Beach Sports – A Summer full of volleyball
Mira Costa High School alum Alix Klineman has quickly risen up the ranks since beginning her pro beach volleyball career last season. Photo
Over the last decade, South Bay beaches have become home to numerous professional players who take advantage of the mild climate and deep sand.
This year, there is a new player to focus on. Alix Klineman, rose to fame as the 2006-07 Gatorade National Volleyball Player of the Year at Mira Costa High School. She continued her standout career at Stanford University, followed by a stint with the U.S. National Team and a career overseas.
Seeking a new challenge, the 6-foot-4 Klineman retired from the indoor game and has quickly risen through the ranks of beach volleyball. Last year she was named the AVP Rookie of the Year award.
“From a physical aspect, it took a lot longer than I thought it would to get my sand legs,” Klineman said. “I also had to take a step back and look at the demands of the beach game and change the way I train (both on the court and in the weight room) to increase my fitness and have the endurance to play two to three intense matches a day for two to four consecutive days. Volleyball-wise, blocking and setting have definitely been the most challenging skills to pick up on the beach. Setting is difficult just because that’s something I didn’t train for indoors indoor, and blocking has been an adjustment because the timing and the strategy are so much different on the beach.”
After partnering with former Mira Costa standouts Jace Pardon and Lane Carico, Klineman has joined forces this season with April Ross, a proven winner on the domestic and international circuits.
Ross won the silver medal at the 2012 London Olympics with Jennifer Kessy and the bronze in at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro with Kerri Walsh Jennings.
“The partnership has really been going smoothly. Not just because we won a tournament, but I think the way we work and compete mesh really well together,” Klineman said. “She’s been incredibly patient with me as I’ve tried to adapt to the international level. She does so many things well, but the things that stand out are her ability to always better the ball, her constant talk throughout the play, and her ability to anticipate how the play is going to unfold. I’m constantly taking note of all these ‘little’ things she’s great at and trying to incorporate them more into my game.”
In January, the pair won gold at the DELA Beach Open, a four-star FIVB World Tour event, at The Hague, Netherlands.
The beat Brazil’s Carolina Solberg Salgado and Maria Antonelli in the final, 21-12, 21-15. They went 10-0 in the tournament, including two country quota matches and two qualifiers before beginning pool play.
They came home to compete in last week’s FIVB four-star tournament in Huntington Beach and have their sights on the 2020 Olympics.
“Our goals are big and we’re aiming to win tournaments,” Klineman added. “We have a lot of room for improvement still, but we know when we play our best we can compete with anyone. But on a more basic level, I think we are determined to take advantage of every day of training and do everything we can to maximize our growth as a team.”
AVP Tour returns to Hermosa
Thurs. — Sun., July 26, 29
The AVP returns to Hermosa Beach for the second time since 2010. The Hermosa Open had previously been held every year since 1984. In 1990, NBC’s inaugural telecast of beach volleyball took place at the event.
The Hermosa Beach Open will consist of 24 Main Draw teams for men and women — 14 auto entries, 2 wild cards and 8 qualifier teams. The Manhattan Beach Open, the “Wimbledon” of beach volleyball, takes place Aug. 16-19. The winning male and female will have their names placed on bronze plaques on the Manhattan Beach Pier.This year’s tournament is the second of three events of the AVP Gold Series, with a purse of $225,000 compared to the $150,00 of regular AVP tournaments. The Manhattan Beach Open will be made up of 32 Main Draw teams for men and women — 14 auto entries, 10 wild cards (with many of them coming from the AVPNext circuit) and 8 qualifier teams.
General admission is free for both events. Avp.com
Collegiate Beach Championships
Wed. — Sat., May 9 – 12
Hermosa Beach
The 2018 Team USA Summer Champions Series presented by Xfinity makes its first stop at the Bridgestone USA Volleyball Collegiate Beach Championships.The dual-gendered event returns with a 32-team women’s bracket and an 8-team men’s competition. Main draw action, which consists of pool play and a single-elimination bracket, begins Thursday. Players will vie for a spot to compete in the FISU World University Championships in Munich, Germany July 9-13. Teamusa.org.
AAU
Sun., May 20
Sun., June 10
Tues. – Sat., July 10 – 14
The Amateur Athletic Union’s beach volleyball season continues with three tournament in Hermosa Beach, including the Los Angeles Open (May 20), California Regional Championships (June 10) and Girls Junior National Beach Championships (July 10-14).
Aaubeach.org
CBVA
Throughout the summer
The California Beach Volleyball Association holds numerous tournaments for men, women, boys and girls, including the Men’s and Women’s $1500 Opens (Saturday, May 26) and the popular Mike Cook Mixed (July 7) at Marine Street, which includes a father/daughter and mixed coed tournaments. The season culminates with the Cal Cup in Hermosa and Manhattan Beach. Adults play Sept. 1-2 and youth (Manhattan Beach) Aug. 25.
Youth compete in the Premier Tour, comprised of 12 stops including Manhattan Beach (July 12-15) and Hermosa Beach (Aug. 18-19). The winning team in each age group of all the tour stops is invited to play in the Championship tournament on Aug. 25 at Manhattan Beach Pier.
cbva.com
Smackfest
Sat., June 14
Hermosa Beach
Combining beach volleyball, fashion and music, the beach culture is celebrated each year at Smackfest. Smack apparel founder Bill Sigler’s tourney is celebrating its 24th year and features costumed-themed coed 4s and Pro 4s tournaments. New this year on Sunday, June 15 will be the Smackfest Juniors and Recruiting Showcase.
(310) 318-5062. Smackfestevents.com.
Father’s Day Beach Volleyball Tournament
Sun., June 17
Manhattan Beach Pier
Open to players ages 10 and up, the pool play tournament takes place from 9 a.m. to noon when mothers can cheer on children and their fathers. Action takes place on the short course, with four-person matches held on the long court. Registration is $50 per person (18 and Under Divisions) and $100 (four-person team). All participants will receive a T-shirt and other giveaways. For more information.
citymb.info. (310) 802-5448.
BarryBob
Sat., June 30
Manhattan Beach
The 12th annual 4-person tournament takes place at 9th Street and The Strand in Manhattan Beach. It’s hosted by former pro volleyball players Mike Walmer and Kevin Cleary in memory of their dads Barry and Bob, who were best friends for over three decades before passing away in the 1990s.
kpcleary@yahoo.com.
USA Volleyball HP Championships
July 30 – Aug. 1
Hermosa Beach
The highlight event for the Beach High Performance Program (U13, U15, U17, U19) features an international style of match play over three days. Athletes must either be a part of the 2018 A1 National Training Team or qualify through the 2018 A2 program at selected competitions. International teams are welcome to compete.
Email beachhp@usav.org or visitTeamusa.org
Charlie Saikley 6-Man Volleyball
Manhattan Beach
Fri. – Sat. Aug. 3-4
The Charlie Saikley 6-Man Beach Volleyball Tournament is the premiere 6-man beach volleyball tournament in Southern California, drawing over 50,000 spectators each year. The 2018 event has been moved to Friday and Saturday to make team participation more convenient.Don’t let the costumes make you think it’s not a serious tournament. (Last year’s winners were Team Fletch and Horny Unicorny).
On Sunday, Aug. 5 the 4th annual Manhattan Beach Junior 6-Man Beach Volleyball Tournament takes place and is open to boys and girls ages 10-18. There will be boys, girls and co-ed Divisions (registration deadline Aug.1). Prizes awarded for the best costume. For more information call: (310) 802-5448.
Surffestival.org.