Top seeds reign at Cuervo Hermosa Beach Open
Jenny Kropp, of Holly Glen, records one of her 22 kills in the women’s final. Kropp and teammate Whitney Pavlik had won all four Cuervo tournaments this season. Photo Players competing for $100,000 in prize money were energized by more than 50,000 fans congregated at the Hermosa Beach Open last weekend, making it the most attended Jose Cuervo Pro Beach Volleyball Series event ever. The large crowd was not disappointed. Both top-seeded men’s and women’s teams overcame formidable opponents in Sunday’s finals. Jenny Kropp and partner Whitney Pavlik showed signs of replicating last year’s performance of the men’s champion team of Sean Scott and John Hyden, who dominated the 2011 domestic scene and were again the team to beat heading into Hermosa. Kropp and Pavlik have won all four Cuervo events this season and appeared to be cruising to another title. Kropp, who finished the match with 22 kills and five blocks, was a dominant force at the net while leading her team to a 21-15 victory over Hermosa Beach resident Brooke Sweat and Jennifer Fopma. But Sweat had other ideas. Sweat took control of the second game, leading her team to a 22-20 win and forcing Kropp/Pavlik to play a third set…
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