If one thing was evident last week at the AAU Girls Junior National Championships it was that beach volleyball is sport that in no longer dominated by athletes on the West Coast.
More than 320 teams from 25 states and three countries hit the sands of Hermosa Beach for the tournament that was held Wednesday through Saturday.
“The growth of beach volleyball manifested itself last week in Hermosa,” AAU Beach Volleyball Tour Director Denny Lennon said. “It was great to see seven states represented in the quarterfinals of the 18U division. I remember when (Commissioner) Gino Grajeda and I were happy to have a team from Florida come out to play.”
Players from four states claimed gold medals including the Ohio duo of Carly Scheider and Katie Smith who captured the highly-competitive 18U division that featured 90 teams with a 21-16 victory over Brooke Burling (Chicago) and Francesca Goncalves (Dallas).
The 18U consolation Championship was won by twin sisters Olivia and Anna Unnasch of San Diego.
The Texas tandem of Abby Carroll and Simone Priebe won the 16U title with a 21-13 win over Victoria Ashinos (Pasadena) and Alexandria (Aliso Viejo).
In the 15U division, Sabrina Hardisty (San Diego) and Dana Waldburger (La Jolla) defeated the Florida-based team of Tessa Bohn and Zeena Khazendar 21-14. Bronze medals went to teams from Hawaii and Texas.
Arizonans Becca Morse and Noelle Weintraub outlasted Southern Californians Ivana Rusich (Tustin) and Tessa Van Winkle (Coto de Caza) 21-16 to capture gold in the 14U. Manhattan Beach’s Ava Gallien and Leah Kelly took home bronze medals.
Teams from Texas and Ohio placed first and second, respectively in the 14U Consolation bracket.
The South Bay had its best showing in the 12U competition when Serena Ramirez (San Pedro) And Hope Sabater (Torrance) held off Savannah Standage (Redondo Beach) and Adonia Faumunia (Torrance) 21-18 in the championship game. Standage was forced to settle for silver after winning the gold medal in 2015.
Lawndale’s Mele Corral-Blagojevich and Gianna Tagoi, of Westchester, won bronze medals in the 12U division.
In the 10U division, London Wijay (Northridge) won her second consecutive gold medal teaming with Charlie Fuerbringer, of Carson, who is the daughter of former professional standouts and current coaches Matt Fuerbringer and Joy McKienzie-Fuerbringer.
The duo beat Malyssa Cawa (Rancho Palos Verdes) and Summer Suppik (Redondo Beach) 21-14 in the championship game.
The AAU returns to Hermosa Beach July 20-23 for the West Coast Junior Olympic Games.
For more information, visit aaubeach.org.
