Fendrick, Hanson Win Country Quota in Finland

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

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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Aug. 15, 2011) – The beach volleyball team of Lauren Fendrick and Brooke Hanson won the three-team U.S. country quota on Monday at the third edition of the 2011 FIVB Beach Volleyball Swatch World Tour Paf Open in Aland, Finland to advance into the qualification round slated for Tuesday.

Lisa Rutledge (Vista, Calif.) and Brittany Hochevar (Fowler, Colo.) defeated Tealle Hunkus (Girard, Ohio) and Heather Lowe (Cypress, Calif.), 21-12, 21-17 in 32 minutes before facing Fendrick (Carlsbad, Calif.) and  Hanson (Woodland Hills, Calif.), who earned a bye into the final country quota match. Fendrick and Hanson were victorious with a photo- finish, 17-21, 21-14, 15-13 match completed in 52 minutes.

Fendrick and Hanson, seeded first in qualification, will receive a  bye into the second round where they will face the winners of the match between Ester Ribera Boter and Breta  Antequera Feixa of Spain and Nora Isomaki and Laura Lahtela of Finland on Tuesday.

The Paf Open is a double-gendered event with the women’s edition spanning Aug. 15-20 and the men’s slated for Aug. 16-21.

Three U.S. women’s teams have already posted positions in the main draw, including 2009 Paf silver medalists Jen Kessy (San Juan Capistrano, Calif.) and April Ross (Costa Mesa, Calif.) who most recently won silver in the FIVB “Road to London” Test Event. Misty May-Treanor (Santa Monica, Calif.) and Kerri Walsh (San Jose, Calif.) will suit up in the red, white and blue in hopes for their fourth gold medal win of the 2011 FIVB season.  Angie Akers (Fort Wayne, Ind.) and Nicole Branagh (Orinda, Calif.) will also return to the sand for the United States.

On the men’s side, four U.S. teams will open in Thursday’s main draw: Phil Dalhausser (Ormond Beach, Fla.)/Todd Rogers (Santa Barbara, Calif.), Jake Gibb (Bountiful, Utah)/Sean Rosenthal (Redondo Beach, Calif.), Matt Fuerbringer (Costa Mesa, Calif.)/Nick Lucena (Santa Barbara, Calif.) and Casey Patterson (Van Nuys, Calif.)/Bradley Keenan (Santa Ana, Calif.).

A total of 165 teams, 95 men and 70 women, are competing in the 2011 Paf Open that will take place on the Isle of Aland at Mariehamn under the supervision of both the Finnish and Swedish Volleyball Foundation, marking just the third time that national federations have joined forces to stage an FIVB Beach Volleyball Swatch World Tour event.

For more information about the tournament, click here.

Tags: Angie Akers, April Ross, Beach, Beach Volleyball, Brittany Hochevar, Brooke Hanson, Casey Jennings, Casey Patterson, FIVB World Tour, Jennifer Kessy, Kerri Walsh, Lauren Fendrick, Lisa Rutledge, Matt Fuerbringer, Misty May-Treanor, mobile, Nick Lucena, Nicole Branagh, Phil Dalhausser, Todd Rogers