successful inaugural season playing in the Interscholastic Beach Volleyball League, high school girls teams competed for the Pairs Championships at Dockweiler State Beach. Although Redondo Union High School did not field a team for league play, it was a pair of Sea Hawks who captured the Pairs title.
Four-year varsity starter Tiffany Morales teamed with freshman Abril Bustamante to defeat Mary Hernandez and Haley Martin of Long Beach Wilson for the championship.
Mira Costa’s Skylar Caputo and Keala Rusher placed fourth, dropping the third-place match to Sarah Hughes and Elise Zappia of Mater Dei, after playing an integral role in the Mustang’s runner-up finish in league action.
“That was a fun way to finish my high school career, especially beating Mira Costa to get to the finals,” Morales said. “I hope Redondo will have a team that plays in the league next season because it’s a great opportunity for girls.”
In the AAU Tachikara Classic all-girls tournament held in Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach athletes excelled with two players earning gold medals in their respective age groups.
Lan Nguyen (Manhattan Beach) teamed with London Chow (Palm Springs) to capture the 16U division while Caputo and Haley Martin joined forces to finish third.
In the 12U division, Kelli Barry (Manhattan Beach) partnered with Santa Monica’s Harper Goldfarb to win the gold with the Manhattan Beach duo of Georgia Kobel and Lea Ungar earning bronze medals.
Katie Barkley (Manhattan Beach) continued to have a successful season, teaming with Presley Forbes (Manhattan Beach) to win silver in the 14U division
In the 10U division, Talia Genova (Manhattan Beach) and Kate Reilly (Manhattan Beach) won the silver with Ava Gallien (Manhattan Beach) and Leah Kelly (Manhattan Beach) placing third.
Dockweiler was the site of two other prestigious AAU tournaments this month where 28 local athletes earned medals.
In the AAU California Regional Championships, Bustamante and Olivia Rodberg (Manhattan Beach) won the girls 15U title with Rusher and Grace Campbell (Manhattan Beach) taking home bronze medals.
Barkley and Chloe Markland (Manhattan Beach) won gold in the 14U division while Barry and Rachel Ahrens (Trabuco Canyon) defeated Sidney Smith (Palos Verdes Estates) and Goldfarb in the 12U championship match.
In the Girls 10U division, Erica Griffiths (Redondo Beach) and Scheala Nielsen (Redondo Beach) were silver medalists and the Manhattan Beach team of Gallien and Kelly (Manhattan Beach) took home the bronze.
In boys competition, Niko Forbes (Manhattan Beach) and Spencer Greene (Playa Del Rey) won silver medals while Dominic DiRado (Manhattan Beach) and Quinn Jones (Manhattan Beach) placed third in the 14U age group.
The boys 12U division saw Sebastian Rodriguez (Hermosa Beach) and Jevan Coronado (West Covina) prevail as champions while Dane Johnson (Manhattan Beach) and Matthew Johnson (Manhattan Beach) earned bronze medals.
At the AAU Southern Pacific District Championships, Susannah Muno (Hermosa Beach) and Zappia joined forces to win the girls 16U division. Nguyen and Sydney Best (Upland) placed third.
In the girls 14U competition, Barkley and Camille Davey (San Clemente) took top honors while Forbes and Sunny Villapando (Manhattan Beach) finished third.
The boys 14U championship rounds were full of local talent. Roy McFarland (Manhattan Beach) and Casey McGarry (Manhattan Beach) defeated Sam Jones (Manhattan Beach) and Rob Mullahey (Manhattan Beach) in the championship match while Henry Kobel (Manhattan Beach) and Sebastian Madaule (Venice) brought home the bronze.
The next local AAU tournament will be the Junior California Open on Sunday, July 8 at Dockweiler State Beach. Competition begins at 9 a.m. and includes boys 10U, 12U, 14U, 16U, 18U and girls 10U, 12U, 14U, 15U, 16U and 18U divisions. Entry fees are $63. For more information, contact Gino Grajeda, ggrajeda181@msn.com or visit www.aaubeach.org.