Dalhausser wins 7th title at prestigious MB Open volleyball tournament
Phil Dalhausser dives to pass the ball to Nick Lucena during the duo’s championship at the Manhattan Beach Open. It was the seventh MB Open title for Dalhausser and third for Lucena. Photo
Standing at an impressive 6 feet, 9 inches tall, Phil Dalhausser continues to reach new heights as the Redondo Beach resident captured his seventh AVP Manhattan Beach Open title on Sunday.
Playing with longtime partner Nick Lucena, Dalhausser repeatedly had his shots blocked by Jake Gibb in the first set while Gibb and partner Taylor Crabb (Redondo Beach) easily won the first set 21-12.
Dalhausser and Lucena found their rhythm, capturing the second set 22-20 before winning the title with a 15-13 victory in the third set.
“We dealt with a lot,” Dalhausser said. “It was kind of our theme of the weekend. We’d get down early in matches and then come back. It [winning] never gets old. It feels sweet.”
Lucena won his third MB Open title.
“I just remember Taylor digging into everything at the beginning,” Lucena said. “Hats off to Jake and Taylor. This win feels pretty awesome, I can’t believe it. I am so thankful.”
Hometown favorite Alix Klineman, who used to watch the tournament as a kid, spikes the ball while winning her first MB Open with partner April Ross. Photo
While the veteran Dalhausser was celebrating earning another plaque to be placed on the Manhattan Beach Pier, Alix Klineman was overwhelmed after winning her first plaque in her hometown.
The third-seeded team of Klineman and partner April Ross, who won her third MB Open title, defeated the top-seeded duo of Kelly Claes and Brittany Hochevar (Torrance) but it didn’t come easy.
Matching each other point for point, Klineman/Ross narrowly won the first set 27-25, but then Hochevar’s digs helped give her team a 21-17 win.
The final emerged to be a classic duel. With a standing room only crowd on its feet, the teams battled through 30 frozen championship points before Klineman and Ross emerged victorious with a 17-15 win.
“This is so incredible. We’ve been working so hard. I never thought I’d win this in my hometown,” Klineman exclaimed.
The final set took 1 hour, 25 minutes to complete, leaving all four players exhausted.
“It’s so gnarly. It’s like playing another full set,” Ross said. “You really have to be patient and persevere. Brittany and Kelly played an amazing game. I’m thankful we came out on top.”
Klineman and Ross reached the finals with a 21-18, 21-16 victory over fifth-seeded Kelley Larsen (Redondo Beach) and Emily Stockman (Hermosa Beach).
In the other semifinal, Hochevar faced former partner Emily Day (Torrance) and Betsi Flint. Hochevar and Day won the 2016 and 2017 Manhattan Beach Open, but Hochevar emerged victorious this time, as she and Claes defeated Day and Flint 21-19, 21-19.
In men’s semifinal action, the Crabb/Gibb team defeated sixth-seeded Jeremy Casebeer and Reid Priddy while Dalhausser/Lucena won on a forfeit after Theo Brunner (Torrance) injured his calf, preventing he and his partner, John Hyden, from making the showdown.
An estimated 75,000 fans watched the MB Open competition with 27 local players (15 women, 12 men) from the South Bay finishing in the top nine.
“We are honored to be the stewards of this incredible 59-year-old beach volleyball tradition that celebrates the world’s best athletes in the sport,” said Donald Sun, managing partner, AVP. “Each year, the Manhattan Beach Open grows bigger and more vibrant, and our goal is to continually elevate the spectator experience for beach volleyball fanatics and family entertainment alike. We can’t thank the City of Manhattan Beach and all of the fans enough for being an important part of the AVP family.”
The next stop on the 2018 AVP Pro Tour is the AVP Gold Series Chicago Championship which takes place Aug. 30 – Sept. 2.