The next generation of beach volleyball stars will showcase their talent this month when three major tournaments are held on the sands of Hermosa Beach.
The Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) holds its 22nd annual Junior National Beach Volleyball Championships Saturday and Sunday, July 11-12 at the Hermosa Beach Pier. The tournament includes girls 10U, 12U, 14U, 15U, 16U and 18U divisions along with boys 16U competition.
Four local players are defending champions. Manhattan Beach’s Presley Forbes won the 2014 Girls Under-15 title with partner Marissa Ramsey of Laguna Niguel. Aaron Phan, of Manhattan Beach, teamed with Gabriel Dyer of San Clemente to win last year’s Boys U12 championship.
Luke Grafton (Hermosa Beach) and Dane Johnson (Manhattan Beach) are two-time Boys U14 champions.
“Winning it two years in a row was amazing,” Grafton said. “The competition has really improved with a bigger field from many different states, which makes the championship mean that much more.”
“Winning again was great,” Johnson said. “This is the best tournament in America. There were teams from Florida, Hawaii, even Puerto Rico.”
Along with the expected championship teams from California, 2014 titles went to players from Arizona, Hawaii, Iowa, Kansas and New Zealand.
On Wednesday and Thursday, July 15-16, USA Volleyball will hold its High Performance Championships in Hermosa Beach. Competition includes girls U13 and boys and girls U15, U21 and U23 divisions. Boys and girls U17 and U19 divisions will play in Santa Monica July 17-19.
The 2014 BHP Championships featured many South Bay players, including Manhattan Beach’s Skylar Caputo who teamed with future Pepperdine sand volleyball teammate Corinne Quiggle to win the Girls U19 crown.
Blake Markland (Manhattan Beach) and Davis Gillette (Huntington Beach) defeated second-seeded Devon Burki (Redondo Beach) and Kyle Skinner (Santa Barbara) in a thrilling 21-19, 17-21, 16-14 Boys U19 championship match.
Grafton and Johnson (Manhattan Beach) dominated the Boys U15 division going 10-1 on the final day with a 21-11, 21-9 victory in the championship match.
The AAU returns to Hermosa Beach July 23-26 for the West Coast Junior Olympics Games.
Local winners in the 2014 tournament were Grafton and Johnson (Boys 16U) and Caputo who teamed with Redondo Beach’s Abril Bustamante to capture the Girls 18U title.
For more information, visit auubeach.org or usavolleyball.org.
