Olympic teammates face off in Hermosa Beach AVP finals
Sponcil, Cheng split after Tokyo, meet up in Hermosa finals by Paul Teetor When an intense, complicated and seemingly successful relationship comes to a sudden and unexpected end, it’s tough enough to run into your ex on the street, at the grocery store or in a casual party setting. But when you run into your ex in front of a few thousand wildly cheering volleyball fans with their loyalties divided between the two of you, it’s a hundred times harder, and at the same time much more exciting. The emotional antennae are up for reminders of past slights, and the adrenaline is flowing even more freely than usual in a competitive setting. Sarah Sponcil registered 15 digs in the Women’s Final. This was just one of them. (Photo by Ray Vidal) That’s the emotion-filled spot Sarah Sponcil and Kelly Cheng – formerly known as Kelly Claes, Sponcil’s partner on the second-best American beach volleyball team at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics – found themselves in when they met in the Women’s Finals of the AVP Pro Series Hermosa Beach Open Sunday afternoon. Sponcil was clearly fired up even more than usual while Cheng looked tentative and a bit overwhelmed from the opening serve through the two-set…
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