Inaugural Carolina Open Turns Into Junior Sand Success

Bill Kauffman
Associate Director, Communications
Phone: 719-228-6800
E-Mail: bill.kauffman@usav.org

Results Table: Girls - Boys

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (May 15, 2011) – The USA Beach Junior Tour held its inaugural Carolina Open in Raleigh, N.C., on May 14 with 88 teams from across the state and as far away as Georgia.

The threat of rain showers in the area kept the event cool until around 4 p.m. when on-and-off rain played a role in the playoffs for the U-16/U-18 divisions.

Mia Frandenburg (Durham, N.C.) teamed with Moriah Tavana (Apex, N.C.) to win the girls’ U-12 gold medal. Sydney Yount (Raleigh, N.C.) and Emily Durham (Fuquay Varina, N.C.) finished the with the silver, while the teams of Karsen Kee (Durham, N.C.)/Hannah Mishler (Raleigh, N.C.) and Lizzie Scheer/Lauren Walters finished with the bronze medal.

In the U-14 girls’ division, Kylie Grandy (Rolesville, N.C.) and Genna Simpkins (Cary, N.C.) topped Hailey McFadden (Holly Springs, N.C.) and Meghan Wilkinson (Raleigh, N.C.) 25-18 in the gold-medal match. Finishing in a tie for third were Katelyn McCullough (Raleigh, N.C.)/Kaitlyn Smith (Raleigh, N.C.) and Briley Brind’Amour (Raleigh, N.C.)/Ellie Lupton (Raleigh, N.C.).

Michelle Hovey (Raleigh, N.C.) and Cheyenne Tavana (Apex, N.C.) earned the U-16 girls’ division gold medal with a 25-16 victory over silver medalists Amy Robertson (Raleigh, N.C.) and Casey Speer (Durham, N.C.). Bronze medalists were Alicia Paeplow (Wake Forest, N.C.)/Stephanie Stieber (Raleigh, N.C.) and Kristen Clay (Durham, N.C.)/Britni Johnson (Durham, N.C.).

Megan Gravley (Cary, N.C.) and partner Christina Vucich (Morrisville, N.C.) earned the U-18 girls’ division gold medal with a 21-19 victory in the title match. Sasha Karelov (Raleigh, N.C.) and Victoria Phillips (Durham, N.C.) captured the silver medal, while the team of Cheyenne Wood (Angier, N.C.) and Missy Roberson (Cary, N.C.) won the bronze medal.

In the boys’ U-14 division, Eric Steiber (Raleigh, N.C.) and Landon Choboy (Raleigh, N.C.) defeated Jake Smith (Chapel Hill, N.C.) and James Hartley (Waxhaw, N.C.) 21-17 in the gold-medal match. Bradon Scopel (Chapel Hill, N.C.) and Alexander Scopel (Chapel Hill, N.C.) finished with the division’s bronze medal.

Brendan Smith (Fuquay Varina, N.C.) and Ethan Moore (Greensboro, N.C.) took home the gold in the boys’ U-18 division by defeating Kyle Pineheiro (Durham, N.C.) and Joseph Lucido (Raleigh, N.C.). Chris Hawk (Cary, N.C.) and Andrew McMurray (Cary, N.C.) finished with the bronze medal.

The event was hosted by the Carolina Region and vh1vball.com.

The USA Beach Junior Tour heads south to Charleston, S.C., for the East Coast Open on May 22. Register to play for this and other future events at usabeach.org.

Tags: Beach, Beach Volleyball, Carolina Region, junior, Junior Beach, USA Beach Junior Tour