San Diego Open Crowns Junior Beach Winners

Becky Murdy
Assistant, Media Relations and Publications
Phone: 719-228-6800
E-Mail: becky.murdy@usav.org

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (June 1, 2011)- The USA Beach Junior Tour held its San Diego Open on May 28-29 in Chula Vista, Calif., crowning teams in both girls’ and boys’ divisions.

The problematic weather, including high winds and rainfall couldn’t keep the athletes from participating at USA Volleyball’s new beach training facility at the U.S. Olympic Training Center.

“In spite of difficult conditions the athletes showed expertise and skill in all aspects of the game,” Gordie Mahon, San Diego Open tournament director said.

In the girls’ under-18 division, Alexa Strange and Sammi Cash, both of San Diego, defeated Kamila Tan (San Diego) and Jansen Button (Menifee, Calif.) in the final, 28-17. Danielle Dahle (La Mesa, Calif.) and Erryn Smith (La Mesa, Calif.) tied for third with the Carlsbad, Calif., duo of Jessica Zieg and Courtney Kroll.

In the U18 boys’ division, the gold medal match was won by Bennett Bird (San Diego, Calif.) with Victor Chen (San Diego, Calif.) who defeated Clayton Jones (La Jolla, Calif.) with Miles Johnson (Encinitas, Calif.), 28-22 in the gold medal match. The bronze medal was awarded to Tim Aram (Chula Vista, Calif.) and Kai Valdivieso (Chula Vista, Calif.).

The San Diego pair of Erin Byrne and Katie North won the gold medal in the girls’ U16 division as they defeated Lacey Knuttila (San Diego, Calif.) and Ciana Wagner (Encinitas, Calif.) in the final, 28-24. Allison Abels (Chula Vista, Calif.) and Chelsea Speaks (Chula Vista, Calif.) tied for third place with Paige Hines (Encinitas, Calif.) and Morea Wagner (Encinitas, Calif.).

In the girls’ U14 division, Payton Chang (Manhattan Beach, Calif.) and Sedona Hansen (Wrightwood, Calif.) won the gold, defeating Brianna Goldberg (Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.) and Gabrielle Eyl (Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.) in the final, 28-8. Casey Jacobs (Cardiff, Calif.) and Rachel Wilson (Cardiff, Calif.) tied for third with Natalie Barragan (Etiwanda, Calif.) and Amanda Kirtley (San Bernardino, Calif.).

The team of Torey DeFalco (Menifee, Calif.) and Kysen Olsen (San Diego, Calif.) captured the boys’ U14 gold medal after defeating Gage Worlsey (Moaga, Calif.) and Joe Worlsey (Moraga, Calf.), 28-23 in the medal match. Finishing in a tie for third were the teams of Scott Hering (San Diego, Calf.) with Taylor Myers (Poway, Calif.) and Nicholas Rieckhoff (Laguna Beach, Calif.) with Adam Lythgoe (Laguna Beach, Calif.).

The next stops on the 2011 USA Beach Junior Tour are the Mid-South Open on June 4 in Dallas, Texas and the Great Plains Open on June 4-5 in Omaha, Neb.

For more information on the tour or to register for this event and future events, visit usabeach.org.

Tags: Beach, Junior Beach, USA Beach Junior Tour