Top seeds upset in Huntington Beach
April Ross, pictured, and Jennifer Kessy upset top-seeded Nicole Branagh and Misty May-Treanor to capture the AVP NIVEA Tour’s Huntington Beach Open. Photo
Orange County natives Jennifer Kessy and April Ross made the right adjustments after the first game of the women’s final to upend top-seeded Nicole Branagh (Torrance) and Misty May-Treanor, capturing the AVP NIVEA Tour Huntington Beach Open Sunday.
The second-seeded team rebounded from a 14-21 loss in the opening set, winning the second game 21-12. Kessy and Ross recorded five straight points in the third game to win 15-11 for their first title on this season’s tour.
Branagh/May-Treanor won the tour’s first event in Ft. Lauderdale, Fl. but had to settle for third in Santa Barbara.
Redondo Beach resident Sean Scott slips one by Phil Dalhausser in the men’s final of the Huntington Beach Open. Photo
On the men’s side, second-seeded John Hyden and Sean Scott (Redondo Beach) took reigning champions Phil Dalhausser and Todd Rogers to the limit, falling 21-16, 18-21, 15-9.
Dalhausser and Rogers have yet to lose an event on the AVP NIVEA Tour. The Olympic gold medalists have also won three international tournaments in 2010.
South Bay women qualifying for the Main Draw were Jenelle Koester of Redondo Beach (#26) and Alicia Zamparelli (#29).
The men’s team of Albert Hannemann (Hermosa Beach) and Scott Lane (Redondo Beach) earned the No, 24 spot while Dana Camacho (El Segundo) and Mike Bruning (San Diego) qualified at No. 27.
The AVP NIVEA continues June 18-20 in Virginia Beach, Va. and June 25-27 in Belmar, N.J. before returning to the South Bay for the prestigious Hermosa Beach Open July 16-18. ER