USAV Beach Junior Tour Hosts Two Events

Erin Campbell
Intern, Media Relations and Publications
Phone: (719) 228-6864
E-Mail: erin.campbell@usav.org 

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (June 7, 2010) – The USAV Beach Junior Tour ventured to Glendale, Ariz., and Dallas, Texas, on June 5-6. Both events consisted of four girls’ brackets, under-12, U14, U16 and U18, while the Desert Open in Glendale, Ariz., also included U16 and U18 boys’ brackets.

The weekend not only provided fans with some exciting volleyball action, but also scorching hot temperatures that reached the triple digits at both venues.

On Saturday, at the Desert Open, the U12 combo of Hailey Howard (Phoenix, Ariz.) and Lily Nelson (Phoenix, Ariz.) finished the weekend in first place. Following them in second was the team of Jessica Leo (Phoenix, Ariz.) and Allie Stuckhart (Phoenix, Ariz.). Katie Harris (Phoenix, Ariz.) and Rachel Steigerwald (Phoenix, Ariz.) were also recognized for finishing third.

Pacing the U16s division on Saturday was Lexi Anderson (Phoenix, Ariz.) and her partner, Logan Rae (Phoenix, Ariz.). The two teams sharing the podium with Anderson/Rae were Sarah Sponcil (Phoenix, Ariz.) and Jensen Barton (Phoenix, Ariz.), who finished in second, and Sevana Dvorak (Laguna Beach, Calif.) and Alex Murphy (Phoenix, Ariz.), who took third.

Sunday marked the end of the Desert Open with the U14 girls’, the U16 boys’ and the U18 boys’ and girls’ divisions crowned their tournament winners.  Jordan Anderson (Phoenix, Ariz.) and Sarah Sponcil (Phoenix, Ariz.) took home the title of “champion” of the U14 division. Second-place honors went to Sarah Allen-Baines (Carlsbad, Calif.) and Riley Porter (Carlsbad, Calif.), while the team of Nivia Grajeda (El Paso, Texas) and Katiana Romanelli (Las Cruces, N.M.) finished third.

The U18 girls’ championship match saw Rebecca Sponcil (Phoenix, Ariz.) and partner Jenee Henderson (Phoenix, Ariz.) against Chrysta Marquez (El Paso, Texas) and Lydia Villanueva (La Union, N.M.). Sponcil/Henderson defeated Marquez/Villanueva in two games with scores 21-10, 21-14.

 Winning the boys’ U18 division in dramatic fashion was the duo Kevin Villela (Glendale, Ariz.) and David Potocki (Glendale, Ariz.) who defeated Jacob Kelty (Tempe, Ariz.) and Nick Benson (Litchefield Park, Ariz.) with scores 21-9, 21-7 in the final match of the tournament. Finishing in third place was the combo of Andrew Gott (Ahwatukee, Ariz.) and Matt Dorney (Ahwatukee, Ariz.).

Even though Benson placed second in the U18 bracket, he and partner Dustin Ordorcic (Peoria, Ariz.) walked away with the U16 gold medal. Also medaling was Ryne Benson (Litchfield Park, Ariz.) and Brandon Barrett (Peoria, Ariz.), who took second, and Dean Jackson (Scottsdale, Ariz.) and Garrett Nobley (Scottsdale, Ariz.), who took third.

The Mid-South Open’s U12 division finished with Caroline Johnson (Plano, Texas) and Briana Tully (Plano, Texas) in first place with a single-set score of 25-18 over Autumn Rounsaville (Dripping Springs, Texas) and Raegan Kilgore (Dripping Springs, Texas). Coming in third were Brooke Birleson (Heath, Texas) and Brooke Parent (Heath, Texas). 

The U14 division also finished the tournament with a single-set match for the championship title. The two teams facing off were Lindsay Stivers (Coppell, Texas) and her partner Kate Dicken (Coppell, Texas) against Molly Jeffcoat (Waxahachie, Texas) and Elyse Berlin (Red Oak, Texas). Stivers/Dicken defeated Jeffcoat/Berlin, 25-21. Taking the title of third place was McKenzie Shea (Parker, Texas) and teammate Madi Wilkerson (Desoto, Texas).

Kiersten Braasch (Colleyville, Texas) and Syndey Braasch (Colleyville, Texaz) won the U16 division with straight-set victories, 16-4, 15-5, over Ashley Prince (Allen, Texas) and McKenzie Moore (Arlington, Texas) who finished at second. Third-place honors went to Haley Goetz (Grapevine, Texas) and Emily Noel (Grapevine, Texas).  

Two 15-point sets dictated the winner of the U18 bracket at the Mid-South Open. In the championship contest, Liz Theesfield (Flower Mound, Texas) and Heather Balley (Carrolton, Texas) battled against Nicole Hragyil (Carrolton, Texas) and Olivia Okoro (Carrolton, Texas). Theesfield/Balley won the tournament with a 15-8, 15-7 victory over Hragyl/Okoro. Two Austin residents, Edwards/Hood, finished in third.

To view full Desert Open results, click here.

To view full Mid-South Open results, click here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tags: Beach, Beach Volleyball, Junior Beach